Application
This unit applies to those working as bushwalking guides, assistant guides or support staff for private outdoor adventure companies and or school based outdoor education programs, such as holiday programs and camps.
This unit may also apply to leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.
Prerequisites
Nil
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
1. Plan a river crossing. | 1.1. Identify river features. 1.2. Identify potential hazards and risks associated with crossing rivers. 1.3. Access relevant sources to interpret weather and environmental information. 1.4. Waterproof backpack contents. 1.5. Select and justify an appropriate location to cross a river according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedure. |
2. Apply swimming techniques in moving water. | 2.1. Adopt the correct body position for defensive swimming. 2.2. Demonstrate the negotiation of hazards using defensive swimming techniques and ferry angles. 2.3. Identify and demonstrate techniques to actively free oneself from river hazards using aggressive swimming techniques. 2.4. Demonstrate the ability to set a ferry angle in order to reach the bank or eddy. |
3. Apply river crossing techniques. | 3.1. Demonstrate the ability to wade across a swift current of mid-thigh depth, using a wide variety of river crossing methods. 3.2. Complete entry to and exit from river safely. 3.3. Demonstrate safe retreating from a partial river crossing. 3.4. Demonstrate appropriate use of upstream and downstream safety. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
communication skills to discuss, negotiate and apply appropriate river crossing methods with other participants problem-solving skills to determine river crossing methods appropriate to the conditions first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies and personal health care swimming skills to free oneself from potential hazards. |
Required knowledge |
legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all river crossing activities river crossing methods and techniques to cross rivers in a safe manner after selection of a suitable crossing location weather and environmental information to ascertain possible conditions and their affect on the activity including life threatening conditions emergency procedures and potential hazards relevant to the location to ensure risk minimisation to self and group hydrology and river grading systems, to understand how rivers work so decisions can be made accordingly aggressive and defensive swimming techniques to get free from hazards equipment improvisation to help with the river crossing first aid appropriate to location and level of responsibility. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: applies relevant knowledge of river features and hazards to select a suitable crossing site and plans for a safe crossing applies defensive and aggressive swimming techniques to negotiate river crossings adapts quickly to problems or issues that may arise during the river crossing, such as change in current and or weather conditions, and makes appropriate adjustments in response to these contingencies to ensure safety of self and group. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure participation in multiple river crossings that reflect local conditions to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance. Assessment must also ensure access to: a suitable moving water location with safe rapids to minimise the danger of being swept downstream into more difficult conditions equipment such as a pole and rope, to aid in the crossing technique. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: observation of the planning process oral and or written questioning to assess knowledge of the relationship between features, hazards and risks associated with crossing moving water rivers observation of safe participation and demonstration of swimming and river crossing techniques observation of dealing with contingencies, such as changing weather conditions third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance. Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: SISOBWG404A Bushwalk in unmodified landscapes. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
River features may include: | eddy current tongue waves bank rocks. |
Hazards may include: | temperature extremes slippery or unstable terrain dangerous animals and insects stinging trees and nettles dense vegetation group management hazards. |
Risks may include: | hypothermia heat exhaustion injuries exhaustion lost party or party member equipment failure. |
Relevant sources may include: | Bureau of Meteorology media land managers or agencies local knowledge. |
Weather and environmental information may include: | satellite images daily and weekly forecasts maximum and minimum temperatures weather warnings event warnings river levels synoptic charts high and low tide predictions |
Appropriate location may include: | narrow, straight part of the river low banks less than waste deep. |
Relevant legislation may include: | occupational health and safety permits or permission for access environmental regulations. |
Organisational policies and procedures may include: | occupational health and safety equipment use and maintenance communication protocols emergency procedures. |
Defensive swimming techniques may include: | floating passively on back riding with the river current pointing feet downstream using arms and legs to fend off obstacles swimming to shore or safety. |
Aggressive swimming techniques may include: | moving on to stomach pointing feet downstream stroking hard to move across the current swimming to shore or safety. |
River crossing methods may include: | individual without aid individual with a pole mutual support using linked arms, a circle or a pole swimming using pack as a float. |
Sectors
Outdoor Recreation
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
No licensing, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.