The Board of Outdoors WA is close to finalising its Organisational Sustainability Grant with the Department of Sport and Recreation. This will allow the Board to approach its next phase of planning with some surity, and signals the start of a very proactive 2009.

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the December 8th State Conference. Agenda items and reports will be sent out to members soon.

The Standards for Canyoning, Abseiling, Artificial Climbing, Rock Climbing and Challenge Ropes Courses are now available on the Outdoors WA website.

PHASE II ADVENTURE ACTIVITY STANDARDS

Phase II Standards for canoeing, rafting, kayaking, sea kayaking, bushwalking, SCUBA, snorkeling and
wildlife swims will be available on the Outdoors WA web within the next week.

PHASE III ADVENTURE ACTIVITY STANDARDS

Phase III Technical Working Committees have now completed working through due process developing Standards in

•        Mountain Biking
•        Four Wheel Driving
•        Horse Trail Riding
•        Caving

Trail Bike Touring, Recreational Angling and Surfing have been delayed.

These Standards are available for public feedback via the Forum on www.outdoorswa.org until close on November 14th.

To make a comment

CLICK on specific standard eg Caving
CLICK on New Topic
TYPE in a title for your feedback
TYPE in what you want to say
CLICK on Create Topic

To reply to a comment

CLICK on specific standard eg Caving
CLICK on the Topic
TYPE your reply in the white box provided.
CLICK Post Reply

NEW REGISTRATION AREAS COMING

Outdoors WA has developed a proposal to present to the Outdoor Council of Australia. The critical components include

1. -          a process to develop new NOLRS activity specializations aligned with the Adventure Activity Standards
2. -          a process to position “Industry Experts” who can train and assess in new NOLRS activity areas
3. -          a process to have such training courses recognized by the OCA as Partnered Assessment Providers

The vision is that the above is required to support the development and positioning of the Industry Quality Framework

Further details will be available in the near future.

REPORT BY BERT WINNING

• NOLRS Registered leaders whose Senior First Aid (or equivalent) qualification expires prior to their 3 year NOLRS registration will be contacted one month prior to SFA expiry.This will be reminder to ensure currency of skills.If you renew your First Aid Qualification in the interim can you forward a copy of your renewal to Outdoors WA.
  
• Work is nearly complete on aligning the Munda Biddi Ride guides course with NOLRS Mountain biking registration levels. The Outdoors WA training calendar will have more details when this course will be available

MEMBERSHIP

DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE?

Memberships are now due. October 1st is the start of the 2008/09 year so please return your memberships forms as soon as possible to the address below or email with credit card details to office@outdoorswa.org

To access membership details please click here for more details. 2008 members have been posted renewal notices.

EVENTS

STATE CONFERENCE - is it in your diary?

On Monday, December 8 the Annual State Conference will be held at Leonda (formerly Tumblegum Farm) 6 kms south of Byford. The Conference will start informally on Sunday afternoon with a 'few drinks and a BBQ'.

Anyone who has not already expessed their interest, email Mel office@outdoorswa.org with your details and a brochure will be sent out to you.

PREM ADVENTURE RACE, CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Fellow adventure seekers!

Enter your students in an exciting new event here in Northern Thailand. The Prem Adventure Race will be held on January 30-31, 2009 in the beautiful mountains just outside of Chiang Mai. The race will attract adventurous students (12-19 year olds) from around the world to compete in four events over two days. Teams of two will race in two age groups (12-15 and >15-19) across a 20km on and off road mountain bike trail, 800m swim, 5km cross country trail and a 'Teams Challenge' pitting navigational, problem solving and teamwork abilities against their rivals!

For more information visit the website www.premcenter.org.

SPORT AND RECREATION INDUSTRY CONFERENCE - are you registered?

The Annual Sport and Recreation Industry Conference will be held on November 27 and 28 at the University of Western Australia, so put this down in your diary.

This year the theme will be high performance people, organisations and communities. Programming for Active 08 is a collaboration between the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Western Australian Sports Federation, Parks and Leisure Australia, and Fitness WA.

More details on the conference will be posted in the near future.

If you would like to discuss progress email Charles Hayne or telephone 08 9492 9833, otherwise, click here to add Active 08 to your electronic calendar.

"TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT BETTER"

Together We Can Do Better" Workshop and AGM day will be heldon Saturday 15 November 2008 followed by Mark jCollard's "MOre Than Just Fun" workshop on Sunday 16th.Both events will be held at Lady Northcote Recreation Camp located one hour's drive west of Melbourne.

For more information visit Australian Camps Association website or contact the office on 1300 734 187.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION?

If you do not receive the Outdoor Education newsletter, and would like to, please send your details to office@outdoorswa.org.

CERT IV IN OUTDOOR RECREATION 2009

Outdoors WA is excited to announce the hard work has paid off and the Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation is running in 2009. Currently MOU's with TAFE, Tourism WA , and DSR are being positioned. Details regarding enrolment will be out soon. Please encourage people to mention the course to colleagues, friends and relatives who may be interested in being a future Outdoor Leader.

FAIRBRIDGE

Fairbridge will run an assessment only workshop for 'Lead climbing on artificial surfaces' in November.This is one of the units required to register as an Climbing Guide (artificial surfaces).The workshop will be at a central Perth climbing gym. Register your interest now by contacting outdoor.rec@fairbridge.asn.au

THE CHALLENGE - NETWORKING COMMUNITY

The Challenge is an international social networking community for those who share a common interest in adventure-based experiential learning.

Community members share their experiences and knowledge through blogging, discussion, commentary, messaging, imagery, videos, and participation in member-created focus teams.

The Challenge Guide is a free member-generated directory of adventure-based experiential learning practitioners, programs, services and products. The Challenge Guide is updated daily, and is visible to community members worldwide.

 

EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING

Please contact office@outdoorswa.org with details regarding job opportunities, work experience, volunteering or training opportunities, so we can advertise these positions on the Outdoors WA website. Please write it as you would like it to appear.

CHURCHMAN'S BROOK ROPING INCIDENT

On the weekend of the 9th and 10th of August, Adventure Out was conducting a recreational introductory rock climbing course (IRC). On Saturday (the 9th) at roughly 2.30pm Adventure Out’s lead instructor was approached by a climber (Adventure Out were not the only users of the site as there were roughly 9 other members of the general public climbing at the time ) asking for assistance as his climbing partner had taken a fall. 

Adventure Out offered assistance (first aid) and support (emergency plan) by calling 000 for the dispatch of an ambulance and the Sate Emergency Services (SES).  Adventure Out monitored the patient and treated for suspected spinal injuries.  The paramedics were onsite at roughly 3.00pm. At this stage Adventure Out handed over the patient and our involvement ceased.  

Adventure Out did not release information publicly regarding the above mentioned incident at the time because AO were not directly involved. This roping incident involved a member of the public and our primary concern at the time was to provide post incident assistance.

Hopefully this will answer any unanswered questions within the outdoor guide / instructor circles and possibly broader within the community.

Owner / Director
Terry Hewett

SUNDOWNER

Thank you to everyone who came to Little Creatures on August 20th for the second sundowner. Someone should've told Ralph it started at 5pm, not that we missed him, everyone was just wondering how his shoulder was!

As I had not met alot of members, it was fantastic to put faces to names, or email addresses. It was also great to see members bring partners, prac students and friends along. Like they say, the more the merrier.

Liam, next time please order a table INSIDE when it's 3 degrees outside, or make sure there are heaters at both ends of the table! (not just your end).

It was a great night, many of the world issues were half solved, and the next sundowner is already in the pipeline. Little Creatures is the venue of choice, so stay tuned for the date. Otherwise, Sunday night before the conference should be loads of fun camping. Make sure you are there.

Steve, I owe you a beer.

Mel

WA WEEK 20-26 OCTOBER 2008

WA Week was re-launched by Celebrate WA in October 2007 to provide Western Australians from all regions and sectors with an opportunity to celebrate Western Australian's unique history, heritage and development and applaid individual and collective achievement and contribution.

The October date was selected to include the anniversary of the State's Proclamation Day on 21 October 1890, which marked the transition of Western Australia from a colony under British rule to self-government.

NATIONAL BANDANA DAY!- wear a bandana October 31st

On behalf of all CanTeen's young people living with cancer, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who support CanTeen and National Bandana Day.

WHAT'S ON IN WA? - NEW SECTION ON THE WEBSITE

Please contact office@outdoorswa.org with details regarding major events and activities you have coming up, so we can advertise these on the Outdoors WA website. Please write it as you would like it to appear.

CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS - SECTION ON THE WEBSITE

All clubs and associations who would like a free listing in the online directory, please contact office@outdoorswa.org with details including contact name,email and website address.

MY RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN

A new web based product called My Risk Management Plan (MRMP) has just been released.

MRMP is a software program that assists organisations in the development of a documented risk management plan. Borrowing from the concept of a “do it yourself employee handbook,” My Risk Management Plan software enables nonprofit organisations to compile a risk management plan following a user-friendly online template. The program compiles the user’s responses to various multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions in a final plan that can be saved to the user’s hard drive or printed directly from the program.

The software is accessible from the website www.myriskmanagementplan.com.au

THE VOLUNTEERS GRANT PROGRAM

Funding of between $1000 and $5000 is available to eligible not-for-profit organisations to purchase small equipment and sporting items to help their existing volunteers and to encourage more people to become volunteers.

Organisations will be able to request funding to contribute towards reimbursement to their volunteers for fuel costs incurred in their volunteering work. This will assist volunteers in their important work, including those who use their cars to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need.

. Volunteer Grants Program

PH: 08 9248 6677
FAX: 08 9248 5799
PO Box 414, Greenwood WA 6924
Ralph Gurr executiveofficer@outdoorswa.org
Melanie Attwood office@outdoorswa.org