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Risk Management

Risk Assessment and Management – Information for Schools in DET Format

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Risk Assessment and Management – Information for Parents and School Staff

We take this opportunity to advise parents and school staff of the practices and procedures undertaken by management and staff of Outdoor Adventure Camps (OAC) in relation to the operation of school and cadet camps. We have addressed a number of areas which are relevant to the wellbeing of students, however if you have further questions, please feel free to contact us and we will endeavour to assist.

  • OAC is a family owned camp venue which has successfully operated for over 25 years. OAC provides 2 camp venues Castle Mountain and Little River, which are suitable in accommodation, catering and activities for school aged students from K to Year 12. A third site, Camp Bunya, provides tent based camping options for students.
  • OAC's General Manager, with 20 years experience in developing, implementing and supervising adventure based school camp and corporate programs, designs a program for each school. The program is geared to the requirements and abilities of your group, based on advice from your School's Camp Co-ordinator. Our objective is to provide participants with an enjoyable and rewarding learning experience in a safe setting and employing the highest level of safety.
  • Prior to camp your School's Camp Co-ordinator is provided with the following documents. Copies are also available on our website under the caption Now That You Have Booked With OAC
    • Medical form for participants
    • Asthma medical form
    • Clothing and equipment requirements list
    • Parental consent form
    • Directions to Outdoor Adventure Camps
  • Copies of OAC Safe Operating Procedures are permanently located in the following areas:
    • OAC main office (at Castle Mountain Camp).
    • OAC Staff Accommodation.
    • Castle Mountain Camp, teacher accommodation.
    • Little River Camp, teacher accommodation.
  • Each copy of the OAC Safe Operating Procedures includes the following:
    • Information about the venue
    • Contact list with telephone numbers for each camp site, the manager's residence, local police, local doctor and nearest public hospital
    • Recommended clothing and equipment list
    • Participant medical forms
    • Incident Report Forms
    • Safe Operating Procedures for all relevant activities.
    • Wet weather initiatives
    • Introductory First Aid for a range of potential incidents
  • All Schools are required to bring their own portable first aid kits to accompany outdoor activities in accordance with DET Excursions Policy / Duty of Care, 6.3.1. point 3. OAC first aid kits are located in each kitchen, Instructors and Guides do carry their own basic first aid kits for use in an emergency.
  • Student accommodation consists of basic cabin style for 8-10 students per cabin. Separate teacher accommodation.
    • Each camp site has male and female toilets and hot/cold showers.
    • Showers and toilets on each site allow for wheelchair access.
    • Wheelchair access to all dining and recreation areas.
  • Catering comprises home-style cooked meals, prepared in commercial kitchens located at Castle Mountain and Little River camps in accordance with high levels of hygienic practice. Fresh fruit available at all times.
  • Our instructors and guides are accredited in Outdoor Education and are TAFE Cert 4 qualified or equivalent. Instructors also have current first aid qualifications (Senior, Remote Area and/or Wilderness).
  • All management, guides, instructors, kitchen hands and auxiliary staff employed by Outdoor Adventure Camps Pty Ltd are subject to Working with Children Checks and have obtained clearance through the Department of Sport and Recreation. OAC retains these clearance notifications in confidential and secure records which can be viewed by the School's Camp Co-ordinator on request.
  • On arrival in camp, teachers and students are briefed on camp protocols and safety issues.
  • All relevant equipment and safety gear is provided by OAC and includes, but is not limited to, harnesses, helmets, Personal Flotation Devices 1 & 2 (life jackets), ropes, etcetera. Equipment is maintained in good order and serviced on a regular basis by appropriately qualified persons.
  • Prior to each activity our instructors check that:
    • equipment and safety gear is functioning appropriately
    • all participants are suitably attired, including appropriate footwear
    • jewellery is removed if applicable
    • hair and loose clothing is secured
  • Each activity undertaken is preceded by a period of instruction.
  • All efforts are made to include students with disabilities in normal activities programs, depending on the capabilities of the individual student.
  • Both Castle Mountain and Little River camps have telephones in their respective kitchens which can be used in an emergency or a telstra mobile is provided for use whilst at camp.
  • Outside of OAC run activities, supervision of students is the shared responsibility of OAC and the School based on arrangements between OAC and the School's Camp Co-ordinator.
  • OAC has Public / Products Liability insurance .
  • Evacuation procedure. All 3 camps have 2 road accesses into and out of the camp. Furthermore, each camp is located on Webbs Creek which would facilitate evacuation by water if road evacuation proved unsuitable. The open areas are substantial in all 3 camps, providing room for Careflight helicopter landing in the event of a medical emergency. All OAC instructors are briefed on evacuation protocol. In the event of bushfire, where evacuation is decided to be inappropriate, students will be contained in the listed safe fire evacuation points at each camp, Theses points are located in the centre of large open areas:
    • The Roundhouse at Castle Mountain.
    • The Recreation Halls at Little River and Camp Bunya.

We trust this information will be of assistance in your Risk Assessment and Management process and strongly suggest that School Camp Co-ordinators personally visit our venue prior to camp to familiarize themselves with the site and assist in this process. Please contact us to arrange an inspection or if further information is required.