Diploma Of Outdoor Recreation (sro50203) :: Vocational :: Courses

Diploma of Outdoor Recreation (SRO50203)

Diploma of Outdoor Recreation is a one-year (two semester) course of full-time study, which provides the professional competencies required by practitioners to facilitate recreational experiences in a broad range of outdoor settings. The program provides the theoretical understanding of the physiological and psychological needs of clients required for safe leadership in remote wilderness areas. Certificate III is a prerequisite, as Diploma builds on the foundations of the Certificate III program and further extends the skills to guide/instructor level.

The course provides nationally recognised competency based training qualifications at standards set by industry.

Training Specialisations

• Rock climbing
  
• White water kayaking/canoeing
  
• Wilderness navigation/bushwalking
  
• Outdoor Leadership & Ethics
  

Employment Possibilities

• The retail camping sector
  
• Sport and recreation centres
  
• Camping and outdoor recreation centres
  
• Wilderness adventure camping and tourism
  
• Outdoor education
  
• Adventure therapy programs
  
• Youth at Risk programs
  
• Vocational training
  
• Guiding
  

To satisfy the requirements and qualify for a Diploma award, the combination of unit groups listed below must be successfully completed.

Duration

Diploma —one year (two semesters) of full-time study.

Accreditation

The courses are accredited by the NSW Vocational Education Training Accreditation Board (VETAB) and recognised under the National Framework for the Recognition of Training (NFROT). This allows for credit to be transferred to and from other public and private education and training institutions. The courses are approved for Austudy/Abstudy/Youth Allowance purposes and approved as courses for overseas students.

Entry Requirements

Completion of Year 12 is strongly recommended for entry. Senior First Aid and Bronze Medallion qualifications are compulsory prerequisites of the course. It is also expected that applicants will have a reasonable standard of fitness, which needs to be maintained to continue to engage in outdoor pursuits. Students must have an aptitude for physical activity and leadership, must be literate and numerate and good communicators. Prior experience and a positive interest in several outdoor pursuits are desirable.

Entry Requirements For Overseas Applicants

Applicants from other countries will have their qualifications assessed by the Admissions Office. Applicants from a country where English is not the first language must demonstrate proficiency in English in one of the following ways:

1. Provide documentary evidence that secondary schooling was conducted in an English medium, and evidence of a satisfactory pass in English in a British O-level examination or local equivalent.
   
2. Obtain an overall IELTS score of 5.5 or better with no individual band score less than 5.5.
   

Overseas applicants are also required to satisfy Australian Government visa requirements.

Progression from Certificate III to Diploma

Students successfully completing Certificate III will gain advanced standing into the Diploma in Outdoor Recreation.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC)

Because neither the route nor the method of learning is considered in the assessment process, the College takes into account a range of prior learning experience, including experiences other than those accredited by other registered providers. Students who consider they already possess the skills and knowledge necessary to be deemed competent in any element may have the opportunity to have this substantiated through formal qualifications or assessment/references.

All units in these courses are nationally recognised and therefore those students who have completed a recognised unit at another registered provider may be granted credit. Up to 25% of a course may be credited through RCC.

Work Experience

For Diploma all students are required to participate in a minimum of 3 weeks full-time work placement by the completion of the course. The Course Coordinator and training staff will assist in the organisation of this component.

Field Trips

Much of the instruction for both courses takes place in the field. Trips can range from excursions of a few hours duration to local abseil sites to five-day expeditions to the high country of the Snowy Mountains. To enhance employment opportunities and provide exposure to the networks of the outdoor recreation industry, students attend the annual conference of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Council of New South Wales.

Equipment and Additional Costs

The College provides all abseiling and canoeing equipment including personal flotation devices, canoes/ kayaks, helmets and harnesses.

Students are expected to provide:

• Wetsuit and neoprene booties
  
• Pack, sleeping bag
  
• Boots, waterproof jacket
  
• Appropriate clothing
  
• Tent and stove
  
• Torch, compass, first aid kit
  

It may be that some students will not have all this equipment at the start of the course in March, and for this reason, the College has negotiated substantial discounts for students in the course (15-20% off) through local retailers. A field trip to these suppliers is normally made during the first week of classes.

Estimated equipment cost: AUD $1000
(assuming purchase of all on list)
Estimated textbook cost: AUD$100 per year.

Personal Injury Insurance

While personal insurance is not compulsory, students may wish to investigate the costs associated with obtaining some level of coverage.

Course Structures

Diploma