Abseiling Instructor Qualifications

Scope of Leadership

• This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to operate independently under indirect supervision, and lead participants in a specific outdoor activity, where the emphasis is on safety, in low technical yet dynamic outdoor environments.
• Graduates of the Abseil strand will be able to  specialise in carrying out single pitch abseiling, including abseil rescue skills;
• plan for, and lead groups in the abseiling skills required for a positive introductory experience, including appropriate use and care of equipment.

Learning Outcomes

• Assess and respond to a abseiling  emergency
• Demonstrate personal skills in abseiling
• Develop a plan for leading an outdoor experience for a group within defined operating scope
• Lead an outdoor activity under indirect supervision within an organisation safety management system
• Review and evaluate  leadership of an outdoor recreation  experience

Topics Include

• emergency care situation response
• identifying and managing risks 
• safety management 
• organisation’s safety management system 
• leave No Trace principles
• local iwi and hapū, including culturally significant sites such as wahi tapu and land access issues
• interpretive information on natural history, flora and fauna and the uniqueness of the environment in which the adventure activity occurs.
• communicating information, including briefing and debriefing and skill requirements in accordance with organisational requirements
• responsibilities and operating scope of the leader role
• leadership styles and rapport with participants
• participants equipment 
• Activity plan including weather, client information, equipment, intentions, and timing
• leadership including managing safety, timeframes, resources and equipment for the activity and responding to participant needs

Qualification Delivery

Self-directed online learning

Teacher-directed online learning

Teacher-directed in-person training

Assessment Tasks

Prepare a plan to lead a group.

Demonstrate leadership skills

Demonstrate personal skills

Review and evaluate leadership

Prerequisites

The following outlines hours and experience that must be completed for the qualification to be awarded. We recommend participants start with all of these conditions met. You will need to provide a plan that clearly shows how you will demonstrate these conditions before the final date of the qualification.

at least 10 personal abseils at a minimum of three sites abseiling off their own abseil set up and at least five days additional experience as a co-leader or assistant leader, providing assistance with the setup and management of group abseils at a crag and/or abseil structure.

Sites must meet the following parameters:

− there is non-technical access for the participant to the abseil and the site allows for simple participant management;

− the setup is on fixed anchors, trees or threads; and the Leader has visited the site previously and had their set up approved by a Level 5 Rock Instructor or Level 6 Senior Instructor; and Personal Safety can be set up simply using fixed anchors; and the ground at the base of the abseiling area is flat and hazard free.