Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:31 AM AWST
22/07/2026 8:31 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Instruct vertical single pitch caving skills
Instruct vertical single pitch caving skills
Unit of competency
National Code
SISOCVE417A
SISOCVE417A
State Code
D6344
D6344
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
13/10/2014
Field of Education
092103 - Sports Coaching, Officiating And Instruction
Original Release Date
13/10/2014
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to instruct vertical single pitch caving activities. This unit focuses on planning, instructing and evaluating an instructional caving session to enable participants to achieve the skills and knowledge required to participate independently, or with minimal supervision, in a caving activity in a cave with single pitch sections.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Plan a caving session.
- 1.1. Establish participant's needs and characteristics.
- 1.2. Assess participant's current caving knowledge in order to determine the session's aims and objectives.
- 1.3. Determine an appropriate instructional plan according to participant's needs and characteristics.
- 1.4. Develop a caving plan according to participant's needs and characteristics, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.5. Select a suitable cave site for the session according to participant's needs, session's aims, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.6. Identify potential hazards associated with vertical single pitch caving and minimise risks according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.7. Access relevant sources to interpret detailed weather information and determine contingency plans.
2. Select and organise equipment and resources.
- 2.1. Select and access equipment and resources according to contextual issues and organisational policies and procedures, and check serviceability.
- 2.2. Check equipment for safety and suitability according to relevant legislation and manufacturer's recommendations, and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort.
- 2.3. Check contents of first aid and repair kits to ensure suitability to the location and activity.
- 2.4. Arrange, where required, protective and or safety clothing for each participant.
3. Brief participants.
- 3.1. Communicate instructions and relevant information about the caving session in a manner appropriate to the participants.
- 3.2. Encourage participants to seek clarification, information and feedback as required during the session.
- 3.3. Establish a suitable communication system for participants to use while participating in caving activities.
- 3.4. Inform participants of known and anticipated hazards, safety and rescue procedures and appropriate behaviour.
- 3.5. Check and confirm that all participant equipment is fitted and adjusted and clothing and footwear is suitable.
4. Instruct a caving session.
- 4.1. Conduct introductory activities for participants to reduce the risk of injury.
- 4.2. Apply instructional techniques to impart required caving knowledge, caving skills, and safety and rescue procedures.
- 4.3. Monitor individual participant's performance during caving session and adjust or refine individual and or group technique as required.
- 4.4. Monitor and assess instructional activities and associated risks, and modify where required according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 4.5. Demonstrate procedures for dealing with emergency and non-routine situations according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 4.6. Inform participants of opportunities to further develop their caving skills and knowledge.
5. Complete post session responsibilities.
- 5.1. Retrieve, inspect, repair and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 5.2. Provide opportunities for participants to identify their personal progress and satisfaction with the session, and give feedback as required.
- 5.3. Apply feedback from Assessor or assessment to evaluate relevant aspects of the caving session and determine the level of learning achieved.
- 5.4. Identify potential areas of improvement for future caving instructional sessions.
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.
Characteristics may include:
age
cultural and situational factors
previous experience and knowledge
physical development and fitness.
Session's aims and objectives may include:
enhancing caving skills
self improvement
adventure and recreation.
Instructional plan may include:
caving activities
teaching methods
duration of activities.
Caving plan may include:
aims and objectives
date, time and duration
cave site, equipment and resources
safety and minimal impact requirements
location and route maps.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
cave access and permit requirements
working with children
equal opportunity
privacy
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
use and maintenance of equipment
assessment procedures
time and budget constraints
communication protocols
confidentiality of participant information
working with children
code of ethics
Australian Speleological Federation Codes and Guidelines:
Cave Safety Guidelines
Code of Ethics and Conservation
Minimal Impact Caving Code
Cave Diving Code of Practice.
Hazards may include:
Environmental hazards; including rock piles, streams, pools and sumps, false floors, sticky or slippery mud, cave fauna, traverses, pitches, foul air
group management issues
misuse of equipment
Risks may include:
hypothermia
injuries and illnesses
flooding
exhaustion
dehydration
phobias
stings or bites
equipment failure.
Relevant sources may include:
bureau of meteorology
media
national parks and wildlife centres
police.
Weather information may include:
satellite images
daily and weekly forecasts
maximum and minimum temperatures
weather warnings.
Contingency plans may include:
change in weather and or conditions
equipment failure.
Equipment may include:
caving equipment
safety and rescue equipment
navigation equipment
communication equipment.
Resources may include:
clothing and footwear
food and water
teaching aids.
Contextual issues may include:
time of day
season and weather
cave features
participant characteristics
number of staff
length, depth and complexity of cave
safety requirements.
Relevant information may include:
risk and hazard prevention and management
caving, abseiling and belaying techniques
safety and minimal impact procedures
responsible and safe behaviour.
Safety and rescue procedures may include:
assessing and outlining symptoms, treatment and prevention of common caving risks
determining safe areas and boundaries
managing group in emergency situations.
Instructional techniques may include:
simple to complex
part to whole
chronological
known to unknown
D.E.D.I.C.T:
demonstrate
explain
demonstrate
instruct
critique
test
E.D.I.C.T:
explain
demonstrate
instruct
critique
test
I.D.E.A:
introduce
demonstrate
explain
apply
orientate, enhance, synthesise
Required caving knowledge may include:
caving techniques, including squeezing, traversing, free climbing, cave navigation, abseiling and belaying
cave features, environments and conditions
minimal impact practices
risk and hazard management
communication systems used in caving.
Relevant aspects may include:
the effectiveness of the instructional session
feedback
validity and reliability of assessment and evaluation tools.
Characteristics may include:
age
cultural and situational factors
previous experience and knowledge
physical development and fitness.
Session's aims and objectives may include:
enhancing caving skills
self improvement
adventure and recreation.
Instructional plan may include:
caving activities
teaching methods
duration of activities.
Caving plan may include:
aims and objectives
date, time and duration
cave site, equipment and resources
safety and minimal impact requirements
location and route maps.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
cave access and permit requirements
working with children
equal opportunity
privacy
environmental regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
use and maintenance of equipment
assessment procedures
time and budget constraints
communication protocols
confidentiality of participant information
working with children
code of ethics
Australian Speleological Federation Codes and Guidelines:
Cave Safety Guidelines
Code of Ethics and Conservation
Minimal Impact Caving Code
Cave Diving Code of Practice.
Hazards may include:
Environmental hazards; including rock piles, streams, pools and sumps, false floors, sticky or slippery mud, cave fauna, traverses, pitches, foul air
group management issues
misuse of equipment
Risks may include:
hypothermia
injuries and illnesses
flooding
exhaustion
dehydration
phobias
stings or bites
equipment failure.
Relevant sources may include:
bureau of meteorology
media
national parks and wildlife centres
police.
Weather information may include:
satellite images
daily and weekly forecasts
maximum and minimum temperatures
weather warnings.
Contingency plans may include:
change in weather and or conditions
equipment failure.
Equipment may include:
caving equipment
safety and rescue equipment
navigation equipment
communication equipment.
Resources may include:
clothing and footwear
food and water
teaching aids.
Contextual issues may include:
time of day
season and weather
cave features
participant characteristics
number of staff
length, depth and complexity of cave
safety requirements.
Relevant information may include:
risk and hazard prevention and management
caving, abseiling and belaying techniques
safety and minimal impact procedures
responsible and safe behaviour.
Safety and rescue procedures may include:
assessing and outlining symptoms, treatment and prevention of common caving risks
determining safe areas and boundaries
managing group in emergency situations.
Instructional techniques may include:
simple to complex
part to whole
chronological
known to unknown
D.E.D.I.C.T:
demonstrate
explain
demonstrate
instruct
critique
test
E.D.I.C.T:
explain
demonstrate
instruct
critique
test
I.D.E.A:
introduce
demonstrate
explain
apply
orientate, enhance, synthesise
Required caving knowledge may include:
caving techniques, including squeezing, traversing, free climbing, cave navigation, abseiling and belaying
cave features, environments and conditions
minimal impact practices
risk and hazard management
communication systems used in caving.
Relevant aspects may include:
the effectiveness of the instructional session
feedback
validity and reliability of assessment and evaluation tools.
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:
plans and delivers information, explanations and demonstrations for caving sessions to ensure activities are conducted safely according to participant's needs and characteristics
uses and modifies instructional techniques and or activities to observe and monitor the progress of participants and provides constructive feedback and intervention to improve caving performance
evaluates and reflects on own instruction performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure instruction of caving activities that reflect the needs and characteristics of a range of participants and are of sufficient duration and breadth to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
suitable vertical single pitch caving sites for the conduct of instructional sessions
a group of participants to take part in caving sessions
caving, abseiling, belaying, navigation, communication, safety, first aid and teaching equipment
resources and information regarding participants and location to plan, instruct and document caving sessions for a variety of participants.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are oral or written questioning to assess application of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all caving activities
observation of safe caving instruction, monitoring and adjustment according to participant's needs and characteristics
portfolio of caving session plans
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
plans and delivers information, explanations and demonstrations for caving sessions to ensure activities are conducted safely according to participant's needs and characteristics
uses and modifies instructional techniques and or activities to observe and monitor the progress of participants and provides constructive feedback and intervention to improve caving performance
evaluates and reflects on own instruction performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that need improvement.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure instruction of caving activities that reflect the needs and characteristics of a range of participants and are of sufficient duration and breadth to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
suitable vertical single pitch caving sites for the conduct of instructional sessions
a group of participants to take part in caving sessions
caving, abseiling, belaying, navigation, communication, safety, first aid and teaching equipment
resources and information regarding participants and location to plan, instruct and document caving sessions for a variety of participants.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are oral or written questioning to assess application of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all caving activities
observation of safe caving instruction, monitoring and adjustment according to participant's needs and characteristics
portfolio of caving session plans
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBF54 | SISOCVE006 | Lead caving activities | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB591 | SISSS00030 | Caving Instructor - Single Pitch | Skill set |
| J768 | SIS40313 | Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation | Qualification |