Recreation and Outdoor Education Activities for Public Schools procedures

Any activity to which these procedures apply.

An entity that has been through the formal procurement process and is listed on the current Excursions in Public Schools Procedures Approved Provider Register (excluding interstate and international excursions).

Assists the Qualified Supervisor and Department Teacher-in-charge. At a minimum, they must have recent and relevant experience in the activity, at the level being offered to the students.

Fire in natural areas, may be controlled or uncontrolled.

Informing a person or group of people thoroughly, especially in preparation for an activity, prior to undertaking the activity or a section of the activity.

When the student is empowered to decide whether to participate in an activity. The leader and others in a group are expected to respect anyone's right to sit out or to choose a personalised level of engagement.

Ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve expected results.

Gained through formal education or training. Specific skills and knowledge, which are required to perform a particular job or task.

The group of conditions, circumstances and facts that inform planning of a recreation and outdoor education activity.

Currency provides assurance that the evidence (for example, qualifications, certificates, log-book experience) is relevant, and recent enough to show that the supervisor is competent to make point-in-time decisions related to the proposed activity.

Those who are responsible for looking after places and the knowledge, stories and ceremonies linked to these places.

A member of the teaching staff employed by the Department of Education (or an Approved Provider) and is to manage the proposed activity.

Any officer who has executive responsibility for the overall management of any Department site (i.e. principal).

A duty imposed by law to take reasonable care to minimise the risk of harm that can reasonably be foreseen when students are involved in all school activities, whether on or off the Department site.

The process of continuously observing, assessing and mitigating risks and hazards, in a changing environment.

A systematic planned response to any incident that threatens safety, health and/or welfare.

Any student-learning activity conducted off the site of the school, at which the student is enrolled, that:

• has an educational purpose
• is organised or managed by a member of staff employed by the Department of Education or a representative of an Approved Provider
• involves any associated costs being paid directly to the school, not to a third party
• is insured by the Department of Education
• has gained the appropriate approval(s).

A business, entity or individual paid by the school to provide a venue, service and/or expertise appropriate to a particular school activity.

A designated time of the year, as specified by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, when there is a heightened bushfire risk.

Flooding in a localised area with a rapid onset, usually as the result of relatively short intense bursts of rainfall.

A number of students, supervisors and/or assistant supervisors, located, gathered or classed together for the purpose of completing a part or whole of an activity.

A potential source or situation with the potential for harm.  

Where a nominated person responsible for supervising others during all or part of the activity is in the vicinity but unable to intervene immediately.

The party that owns and/or has legal responsibility for managing a particular environment.  This may include the power to restrict access or place conditions and/or requirements on access.  Includes managers of rivers, waterways and other bodies of water.

A straight line along which an observer has unobstructed vision.

Also referred to as Leave-no-trace Principles, they guide minimising the impact on natural environments.

Students who undertake an activity.

Detailed specification of steps and processes that are mandated through system wide management.  Contravention of a procedure may constitute a breach of discipline pursuant to section 80 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

A systematic application of management policies, procedures, and practices, in a series of actions or steps taken to achieve a particular end.

Has the required qualifications, skill, currency and technical knowledge to instruct the activity.

Any experiential student learning activity conducted on or off the site of the school at which the student is enrolled, that is organised or managed by a member of staff who is employed by the Department of Education (or an Approved Provider) and has gained the appropriate approval.

Includes any location where medical emergency assistance is more than one hour away by road, air or water.

Adults who have accepted the responsibility to act in a supervisory role at the proposed activity. Can include (but is not limited to) teachers, education assistants, external providers and parents.

The environment, where the proposed recreation and/or outdoor education activities occur. May also be referred to as location, area or site.

Children and Community Services Amendment (Reporting Sexual Abuse of Children) Act 2008

Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Commonwealth)

Equal Opportunity Act 1984

Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)

Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA)

Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA)

School Curriculum and Standards Authority Act 1997 (WA)

School Education Act 1999 (WA)

School Education Regulations 2000 (WA)

Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Commonwealth)

State Records Act 2000 (WA)

Teacher Registration Act 2012 (WA)

The School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2021 (WA)

Volunteers and Food and Other Donors (Protection from Liability) Act 2002 (WA)

Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Act 2004 (WA)

Working with Children (Criminal Record Checking) Regulations 2005 (WA)

Child Protection in Department of Education Sites

Criminal History Screening for Department of Education Sites

Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting in Public Schools

Equal Opportunity, Discrimination and Harassment

Incident Management on Department of Education Sites

Work Health and Safety

Records Management

Research Conducted on Department of Education Sites by External Parties

Risk and Business Continuity Management

Staff Conduct and Discipline

Student Attendance in Public Schools

Student Behaviour in Public Schools

Student Health Care in Public Schools

Students Online in Public Schools

Visitors and Intruders on Public School Premises

Working with Children Checks in Department of Education Sites

Disability Standards for Education

Support gender diverse students (staff only)

First Aid in the Workplace (staff only)

Keeping our Workplace Safe Guidelines (staff only)

Insurance and Claims Information (staff only)

Manage appropriate physical contact with students (staff only)

School Curriculum and Standards Authority: K-10 Curriculum and Assessment Outline

School Curriculum and Standards Authority: The Western Australian Certificate of Education (The WACE)