Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:07 PM AWST

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Apply advanced vertical canyoning skills

Apply advanced vertical canyoning skills

Unit of competency
National Code
SISOCAY405A
State Code
D6285
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Current Release Number
3.00
Current Release Date
06/03/2013
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
15/10/2014
Field of Education
092101 - Sport And Recreation Activities
Original Release Date
15/10/2014
Nominal Hours
25
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to independently undertake vertical canyoning activities in difficult and or non-routine conditions. These canyons may include intermittent vertical pitches of variable length, multi pitch abseils and hazardous hydrological features.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan for the canyoning activity.
  • 1.1. Identify and plan food and water requirements according to principles of nutrition and the duration of the activity.
  • 1.2. Identify and select an appropriate activity site according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 1.3. Access relevantsources to interpret detailed weather and environmental information to determine activity plan.
  • 1.4. Select personal clothing according to design and or construction features appropriate for the activity.
  • 1.5. Conduct pre activity checks according to organisational policies and procedures.
2. Select and utilise canyoning equipment.
  • 2.1. Select and use equipment in a safe and efficient manner according to contextual issues.
  • 2.2. Fit and adjust equipment to ensure personal comfort and safety according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 2.3. Waterproof food, clothing, equipment and resources where applicable.
  • 2.4. Complete personal and equipment safety checks prior to commencing canyoning and or belaying in difficult conditions.
  • 2.5. Select and attach descending device to the rope and tie knots suitable to the belay system being used.
  • 2.6. Apply safety procedures at top and bottom of descent site to minimise risk.
3. Travel through a canyon with vertical pitches.
  • 3.1. Survey the route through the canyon to identify hazards and obstacles, assess risks, and select a safe route according to conditions and group ability.
  • 3.2. Respond to emergency situations according to organisational policies and procedures.
  • 3.3. Identify hazardous features of hydrological formations and determine alternative routes according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 3.4. Apply correct body position in moving water to minimise the potential for foot entrapment.
  • 3.5. Apply navigation skills and swimming techniques appropriate to the chosen route.
  • 3.6. Establish new or alternate anchors in non-routine situations or when designated anchors may not be available or suitable for use.
  • 3.7. Demonstrate efficient rope handling and retrieval skills in non routine situations.
4. Demonstrate abseiling technique.
  • 4.1. Identify specific considerations and risks associated with the selection of equipment and the rigging of abseil anchors and systems.
  • 4.2. Negotiate obstacles and avoid or remove hazards to descend in a controlled manner.
  • 4.3. Demonstrate correct posture and technique while abseiling using single and double rope taking into account pitch variations.
  • 4.4. Maintain effective communication between the abseiler and the belayer throughout the descent.
  • 4.5. Identify and apply techniques that minimise damage to the environment while abseiling.
  • 4.6. Respond to emergency situations according organisational policies and procedures.
5. Demonstrate belaying technique.
  • 5.1. Establish belaying position by moving body in relation to belay device that enables effective use of belay system.
  • 5.2. Confirm attachment of belayer to anchor to minimise movement during a fall.
  • 5.3. Demonstrate a safe and efficient escape from belay system, and attachment of belayer to anchor to minimise movement during a fall.
  • 5.4. Maintain rope tension to ensure fall distance is minimised while not restricting abseiler movement.
  • 5.5. Monitor abseiler progress constantly and respond appropriately to abseiler calls.
  • 5.6. Arrest falls promptly using technique suitable to the belaying device and or situation.
  • 5.7. Demonstrate the lowering of a conscious or unconscious canyoner in the event of an emergency.
  • 5.8. Demonstrate attachment to alternate belay or safety system when self-belaying to maintain safety in the event of a fall.
6. Maintain canyoning equipment.
  • 6.1. Conduct maintenance checks and repairs of canyoning equipment prior to storage.
  • 6.2. Dry equipment prior to storage as appropriate.
  • 6.3. Store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
7. Evaluate canyoning activity.
  • 7.1. Evaluate relevant aspects of canyoning activity.
  • 7.2. Evaluate own performance using self reflection methods and identify potential improvements for future performances.
  • 7.3. Make modifications to future canyoning activities where required in response to feedback from other participants and own self reflection outcomes.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Food and water requirements may include:
menu planning and preparation
range of foods.
Principles of nutrition may include:
food groups
dietary guidelines
essential nutrients
individual food requirements and allergies.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
permits or permission for access
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
emergency procedures
communication protocols
use and maintenance of equipment
code of ethics.
Relevant sources may include:
Bureau of Meteorology
media
land managers or agencies
local knowledge
police.
Weather and environmental information may include:
satellite images
daily and weekly forecasts
maximum and minimum temperatures
weather warnings
event warnings
river levels
synoptic charts.
Pre activity checks must include:
condition of equipment
logistical arrangements
weather
review of escape routes and contingency plans.
Equipment may include:
canyoning equipment
abseiling and belaying equipment
navigation equipment
safety and first aid equipment
communication equipment
repair equipment.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
location
trip distance and duration
group objectives
group size.
Safety checks may include:
A - anchors - secure and suitable to application
B - buckles - locked as per manufacturers recommendations
C - connectors - locked secured and oriented
D - devices - threaded correctly and secured
E - everything else including end or rope knots, friction, friction hitches, belayer ready, helmet chin strap, clothing, jewellery and hair secured
F - friend - cross check.
Difficult conditions may include:
intermittent vertical pitches of variable length
multi-pitch abseils with belay stations mid-pitch
terrain obstacles which obstruct regular route
wet sections
flowing water and resultant hydrological formations.
Descending devices may include:
auto locking devices
circular devices
plate devices
tubular devices
improvised devices
in line devices.
Knots may include:
rethreaded figure 8
figure 8 on bight
friction hitches.
Belay systems may include:
top belay
bottom belay
self belay.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
slippery or unstable terrain
dangerous animals and insects
stinging trees and nettles
dense vegetation
group management hazards.
Obstacles may include:
slippery rocks
large boulders
rock pools
water slides
tunnel swims
small drops
falling water
logs
small rapids
ledges
trees
overhangs
squeezes
traverses.
Risks may include:
temperature extremes
slippery or unstable terrain
dangerous animals and insects
stinging trees and nettles
dense vegetation
group management hazards.
Hydrological formations may include:
stoppers
rapids
holes
strainers
undercuts
still bodies of extremely cold water.
Emergency situations may include:
injured, unconscious or frozen canyoner
anchor point corroded, removed or decayed
raised water levels
injured member of group
abseiler with wedged body parts
damaged or lost equipment
hair or clothing jam
changed conditions at top of pitch.
Belay devices may include:
plate devices
auto locking devices
tubular devices.
Maintenance checks and repairs may include:
lilo puncture repair
lilo valve repair or replacement
cleaning of rope and harnesses.
Relevant aspects may include:
objectives
planning process
activity site
weather
equipment selection
clothing selection
food selection
instructional content
instructional technique
assessment technique
group feedback
directing techniques
rescue techniques employed.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
applies relevant processes to plan equipment and supply requirements for canyoning activities performed in difficult conditions
conducts pre-activity checks of the canyon site and equipment to identify potential hazards, obstacles and risks, and applies risk minimisation techniques and maintenance within own area of responsibility
demonstrates advanced canyoning skills such as negotiating a vertical multi pitch using abseiling and belaying and communication systems
negotiates obstacles and hazards during canyoning activities and adapts to unpredictable, non-routine and emergency situations that may arise
evaluates and reflects on own canyoning performance to identify strengths and weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple advanced vertical canyoning activities, within the current or intended context of the candidate's work region to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
resources and information, such as meteorological data, to plan for the canyoning activity
a suitable outdoor environment with a canyoning site with difficult and or non-routine multi pitches
canyoning, abseiling and belaying, navigation, safety and first aid, communication and repair equipment.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all canyoning activities
observation of safe participation and demonstration of multi pitch abseiling and belaying skills in difficult and unpredictable canyoning conditions
observation of dealing with contingencies, such as equipment failure or change in weather conditions
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SISCAQU202A Perform basic water rescues
SISOCAY406A Establish complex belays in canyons.
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OBF87 SISOCAY003 Abseil in intermediate to advanced canyons Unit of competency