Overview
Gain the skills and knowledge you need to be qualified in leading a variety of outdoor recreation activities in uncontrolled natural environments such as wild bushland, lakes, wild rivers, mountains, and alpine terrain. The Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership is considered the default qualification in Australia required by employees who work for businesses involved in outdoor education, recreation, adventure, and ecotourism. This qualification teaches technical skills in at least two different adventure activities to be able to safely guide groups. As well as guiding, a graduate is also taught how to plan out and organise everything required to run an adventure activity. Risk and safety management are an important component of the course, and it is essential to be able to manage the technical safety issues within each activity, as well as the general health and safety of people. Common to all activities are group facilitation skills being able to keep people engaged, interested, entertained and informed while being guided. The core activities in the Certificate IV at Wodonga TAFE include advanced bushwalking, canoeing, and abseiling, with electives in other activities when a need arises.
Materials Fees
- Incl softshell work vest (leading groups) & Silva expedition compass (navigation, search & rescue).
Dates / Locations
#### When You Can Enrol
On-campus: please register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ button to be notified when future intakes are scheduled.
Traineeship: You will enrol with Wodonga TAFE as part of your traineeship with your employer. The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact for queries about a traineeship or apprenticeship, www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn.
#### Delivery Schedule
- On-campus/blended: (Days/dates to be advised for next intake.) While the majority of the course is taught onsite during field excursions and camps, there are also online components of learning. There are occasional classes that happen on campus where you learn about and plan activities. Then there are the regular field trips, that range from a day trip, to a 2-day overnight trip, all the way up to 6 days away camping. Field trips is where all the practical training is applied. Finally, all the learning resources and information needed are online for you to engage with every week as the course progresses, along with all your assessments and grades.
- Traineeship - Individual training plans will be developed in consultation with your employer, as part of your traineeship.
87 McKoy Street, Wodonga Vic (Main campus) is where all classes occur, and training excursions depart from and return to this location.
Training excursions occur at a wide variety of outdoor locations:
- Mt Buffalo National Park
- Mt Pilot National Park
- Alpine National Park
- Kosciuszko National Park
- Woomargama National Park
- Warby Ovens National Park
- Murray River
- Alans Flat Lake
- Ovens River
- Snowy Creek
- Kiewa River
- Lake Dartmouth
- The Rock nature reserve
- Lake Buffalo.
#### Locations
- McKoy Street, Wodonga Vic (Main campus)
Information Sessions
There are no information sessions scheduled, but you can contact Wodonga TAFE at any time to make an appointment to talk to a teacher in Outdoor Leadership.
Structure
#### Compulsory Units
HLTWHS003 Maintain work health and safety
PUAOPE013 Operate communications systems and equipment
SISOFLD002 Minimise environmental impact
SISOPLN001 Finalise operation of outdoor recreation activities
SISOPLN002 Plan outdoor activity sessions
SISOPLN004 Identify hazards, assess and control risks for outdoor recreation activities
SISOPLN005 Interpret weather and environmental conditions for outdoor recreation activities
SISORSC001 Conduct search and rescue
SISXCAI006 Facilitate groups
SISXCCS003 Address client needs
SISXEMR002 Coordinate emergency responses
SISXFAC001 Maintain equipment for activities
SISOABS003 Abseil single pitches, natural surfaces
SISOABS006 Establish ropes for single pitch abseiling on natural surfaces
SISOABS009 Lead single pitch abseiling activities on natural surfaces
SISOFLD006 Navigate in tracked environments
SISORSC002 Perform vertical rescues
SISOBWG003 Bushwalk in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments
SISOBWG004 Cross rivers during bushwalks
SISOBWG007 Lead bushwalks in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments
SISOFLD008 Navigate in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments
SISOCNE002 Paddle a canoe on inland flatwater
SISOCNE003 Paddle a canoe on moving water up to grade 1 rivers
SISOCNE005 Lead canoeing activities on inland flatwater
SISOCNE006 Lead canoeing activities on moving water up to grade 1 rivers
SISOBWG006 Lead bushwalks in difficult tracked environments
SISCAQU002 Perform basic water rescues
#### Selectable Units
Additional selectable units may apply.
#### Learning Outcomes
- Leadership
- Outdoor survival
- Leaders wilderness first aid
- Risk management
- Camp catering
- Navigation
- Nature conservation
Duration
Full-time: 1 year, Part-time: 2 years
Delivery Methods
- Blended – Teaching and assessment will be conducted on-campus and online.
- Traineeship – Teaching and assessment will be required to be conducted as part of a traineeship
Fees
From 1 January 2019, Free TAFE for Priority Courses is a Victorian Government program that will pay your tuition fees to study in this selected course at Wodonga TAFE, if you’re eligible, subject to minimum numbers.
Government Funded $11,000.00 (Tuition $10,850.00, Materials $150.00)
Concession $2,320.00 (Tuition $2,170.00, Materials $150.00)
Fee For Service $16,425.00 (Tuition $16,275.00, Materials $150.00)
The student tuition fees published are indicative only and can be subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. Funding made available to eligible individuals by State and Commonwealth Governments. If funding is utilised, this may affect opportunities to access additional funding in the future. For more information see ‘Fee information and eligibility’ under the ‘How to Apply’ tab on the Wodonga TAFE website. Fees will vary greatly depending on your circumstances, concessions, chosen electives and materials needed.
The materials fee include a softshell work vest with a logo and your name embroidered on it, which is required in the course when leading groups. You are also supplied a quality Silva expedition compass as required for navigation and search and rescue.
In addition while not included in the materials fee, there is personal clothing and gear you will need to provide yourself to be able to complete all the activities and excursions that are involved in the course. You do not need all the gear right away, and there are significant discounts available through some suppliers once you are enrolled, but it is an expense you will encounter in the first month if you do not have the correctly clothing and gear already. See 'Requirements' for additional information relevant to personal clothing and gear requirements.
Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements, however the following is strongly advised:
- Applicants have completed Year 12 or are over age 18.
- Applicants need to have reasonable literacy, numeracy and computer skills to be able to engage with online learning and complete written assessments.
- Applicants should show a keen interest to spend many days in the remote outdoors without any urban comforts apart from what they carry.
- Applicants will need to maintain a reasonable level of fitness to be able to perform the physically challenging aspects of the course.
- Applicants will need to be able to carry one-third of your body weight and walk 12 kilometres per day over uneven ground for up to 6 days. Or similarly, be able to paddle 30 kilometres or 6 hours per day for 4 days.
- Applicants will need to be able to swim 200 metres across a lake or a fast-moving river wearing a lifejacket in a reasonable time
- Applicants will need to be willing to abseil over a 50 metre cliff and stay calm and controlled when exposed at heights.
There is personal clothing and gear you will need to provide yourself to be able to complete all the activities and excursions that are involved in the course. You do not need all the gear right away, and there are significant discounts available through some suppliers once you are enrolled, but it is an expense you will encounter in the first month if you do not have the correctly clothing and gear already.
**Personal clothing:**
- Outer Layer- Rain Jacket (waterproof and breathable material, goretex etc)
- Outer Layer- Rain Pants (waterproof and breathable material, goretex etc)
- Mid Layer- Pants, Shirt, Fleece (hard-wearing and quick-drying nylon, polyester, polarfleece)
- Base Layer - Underwear that wicks away sweat but also retains warmth. Long johns and long sleeve top, made from polypropylene or merino. (aka thermals)
- Extremities - Gloves, Socks, Beanie, Sun Hat
- Hiking boots- Sturdy soles that will not easily twist sideways, and will hold an edge and support ankles when carring heavy packs.
- Gaiters- Protecting lower leg below the knee to the ankle when walking off track against snake bite, scratches and rain.
**Camping gear:**
- Rucksack 75-100 litres. Recommended just one entry through top provides most weatherproof pack, with a quality adjustable harness and some external pockets for water bottle etc
- Tent - light hiking 2 person, 3 season, approx 2.5kg (room for one person to spread out all their gear on short trips, or two people to share on long hikes)
- Sleeping bag- compact water-resistant down with around 700grams of fill. Mummy shape helps save space and weight and are warmer.
- Sleeping Mat- most common is 25mm self-inflating mat full length or three-quarters.
- Cooker - most common is compact butane cooker with a pot and pan
- Head torch.
Learning Pathways
Successful completion of this qualification may provide you with credits into a university degree, such as the Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management (Outdoor Leadership specialisations) at Charles Sturt University. Please contact higher education providers directly for their relevant credit pathways. Find out more about study pathways with Wodonga TAFE »
[Study pathways with Wodonga TAFE »](/to-wodonga-tafe-and-beyond)
Careers
Ongoing consultation with industry ensures we deliver courses that maximise employment opportunities for our graduates in a diverse range of roles:
- Group leader who works on an outdoor education program
- Activity specialist for an adventure company
- Tour guide for an ecotourism company
- Expedition leader for an adventure travel company
- Freelance outdoor guide or instructor
- Recreational officer at a tourist resort
- Youth support worker for a recreational community health service
- Activities coordinator for a government sport and recreation program.
There is currently high job demand for those who perform to a high standard throughout the course and graduate with a Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership.
Many of the employers where former graduates have found work include:
- Outward Bound Australia
- Southbound Adventures
- Optimum Experiences
- Outdoor Education Group
- Boomerang Adventures
- Bindaree Outdoors
- Absolute Outdoors Australia
- Adventure Guides Australia
- Adventure Plus
- ALI - Action Learning Initiatives
- Hall's Outdoor Education
- Higher Ground Adventures
- Howmans Gap Alpine Centre
- Lands Edge Foundation
- Licola Wilderness Village
- PGL
- Somerset Learning Centre
- Tasmanian Expeditions
- Total Adventures
- Wilderness Escape Outdoor Adventure
- Kangaroo Island Resort.
Important Info
#### Certification
On successfully completing this course you will receive a nationally recognised AQF qualification.
#### Assessment
Assessments are often practical and occur on excursions in the field. In addition there are often online learning activities that need to be completed and these can often be social and very collaborative in nature, involves discussions, planning and group work. You will use a simple online learning system called Moodle which stores all the assessments, feedback, and grades for each unit so you can track your progress through the course.
A significant proportion of this course takes place on excursions in uncontrolled natural environments such as remote bushland, lakes, rivers, mountain peaks, cliff faces, and alpine terrain. It can be a physically demanding course and will at times push you to your limits. While all specialised activity gear is supplied, it does require you have your own personal outdoor clothing and camping gear that is of a high quality to be able to manage the conditions and terrain you will be training in. When not in the field, you need to be able to engage with learning online and have reasonably good reading and writing skills as well as computer skills. To be successful you will need to be good at both the practical and the online work.
How to apply
Apply via the ‘Apply now’ button in the course information page. If the course is not available for online application, register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ form to be notified when future dates are scheduled, or to chat to our friendly Customer Experience team.
For traineeship information and enrolments, the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact for queries about a traineeship or apprenticeship, www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/about-aasn.
- Once you submit an application for this course you will receive a separate email from LLN Robot to complete a Learning, Reading, Writing, Oral and Numeracy Assessment online. Please check your junk mail if this does not come to your inbox. This LLN Assessment is designed to help us to identify additional support you may require as part of your study with Wodonga TAFE.
- Please allow one hour to complete the LLN Assessment. You will need a computer with speakers or headphones as there is an audio section in the Assessment.
- Your LLN Assessment will need to be completed one week after receiving it to progress your application to the next stage, or your application may be withdrawn due to inactivity.
- If you are unable to access the LLN Robot link please contact our Customer Experience team **as soon as possible**.
- Note: Successful completion of the LLN Robot Assessment does not guarantee a place in the course at Wodonga TAFE. Numbers are limited and selected applicants will be contacted to attend an interview. If an applicant is not accepted into their preferred course they will be contacted and provided information on alternate pathways and/or courses.
Please note: We reserve the right to close course intakes early. Many courses have limited places and high demand. Early applications are recommended. We reserve the right to cancel intakes and courses if there are insufficient student numbers.