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Outdoor Training College

"without risk we may not grow"

 

Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Question 1, Are your courses nationally recognised?
  2. Question 2, What are the different types of courses?
  3. Question 3, Do you have payment plan options available?
  4. Question 4, Is Recognition of Prior Learning available?
  5. Question 5, What is a Certificate III Outdoor Leader?
  6. Question 6, What is a Certificate III Outdoor Leader?
  7. Question 7, What if I want to complete more than the listed 3 activities in a full qualification course?
  8. Question 8, How many face-to-face days will I need to attend?
  9. Question 9, What if I need help or additional support with the on-line learning?

Answer 1: Nationally Recognised Courses

There are lots of training providers that offer a variety of courses of varying levels, these can range from in-house style statements of attendance to formal qualifications. At Outdoor Training College, we are a Registered Training Provider #RTO 90473 and we deliver Nationally Recognised Courses, so you can be assured that both the training and qualification that you receive, meet the requirements Assessment Criteria and the packaging rules of the National Training Package.

Answer 2: Different types of courses

There are numerous styles of courses to enhance and develop your career, but at Outdoor Training College, we focus on the 3 main course types;

  • Full Qualification Course
  • Skill Set / Short Course
  • Single Unit of Competency
Unit of Competency:

A unit of competency is the specification of knowledge of skills, and the application of that knowledge of skills to the standard of performance expected in the workplace. A unit of competency is the smallest unit that can be assessed and recognised. A "Statement of Attainment" can be issued for Individual Units of Competency completed. This can assist if you have not finalised a qualification and require only a couple of units for completion, or to assist in accumulating individual units towards your qualification. Outdoor Recreation units are grouped into Skill Sets that the industry require for a personl ro undertake an activity specialisation.

Skill Set / Short Course:

Skill sets are not qualifications. They are groupings of units of competency which are combined to provide a clearly defined statement of the skills and knowledge required by an individual to meet industry needs or a licensing or regulatory requirement. The "Training Package Development Handbook" defines Skill Sets as 'single units of competency, or combination of units of competency from an endorsed training package, which link to a licence or regulatory requirement, or defined industry need". Skill Sets identified and developed within the training packages are formally recognised on a statement of attainment. Where a RTO (registered training organisation) packages a group of units in a skill set, a statement of attainment is awarded on successful completion of those units. RTO's are able to note that the skill set has been delivered for a specific purpose.

Full Qualification Course:

Qualifications are groups of units of competency which are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) from Certificate I through to Vocational Graduate Diploma. A qualification is a formal certification, issued by a relevant approved body, which recognises that a person has achieved learning outcomes relevant to identified individual, professional, industry or community needs. Each training package provides details of those units of competency that must be achieved to award AQF qualifications. Learners who complete some, but not all, units of competency from a qualification are awarded a 'Statement of Attainment'. When the remaining units of competency are completed, a qualification certificate is issued.

The rules around which units of competency can be combined to make up a valid AQF qualification in the Training Package are referred to as the 'packaging rules'. The packaging rules must be followed to ensure the integrity of nationally recognised qualifications which are issued. Packaging means selecting units of competency within the rules to suit the specific need and conditions of the learner and/or enterprise. Most qualifications have a compulsory set of units of competency (often referred to as 'core'). They also allow a choice of electives or optional units. The choice of electives will enable an RTO to select units that are particularly relevant to the learner and the outcomes required by their job. The qualification rules are an endorsed part of the Training Package and cannot be altered by the RTO

Answer 3: Payment Options

We do not offer payment plan options - We know it can be challenging to find the money to upskill and move things along, so we have priced our courses in a way that we think is affordable, yet reflects the value we know you will get from investing in a course with Outdoor Training College.

Answer 4: Recognition of Prior Learning

RPL and or Credit transfer is available and you must meet the criteria associated with this process. Regardless of the assessment pathway undertaken the pricing structure remains the same. More detailed information can be found here

Answer 5: Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership

An outdoor recreation leader or guide, guides individuals or groups in outdoor recreation activities, such as bushwalking, canoeing, caving, rock climbing, abseiling, horse trekking and numerous other activities. They lead or guide clients so that they can participate in outdoor activities.
At Certificate III level a leader, guide will supervise people on outdoor expeditions based upon following defined policies and procedures. The work is often based on adventure tourism, eco tourism, holiday camps, and school camps utilising outdoor recreation activities.

Answer 6: Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership

An outdoor recreation activity leaader, guide or instructor. They lead, guide or instructs individuals and groups in outdoor adventure activities such as bicycle touring, bushwalking, canoeing, caving, cross country skiing, horse riding, trekking, rafting, rock climbing and sailing.
They have the capacity develop and oversee policies and procedure, and work independently with minimal supervision and develop the skills of participants so that they can progress to being a responable outdoor recreation leader

Answer 7: Additional Activities

Nationally recognised qualifications, have the same specific assessment criteria or requirements, these are governed by the packaging rules for that qualification, which means you can not obtain the qualifiction without fulfilling the nominated number of units specified for that course - for example a Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership specifies a total of 22 units (9 core & 13 elective units). An activity will be made up a group of units. A course must not exceed or be less than the specified amount of units.

Answer 8: Face-to-Face days

Activity Specific units of competency: These are practical face-to-face units, and include practical training and / assessment to a maximum of 4 days ( 2 x lots of 2 days usually) per activity specialisation chosen.

Should you be deemed not yet competent after that time additional fees may be applicable.The face-to-face training and assessment is conducted in various locations throughout Australia and is based upon demand. The activity calendar is regularly updated, (every 3 months) to reflect current enrolments. The calendar is on-line allowing students to view and select their own training/ assessment sessions within their course time-frame.

Answer 9: additional support

Within the online learning system, the student has access to a range of support facilities including a “ I need help” and a “Literacy Moderator”.

The I need help facility is an online notification system that firstly requests the student to identify the area of concern and from there an appropriate trainer/assessor will make contact and provide assistance. Generally initial contact is via email but students are more than welcome to contact the general office via phone at any time. At Outdoor Training College we use a range of technology to facilitate contact with our students including online meetings if face-to-face contact and assistance is required.

The literacy moderator facility assists any students that may require any additional LLN support.