Adventurous Activity Guide (AAG) [Scouts NSW]

8.6 Adventurous Activity Guide (AAG) – an adult member of Scouts NSW who:

• holds the units stipulated in the NAAF and preferably, a Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership (until July 2022 a Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation is equivalent),
• has a Certificate of Adult Appointment or holds an appointment as a Rover
• possesses a capability to mentor and motivate youth members
• is appointed as a NSW Activity Guide by the SC(AdvAct)
• directly controls certain higher risk activities

In addition to delivering AA, an AAG is expected to:

• Mentor youth members and Adventurous Activity Assistant Guides and follow the Scouting Method when delivering activities.
• Abide by all National and NSW Policies and Procedures including especially, The Policy, PRO75 Adventurous Activities – Core Conduct Procedure, and supporting discipline Procedures and Guides.
• Maintain skills currency in disciplines for which they are an AAG including attendance at mandatory annual safety and rescue workshops and maintaining First Aid qualifications. Maintains a comprehensive Personal Logbook.
• Maintain a physical capability and fitness sufficient to self-rescue and rescue any Dependant participant in their care.
• Assist in the delivery of the AA Program including helping deliver Region and State AA.
• Provide an environment where Youth members feel safe, that they can contribute, can learn, can lead, and can obtain an enjoyable experience.
• Helps deliver Scouting Adventure training to adults under the direction of an Assistant Leader Trainer (ALT).
• Contribute to the overall community and become part of a Discipline Activity Team and potentially, a Discipline Activity Council.

— in POLICY Adventurous Activities POL36 Adventurous Activity Policy V3.0 [PDF] (2022-Jan-28) [Scouts NSW]

Maintain;
– skills currency in disciplines for which they are an AAG including attendance at mandatory annual safety and rescue workshops
– First Aid qualifications (including annual CPR renewal)
– a comprehensive Personal Logbook
– a physical capability and fitness sufficient to self-rescue and rescue any Dependant participant in their care.

Guide Position description v1.0 [PDF] (2022-Feb-08) [Scouts NSW]

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How do you know if your activity needs remote first aid?

This is a good question – and one that should be being answered in your risk assessments. The best ‘go to’ reference for first aid requirements in our risk assessment documentation for Adventurous Activities is the Australian Adventure Activity Standard (AAAS).
We need our descriptions and reasoning to be current Good Practices.

❝ 7.6.3 First aid competencies
Due to the nature of activities, there is the potential for injury or illness. Preparation to deal with any foreseeable injuries or illnesses, such as providing suitable equipment and undergoing appropriate training, will help with the response to any such occurrences. […]
The minimum requirement for first aid training must be as listed in Appendix M – Leader competencies. A higher level of first aid qualification should be used for activities and programs that are in remote areas, as listed in Appendix M – Leader competencies. ❞

( p.29, Core Good practice Guide v1.0 )

Our first take away is that there is a minimum requirement for first aid training.

❝ M2 First aid competencies
The minimum requirement for first aid training must be the unit Provide First Aid unit code HLTAID003, or its equivalent.
A higher level of first aid qualification should be used for activities and programs that are in remote areas, with the minimum requirement being the unit Provide First Aid in a Remote Location Unit code SISOOPS305A, or its equivalent. ❞

( p.63, Core Good practice Guide v1.0 )

The next takeaway is that a higher level of first aid qualification should be used for activities and programs that are in remote areas. We still haven’t had remote defined, so we need to look up the definitions.

Note: HLTAID003 is superseded by HLTAID011, and SISOOPS305A is superseded by SISOFLD004

❝ Glossary
[…]
Non-remote: generally a location that is 30 minutes or less from reliable telephone access, 20 minutes or less from vehicle access, and one hour or less from access to professional medical assistance (also see remote).
[…]
Remote: a location that is more than 30 minutes from access to reliable telephone access or more than 20 minutes from vehicle access or greater than one hour from access to professional medical assistance in all foreseeable weather (also see non-remote). Note: access to professional medical assistance needs to account for the foreseeable possibility that professional medical assistance via helicopter may not be possible due to terrain and/or weather when determining access times ❞

( p.39-40, Core Good practice Guide v1.0 )

This definition of ‘remote’ suggests that remote first aid should be the requirement in many risk assessments that are still ticking the box with a provide first aid level.

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OAS ALPINE – Safety

❄️OAS ALPINE – Safety
We’re about to move into snow season, and that means getting out on some OAS Alpine adventures.

The Australian Ski Patrol Association (ASPA) has launched its revamped https://www.snowsafe.org.au/ including https://www.snowsafe.org.au/backcountry and the full film Back Country

Seven mini videos:
1. Prepare
2. Plan
3. Navigate
4. Recognise + treat hypothermia
5. Read constantly changing snow conditions
6. Recognise avalanche hazard
7. Self-rescue)

ASPA is keen to promote the revamped website including its backcountry messaging through the new film ’to save even one life’.

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Challenge by Choice and Five Finger Contract

A paramount principle for all activities is Challenge by Choice. It means that we as facilitators OFFER both physical and psychological challenges to individual participants but THEY CHOOSE their level of engagement in the particular challenge. Our challenge courses and activities are designed to offer differing levels of challenge to participants. We operate inclusive programs meaning anyone of any ability is able to join. Challenge by choice is a belief in which we, the facilitator(s), respect the right of the individual participating to choose the degree in which they participate during an activity, always encouraging participants to step out of their comfort zones but never forcing them to. Individuals should feel comfortable and safe at all times. Keep in mind that all participants come with different levels of fears. It is important to celebrate the tiniest steps that they might take out of their comfort zone.

Based on: Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois – Challenge course Guidelines.

📄 5 Finger Contract summary: Challenge-by-Choice-and-Five-Finger-Contract (PDF)
📄 Overview: Challenge-by-Choice-and-Five-Finger-Contract (PPTX)

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