About this course
If you'd like a career helping others experience the great outdoors, this course could be for you. You will learn to how to safely lead and supervise a range of recreational outdoor activities.
The course will prepare you to work in uncontrolled natural environments. You'll learn how to plan and organise a range of outdoor activities, such as:
- abseiling
- bushwalking
- climbing
- canoeing
- caving
- four-wheel driving
- horse-riding
- kayaking
- rafting
- scuba diving
- skiing
- surfing
- stand-up paddle boarding
- sailing.
Key skills you will learn include:
- identifying hazards
- assessing and managing risk
- how to use communications systems and equipment
- search and rescue operations
- assessing weather and environmental conditions
- coordinating emergency responses
- equipment maintenance.
Outdoor recreation leaders work in commercial, charitable and government organisations.
This qualification is recognised nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Contact your preferred course provider for course entry requirements.
This course can be done as a traineeship. You’ll get technical knowledge through coursework and hands-on experience through paid work. On completion you will receive a nationally recognised qualification.
To enrol as a trainee, you’ll need:
- a job in a relevant workplace in the same field as your course, and
- an employer willing to sign a Commonwealth Government ‘Training Contract’ and support your learning at work.
To get started:
- contact an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider for information on finding an employer and for ongoing support
- find a course provider that delivers the course as a traineeship.
To get help:
- contact the TAFE and Training Line
- visit our apprenticeships and traineeships page
- visit Apprenticeships Victoria.
Core units
Unit title Unit code Maintain work health and safety HLTWHS003 Operate communications systems and equipment PUAOPE013 Minimise environmental impact SISOFLD002 Finalise operation of outdoor recreation activities SISOPLN001 Plan outdoor activity sessions SISOPLN002 Identify hazards, assess and control risks for outdoor recreation activities SISOPLN004 Interpret weather and environmental conditions for outdoor recreation activities SISOPLN005 Conduct search and rescue SISORSC001 Facilitate groups SISXCAI006 Address client needs SISXCCS003 Coordinate emergency responses SISXEMR002 Maintain equipment for activities SISXFAC001 Elective units
Unit title Unit code Prevent and treat equine injury and disease ACMHBR310 Lead team effectiveness BSBLDR414 Develop personal work priorities BSBPEF402 Facilitate responsible behaviour CHCCCS009 Provide brief interventions CHCCCS014 Identify and report children and young people at risk CHCPRT025 Support the rights and safety of children and young people CHCPRT026 Respond to critical situations CHCYTH004 Engage respectfully with young people CHCYTH013 Recover four wheel drive vehicle FWPCOT3326 Operate a four wheel drive in a towing situation FWPFGM3214 Provide First Aid HLTAID011 Work safely and effectively in manufacturing and engineering MEM13015 Organise and communicate information MEM16006 Carry out trip preparation and planning MEM50008 Safely operate a mechanically powered recreational boat MEM50009 Navigate in urban, regional and remote areas MSS024034 Provide first aid and emergency care for horses or other equines RGRPSH308 Perform water rescues SISCAQU020 Perform complex water rescues SISCAQU021 Facilitate adventure-based learning activities SISOABL002 Abseil single pitches, natural surfaces SISOABS003 Abseil multi pitches, natural surfaces SISOABS004 Establish ropes for single pitch abseiling on natural surfaces SISOABS006 Establish ropes for multi pitch abseiling on natural surfaces SISOABS007 Lead single pitch abseiling activities on natural surfaces SISOABS009 Lead multi pitch abseiling activities on natural surfaces SISOABS010 Bushwalk in difficult tracked environments SISOBWG002 Bushwalk in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments SISOBWG003 Cross rivers during bushwalks SISOBWG004 Lead bushwalks in difficult tracked environments SISOBWG006 Lead bushwalks in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments SISOBWG007 Traverse canyons SISOCAY001 Abseil in easy to intermediate canyons SISOCAY002 Abseil in intermediate to advanced canyons SISOCAY003 Establish ropes and belays for abseils in easy to intermediate canyons SISOCAY004 Establish ropes and belays for abseils in intermediate to advanced canyons SISOCAY005 Lead canyoning activities, easy to intermediate canyons SISOCAY006 Lead canyoning activities, intermediate to advanced canyons SISOCAY007 Lead challenge course sessions, low elements SISOCHC001 Set up and supervise challenge course sessions, low elements SISOCHC002 Lead challenge course sessions, high elements SISOCHC003 Set up and supervise challenge course sessions, high elements SISOCHC004 Top rope climb single pitches, natural surfaces SISOCLM002 Lead climb single pitches, natural surfaces SISOCLM003 Lead climb multi pitches, natural surfaces SISOCLM004 Establish belays for single pitch climbing on natural surfaces SISOCLM006 Establish belays for multi pitch climbing on natural surfaces SISOCLM007 Lead single pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces, top rope climbing SISOCLM009 Lead single pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces, lead climbing SISOCLM010 Lead multi pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces, lead climbing SISOCLM011 Paddle a canoe on inland flatwater SISOCNE002 Paddle a canoe on moving water up to grade 1 rivers SISOCNE003 Paddle a canoe on grade 2 rivers SISOCNE004 Lead canoeing activities on inland flatwater SISOCNE005 Lead canoeing activities on moving water up to grade 1 rivers SISOCNE006 Lead canoeing activities on grade 2 rivers SISOCNE007 Traverse caves SISOCVE001 Descend and ascend ladders in caves SISOCVE002 Abseil single pitches in caves SISOCVE003 Descend and ascend single ropes in caves SISOCVE004 Establish ropes, ladders and belays for caving SISOCVE005 Lead caving activities SISOCVE006 Set up, maintain and repair bicycles SISOCYT001 Ride bicycles on roads, up to moderate terrain and heavy traffic SISOCYT003 Ride off road bicycles on intermediate trails SISOCYT005 Lead cycling activities on roads, up to moderate terrain and heavy traffic SISOCYT007 Lead off road cycling activities on intermediate trails SISOCYT009 Lead four wheel driving activities SISODRV002 Handle horses SISOEQU001 Ride horses using fundamental skills SISOEQU002 Ride horses on untracked trail rides SISOEQU004 Guide horse trail rides in untracked areas SISOEQU006 Instruct horse handling skills SISOEQU007 Instruct fundamental horse riding skills SISOEQU008 Identify hazards, assess and control safety risks for horse handling and riding activities SISOEQU010 Manage horse illness and injury in remote areas SISOEQU011 Determine nutritional requirements for sport or recreational horses SISOEQU014 Select, set up and operate a temporary or overnight site SISOFLD003 Provide first aid in remote locations SISOFLD004 Navigate waterway courses SISOFLD005 Navigate in tracked environments SISOFLD006 Navigate in difficult tracked environments SISOFLD007 Navigate in extremely difficult tracked and untracked environments SISOFLD008 Paddle a kayak on inland flatwater SISOKYK001 Paddle a kayak on moving water up to grade 1 rivers SISOKYK002 Paddle a kayak on grade 2 rivers SISOKYK003 Lead kayaking activities on inland flatwater SISOKYK005 Lead kayaking activities on moving water up to grade 1 rivers SISOKYK006 Lead kayaking activities on grade 2 rivers SISOKYK007 Paddle a sea kayak in enclosed waters SISOKYS001 Paddle a sea kayak in sheltered coastal waters SISOKYS002 Paddle a sea kayak in exposed coastal waters SISOKYS003 Lead sea kayaking activities in enclosed waters SISOKYS004 Lead sea kayaking activities in sheltered coastal waters SISOKYS005 Lead sea kayaking activities in exposed coastal waters SISOKYS006 Guide a raft on grade 3 rivers SISORAF002 Guide a raft on grade 4 rivers SISORAF003 Lead rafting activities on grade 3 rivers SISORAF005 Lead rafting activities on grade 4 rivers SISORAF006 Perform vertical rescues SISORSC002 Perform complex vertical rescues SISORSC003 Self rescue in white water SISORSC004 Rescue others in white water SISORSC005 Lead and participate in complex white water rescues SISORSC006 Perform basic surf rescues SISORSC007 Sail small boats in partially smooth water and moderate to fresh wind conditions SISOSAI002 Sail small boats in open coastal waters and moderate wind conditions SISOSAI003 Lead sailing activities in partially smooth water and moderate to fresh wind conditions SISOSAI005 Lead sailing activities in open coastal waters and moderate wind conditions SISOSAI006 SCUBA dive in open water to a maximum depth of 18 metres SISOSCB001 SCUBA dive from boats SISOSCB002 SCUBA dive at night SISOSCB003 Navigate prescribed routes underwater SISOSCB004 Complete underwater search and recovery dives SISOSCB005 Perform diver rescues SISOSCB006 Inspect and fill SCUBA cylinders SISOSCB007 SCUBA dive using Enriched Air Nitrox SISOSCB008 SCUBA dive to depths between 18 and 40 metres SISOSCB009 Lead SCUBA diving activities SISOSCB010 Lead specialised SCUBA diving activities SISOSCB011 Ski on intermediate cross country terrain SISOSKT002 Use snow craft skills for alpine touring SISOSKT003 Lead skiing activities on intermediate cross country terrain SISOSKT005 Surf waves using intermediate manoeuvres SISOSRF002 Surf waves using advanced manoeuvres SISOSRF003 Lead surfing activities, intermediate manoeuvres SISOSRF005 Lead surfing activities, advanced manoeuvres SISOSRF006 Paddle a stand up board in small waves SISOSUP002 Paddle a stand up board in sheltered coastal waters SISOSUP003 Lead stand up paddle boarding activities on small waves SISOSUP005 Lead stand up paddle boarding activities in sheltered coastal waters SISOSUP006 Coordinate client service activities SISXCCS002 Facilitate inclusion for people with a disability SISXDIS001 Plan and conduct disability programs SISXDIS002 Recruit and manage volunteers SISXHRM001 Coordinate work teams or groups SISXIND005 Protect children and young people SISXIND010 Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships SISXMGT002 Work as a guide SITTGDE014 Lead tour groups SITTGDE016 Prepare and present tour commentaries or activities SITTGDE017 Develop and maintain the general and regional knowledge required by guides SITTGDE018 Research and share information on Australian Indigenous cultures SITTGDE019 Prepare specialised interpretive content on flora, fauna and landscape SITTGDE020 Prepare specialised interpretive content on marine environments SITTGDE021 Prepare specialised interpretive content on cultural and heritage environments SITTGDE022 Coordinate and operate tours SITTGDE023 Manage extended touring programs SITTGDE024 Develop interpretive activities SITTPPD013 Provide outdoor catering SITTTOP007 Show social and cultural sensitivity SITXCOM007 Use hygienic practices for food safety SITXFSA005 Participate in safe food handling practices SITXFSA006 Plan assessment activities and processes TAEASS401 Assess competence TAEASS402 Participate in assessment validation TAEASS403 Design and develop assessment tools TAEASS502 Provide work skill instruction TAEDEL311 Carry out vehicle inspection TLIB0002 Carry out vehicle servicing and maintenance TLIB2003 Carry out inspection of trailers TLIB2008 Carry out maintenance of trailers TLIB2119 Operate four wheel drive vehicle TLIC0023 Plan and navigate routes TLIH0006
Course providers
This course is offered by the following providers. Click on the links to the provider websites for the latest information on course details, fees and how to apply.
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Lilydale Lakeside (Lilydale)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Box Hill Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Waverley (Glen Waverley)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Holmesglen Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Wodonga (West Wodonga)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Wodonga TAFE for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider