Bushwalking Victoria wrote: This is fake news!
Bushwalking Victoria wrote:The current draft standards will not be "voluntary" when courts, insurers and land managers all reference them and expect volunteers to comply with them. For example, Parks Victoria is already requiring some volunteer groups to comply with existing AAS!
Clubs and community organisations may of course reference parts of the standards. I don't think very many people will also read the numerous competency units listed in the AAAS from TAFE oriented National Outdoor Recreation qualifications.
The benchmark the AAAS set for commercial groups should be appropriate for them - and the Victorian government DOES require that they comply with them.
However, the commercial-level benchmark is clearly not appropriate for volunteer community-based bushwalkers. They are not "minimum level".
EDIT. Noted the the AAAS goal is a National Standard so potentially will start applying to clubs in other states etc.
wildwalks wrote:..snip..
With national workplaces health and safety laws, there is little difference in the needs of paid and volunteers staff.
wildwalks wrote: The AAAS is very relevant for clubs. Not all parts of the standard will apply to all leaders. So we could suggest that a subset of the standard apply for clubs. This way we can control what reasonable parts apply to clubs.
wildwalks wrote: Also it means that clubs can become a recognized training ground for people thinking about becoming a commercial leader.
ribuck wrote:This is an inevitable unintended consequence, and will probably lead to a spiral or more and more regulation to address the failings of the previous rounds of regulation, leading eventually to regulation against individual and informal bushwalking.
Nuts wrote:I don't see why standards shouldn't be applied to any outdoor leadership role.
If it can, and that it can, be argued that these standards are not necessary to any given role then why does that not apply across the board?
Nuts wrote:On the ground, in practice, those tick-lists are for the employer, very little onus on the employee, even a 'tour leader' other than to understand the provisions in place and their part in passing on that which needs to be expressed to participants.
wildwanderer wrote:IMO regulation to commercial standards is inappropriate for clubs / volunteer leaders. Regulation and specifications of standards will only ensure less people are willing to put their hands up to be a walk leader. Clubs have been self regulating very well up to now. Let that continue.
wildwalks wrote:With national workplaces health and safety laws, there is little difference in the needs of paid and volunteers staff.
Whether this AAAS mentions community groups or not we (clubs) will likely be held to the same standards in the absence of more appropriate standards. Our duty of care will be similar (all be it that many of those been lead will have more experience than many tour groups).
sets out a special protection which provides that volunteers are not personally liable (legally responsible) for anything done (or not done) in good faith, while doing community work that is organised by a community organisation.
rcaffin wrote:This has been going on for nearly a decade now. It is being pushed by some commercial operators in Victoria, with some ill-informed mates in the Vic bureaucracy. They are trying to drum up support from NSW as well. It's all about profit - theirs.
There has also been an attempt to 'privatise' the area around or near Feathertop (well, somewhere around there), such that clubs and individuals can no longer go bushwalking there. The promotors of that bit of chicanery claim that with superior commercial servies available, 'amateurs' will no longer need to go by themselves. And should not be allowed to. Yeah, right.
I entirely agree that if you are paying to go on a commercial walking tour with a paid Guide, then the Guide should be fully qualified. This is so 'standard' in Europe (and NZ) no-one questions it. They have full Mountain Guides, and also 'accompaneurs' (sp?) for walking trips. Fine, but there are hundreds of thousands of individual walkers and clubs over there as well.
Anyhow, the idea that a few commercial companies and their mates in the bureaucracy are going to interfere in what I do in the bush is utterly and totally unacceptable, in any shape or form. I have said so before, in submissions to the bureaucracy (and in The Bushwalker mag (NSW) which I edit), and I will keep saying it. And I will ignore any laws to the contrary. The last time this idiocy raised its stupid head (in NSW) was years ago, but fortunately it 'died'. Sadly it seems it was only snoozing.
Nonetheless, ALL clubs should be noting this and filing their objections. If we don't, we have only ourselves to blame. Don't be complacent.
Cheers
Roger Caffin
Editor, The Bushwalker
Author, Bushwalking FAQ
wildwanderer wrote:Procedures such as (for each walk). Prepare and document :
- Risk assessment and management plan for each identified risk.
- Give client safety briefings per each identified risk.
- Detailed route plan broken up into sections. Detailing each sections terrain, distance, expected traverse time and grid references.
- Minimum impact assessment and how impact will be managed.
- Collection of(and leader to carry) medical forms for each party member.
- Detailed equipment list that is checked off.
- Emergency evacuation plans and alternative routes. All documented and given grid references.
- Communication procedures for contacting trip support and emergency services.
- Verification that the leader and assistant leader have the required training for the trip. (including up to date medical training that needs to be re-certified every year or so)
Procedures such as (for each walk). Prepare and document
Some more formal structure may attract, rather than deter, a core of younger people..
rcaffin wrote:Ah, paperwork ...
Now, for bushwalking clubs:.....
the standards will be voluntary and will rarely apply to amateur groups.
the standards had been developed over a number of years and were something to celebrate, because they will "harmonise eight separate state and territory standards" to make compliance simpler.
This will make things very straight-forward for bushwalking groups
The Andrews government supports the new standard, which it says will help outdoors groups establish whether they have a duty of care and what they need to do to honour that
We want to see more Victorians enjoying the great outdoors and doing so safely
That's what these voluntary guidelines are all about – making sure people are prepared and have the right safeguards in place to enjoy themselves.
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