Outdoor Instructor Qualifications Level 6

Level 6 (60 credit) NZ Certificate in Senior Outdoor Leadership

IN DEVELOPMENT FOR 2022

This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to lead, mentor and educate developing leaders, guides and instructors in specific outdoor activities. These individuals can also instruct and/or guide participants in high hazard and/or technically complex outdoor or recreational environments.
This qualification will further extend the instructional competence of individuals who already hold extensive applied instructing experience in dynamic, multiple-hazard outdoor activities.
Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS). Graduates will have specialised knowledge and skills to provide senior leadership for a specific outdoor recreation activity depending on which strand is achieved.

Our approach to training and assessment is:

Affordable - $500 for training and assessment
Accessible - Training and assessment is provided
Supported - Dedicated tutor with weekly progress support
Consistent - Training provided by industry recognised professionals, assessment outcomes moderated

Our points of difference are:

candidates gain full understanding of Safety Management Systems and their role in supporting an organisation to meet its compliance needs
candidates receive full support through a learning journey including progress tracking, skills training and assessment
Instructor fundamentals as taught through interactive online tutorials
no requirement for organisations to provide training and assessment (candidates are taught by our tutor and use the workplace as a context for learning)

Strands
Currently Offering
- Bush strand
- Mountain Biking (Grade 5) strand
- High Ropes strand
- Sea Kayaking strand
- Rock Climbing strand
Overview
Duration
- 18 weeks
Time commitment
- Online tutorial 1 night per week 1 hours (every week)
- Weekly Q&A (1-2 hours every week)
- 3-4 day skills workshop (overnight)
- 1-2 Day skills assessment
- Video evidence occurs in the workplace
Learning
- Weekly Q&A tasks
- Preparing a leadership plan
- 2-4 day practical skills training intensive
Assessment
- Complete Q&A tasks (content covered in tutorial)
- Attend 50% of the online tutorials (or complete supplementary question)
- Two days skills assessment
- Video evidence of leadership in the field (naturally occurring opportunities in your organisation)
- Assessment outcomes are moderated by a panel to maintain a consistent and reliable qualification
Fees
- $1000
Intake
- February 2022 and July 2022
Our difference with NZOIA and Skills Active
Differences with NZOIA
- Training is included in the cost of the qualification
- The instructor fundamentals component provides you with the knowledge and understanding of your role as an instructor within an adventure activity operation including the adventure activity regulations and core instructor skills.
- Assessment of your leadership occurs in your own workplace. You get deliver your best leadership in a familiar environment and you also get to provide video of your leadership that we back on and help you improve. If you are not happy with your demonstration of a leadership task can redo it in your own time without having an assessor directly observing you.
Differences with Skills Active
- We take responsibility for all of the training and assessment of the student, the workplace does not need to provide assessors, or any extra training on top of normal staff operations in the business.
- Students progress through the qualification in a cohort so they are interacting with other people and engaging in learning in an interactive and engaging way
- Instructor Fundamentals module is delivered online in a group with small weekly assessment tasks.
- Responsibility for student progress and completion is all with AdventureWorks.
- You have a tutor that monitors your progress, provides feedback, available all the time for answering questions and keeps you on track to make sure that finish.
Who is this course suited to?

This qualification is designed to meet the needs of people that are working in a senior leadership role in the organisation that delivers outdoor adventure activities. You will be able to contribute to, review and development organisation safety management system, induct and manage the development staff to improve their skills and ability and have a advanced knowledge of technical skills and leadership in strand.

Why this course?
Level 6 outdoor instructor qualifications are equivalent to NZOIA level 2 instructor award. They are the bedrock level of qualification that most organisations acquired from instructors. This qualification verifies technical skill, leadership experience and ability to manage and respond to risks and hazards in dynamic environments. You are able to lead independently without supervision and have a full understanding of applying an organisation safety management system

Benefits to the candidate
We provide fully supported teaching, training and assessment. Your progress through this qualification will be monitored and supported by a dedicated team including a tutor, specialist instructors, evidence verifiers and an Adventure Works academic manager.
This will benefit someone who:
- does not have easy access to training
- is in a workplace where the means for the workplace to deliver training and assessment are limited
- is working and also wanting to develop professional qualifications in this sector.
Learning happens in a group, if the content is being covered is familiar you will still benefit hugely from the discussions and peer learning that occurs
Benefits to a workplace/organisation
- Candidates in the qualification are fully supported independent of your own resources and capacity to provide training and assessment
- Candidates receive current industry best practice training which will reflect positively on your organisation’s overall operation
- The overall cost to the organisation including training and managing assessment are reduced
- The workplace can enrol as many candidates as they would like and are not limited by their own resources
Programme structure
The qualification has two sections
Section 1 Instructor Fundamentals Online - 50% of total qualification
Section 2 Strand - 50% of total qualification

(once the Leadership Online is completed you do not need to repeat for any further strands that are assessed at level 5)
The Instructor Fundamentals component only has to be completed once for each qualification. When you enroll in the first qualification you will complete this along with one strand. In the future, if you wish to add another strand you do not need to repeat the Instructor Fundamentals component.

Instructor Fundamentals
The Instructor Fundamentals makeup for half of the qualification credits.

The Instructor Fundamentals courses develop understanding of foundation skills for being an instructor and leader in outdoor adventure activities. These courses cover how to teach and facilitate learning from others, the role of the leader and leadership theory, safety management systems, planning, understanding of activity regulations and scope of the qualification.

Strands
Strands focus on personal skills, instructing skills and planning for a single strand. You will need to demonstrate skills for managing personal safety and responding to rescues and lead a group within the scope of the qualification.

After you have completed the Instructor Fundamentals in each qualification you do not have to repeat this. To add another strand you just need to complete the strand specific course and assessment.

Instructor Fundamentals topics covered in online weekly Tutorials
- Progressions and sequencing in outdoor instruction
- Learning styles
- Leadership theory for instruction
- Leadership styles
- Establishing earning outcomes
- Evaluating learning outcomes
- Comparison of different facilitation techniques
- Evaluating leadership
- Adventure activities development in New Zealand
- Adventure Activity Regulations
- Safety Management Systems (ASG, GPG, SOP, AMP, )
- Identifying aims and objectives, logical sequencing, resources, timeframes, location, communication and access
- Gathering and interpreting weather information for adventure activities
- Risk and Hazard management strategies for adventure activities
- Emergency response to adventure activities
- Environmental plan for adventure activities
Strand Topics (Bush example)
- Navigation skills including off-track
- River crossing safety
- Selecting and setting up a campsite
- Managing camp for cooking
- Environmental sustainability and guardianship
- Responding to an emergency
- Selecting and managing personal equipment
- Communication equipment and systems for emergency
- Outdoor safety code
Assessment

Assessments are competency-based. Assessment decisions are made after evidence is gathered and assessed against a standard of competence.
Instructor Fundamentals
Task 1
- Weekly Questions and Answers
- Complete 100% of the weekly question and answer assignments
Task 2
- Attend tutorials or complete supplementary written response
- Participate in 50% of weekly tutorial discussions
Strand specific
Task 3
- Attend personal skills practical assessment
- This is near the end of the course, you will have attended two day personal skills assessment.
Task 4
- Complete leadership plan
- This is a written task outlining a plan for leading a group in the Strand you are enrolled in
Task 5
- Complete leadership assessment
- This is a video based task. You will be given clear outlines of what needs to be demonstrated, take video and upload that to our learning platform. This will then be assessed. You will get feedback if you need to re-do any of the specific tasks
Video evidence
Task five depends on you capturing video of yourself or someone capturing it of you performing the tasks required

We use video evidence for the following reasons
- it allows you to demonstrate your skills in your own time in an environment that you are familiar
- You are able to operate naturally, demonstrating your skills without sister looking over your shoulder
- it allows you to repeat the skill until you are happy with it and submit the evidence that you're satisfied with
- it provides a record for us that can be observed by more than one person creating greater consistency in assessment decisions and feedback to candidates.
- Allows us to moderate assessment decisions both internally and externally therefore maintaining valid reliable and consistent assessment decisions which makes your qualification worth what it says it is
- It eliminates the need for perfect assessment conditions (the scope of the assessment requires specific conditions that are outside the control of the assessor)]
Assessment Principles
Assessments are competency-based. Assessment decisions are made after evidence is gathered and assessed against a standard of competence.
The standard of competence is defined by NZQA in the qualification document (the scope and standard has been designed by Skills Active).
Our assessment decisions are moderated to ensure candidates are meeting the standard of competence required across all of the assessment tasks in the qualification and that the assessment decision being made is maintaining a consistent and reliable qualification.
How do these qualifications compare to NZOIA?

These qualifications are similar to but not the same as NZOIA Awards

The main difference is that this qualification includes the instructor fundamentals. This includes understanding your role organisations safety management system, leadership, learning, planning, understanding the interactivity regulations etc

Do these Qualification expire?

New Zealand qualifications do not expire. Once you have achieved a qualification it is recognised on the New Zealand qualifications framework under your name forever.

Does it need revalidation?

Your qualification doesn't expire, but your currency does
Maintaining currency is up to you. If you are actively working, the best way to do this maintain a log book and keep a record of professional development and training that you participated.

The NZRRP (Register of Recreation Professionals) is the best place to keep records that demonstrate currency. The register has a certain set of requirements that you need to meet in order to be able to demonstrate this.

Can I do more than one qualification at a time?

No you can’t, but once you have completed the first strand you do not need to repeat the Instructor Fundamentals

Half of the strand is core fundamentals. Once you’ve completed this you can add more strands without having to repeat the core fundamentals training.
enrollment criteria 2022

Academic
Based on your school achievement (secondary school study)
- 40 credits at NCEA Level 2; including 10 literacy credits at NCEA Level 2 and 10 numeracy credits at NCEA Level 1;
- Or a recognised equivalent.
Based on study completed after school (tertiary study)
- Completed a relevant course at NZQF Level 2;
- Or a recognised equivalent.
Based on discretionary entrance
If you don’t meet any of the above options, and you think you have what it takes to complete this programme, you can apply for discretionary entrance. Your application may be accepted if you can demonstrate a good chance of success. Approval of discretionary entrance applications is decided by the relevant manager. If your application is approved, your acceptance into further programmes relies on you demonstrating success in this programme.
Citizenship/Residency
The funding that we receive subsidises 'valid domestic enrolments' unfortunately, if you are not New Zealand Australian resident or citizen we are unable to unroll you in this course
You must provide an original or certified copy of one or more of the
following documents:
A New Zealand Citizen
- a New Zealand birth certificate; or
- a New Zealand passport; or
- a New Zealand certificate of citizenship; or
A New Zealand Resident
a) a passport with a current returning residency class visa (a passport with a visa label); or
b) a passport, and letter or email, confirming current returning residency class visa (label-less visa, followed by confirmation with Immigration New Zealand, where appropriate); or
c) a certificate of identity from Immigration New Zealand if the student is a refugee.

An Australian citizen or Australian permanent resident currently residing in New Zealand
a) an Australian birth certificate issued before 20 August 1986; or
b) an Australian passport; or
c) a passport with a current Australian resident return vis
Selection criteria
Candidates are required in their applications to indicate whether they have had a physical or mental condition. Candidates should be aware that some types of physical or mental conditions may prevent them from participating in physical elements of the programme and/or work experience placements.
- Candidates will also be required to:
  Have a level of fitness sufficient to fulfill the practical requirements of the programme.
- In order to comply with the provisions of the Vulnerable Children Act 2014 and Child Protection Policies for all 'specified organisations' providing a 'regulated service', all candidates will be subjected to safety checks. These will include, but are not limited to:
  A formal interview
  Referee checks
  A police vet check
  A risk assessment
Any unsatisfactory result arising from the full safety checking process may result in the candidate/student being precluded/declined entry or withdrawn from the programme of study. Furthermore, students must declare any pending or new convictions arising during any stage throughout the entire enrolment period. A conviction or failure to declare a conviction may also result in the student being immediately withdrawn from the programme.

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an International English Language Test System (IELTS) score of 5.5 in the academic band, with no individual band score lower than 5.0; or equivalent.

Previous Experience

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. I not you will need to provide a plan that clearly shows how you will demonstrate these conditions before the final date of the qualification

Bush
at least 80 days tramping experience (each day should be at least six hours duration), which will include at least 40 days experience on multi-day trips, at least 20 personal days and at least 20 days instructing, leading or guiding groups on multi-day trips. Overnight trips should include both staying in huts and camping.
Terrain must meet the following parameters:
   moderate and hard bush terrain;
   trips can extend above the bush line in summer conditions (without snow and no snow forecast). Patches of old snow may exist and can be crossed where no sliding potential exists. Trips above and below the bush line can be in remote, untracked terrain and the assistance of a rope may be required.

High RopesAt least 80 days of instructing high ropes activities.
   A day is considered to be 4 hours duration and can be made of multiple sessions.
   Instructing experience should include instructing or co-instructing on at least 3 different sites.

Rock Climbingat least 80 days rock climbing experience, which will include at least 50 days personal lead climbing including multi-pitch and using placed protection; and at least 10 days experience instructing or assisting instructing groups and lead climbing on placed and fixed protection;
lead climbing up to and including Grade 20, using placed protection, at a variety of crags.

Mountain Bikepersonal riding on MTBNZ trails up to and including MTBNZ trail Grade 5 as well as trails that are at least 5 hours long;
   at least 60 hours of experience instructing or guiding on trails up to and including Grade 5 which includes a minimum of 20 hours on Grade 5 trails.

Sea KayakingAt least 90 days sea kayaking experience in a variety of locations and conditions including open and exposed water. This will include:
o   at least 40 days personal experience on multi-day trips
o   at least 40 days of instructing or guiding experience on multi-day trips in open and exposed waters.
o   10 days can include theory sessions (e.g. trip planning, weather, navigation, nutrition) or practical or theory sessions instructing other instructors
-   Candidates are required to hold a Coastguard Boating Education – Boatmasters qualification prior to assessment of this strand of the qualification.
Enrolment process
Step 1
Check that you meet Entry Criteria (detail in Entry Criteria tab)

Step 2
Complete the Enrolment form

Step 3
- Send verification of citizenship/residency (detail in Entry Criteria tab)
- Send evidence of meeting the prerequisite hours and experience (detail in Entry Criteria tab)
- [email protected]
Step 4
Complete the Enrolment Criteria sheet and return to us prior to enrolment
Enrollment Form

Enrollment Criteria

Assessment of Prior Learning
There are two ways of having previous learning recognised

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)
Is credit granted towards your AdventureWorks programme from previous tertiary studies or through other experience.
There are two types of recognition for prior learning

Credit Recognition Transfer (CRT)
Is a process where credit for outcomes already achieved by a student through formal study in another qualification is recognised as credit in this qualification.
Formal study, is study completed through a registered education organisation that includes the completion of Unit Standards and/ or courses that contribute to the completion of a qualification that have been approved by NZQA for the completion of a qualification

Recognition of prior learning. is a process that involves formal assessment of a learner’s relevant and current knowledge and skills (gained through prior learning and experience) , or qualifications that do meet the crt criteria.

Costs for assessment of prior learning
- $400 For assessment of RPL
- No cost for CRT
When to apply for assessment of prior learning
- Before applying for you must have completed the Enrolment Form and provided evidence you are a NZ or AUS citizen or permanent resident.
- Once an application for RPL (and all the material required to evaluate it) is lodged, evaluation normally takes 10-15 working days.
- Application plus supporting material must be submitted at least two weeks before the start of the course.
Prior learning application form

Testimonials

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I am now more confident in myself and I feel like I can do anything

Tyla

Student
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Certificate in outdoor leadership

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It was a good taste of what the outdoor world be like a lot of fun. You get to hang out with a bunch of awesome people!

Yasmine

Student
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Certificate in outdoor leadership

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I got to meet new people into activities that I love and cool and beautiful places.