FAQ

CYC Limited maintains a rigorous occupational health and safety (OH&S) discipline at each of its sites, and as such can provide Victorian Education Department style risk assessment plans for all adventure activity equipment. Full safety/risk assessment documentation for all activities is available from our website once a booking is completed.

Activity operational instructions in a one page format  for all activities are outlined in the teachers’ manual posted to your school 10 weeks before your camp commences. More detailed safety documentation as outlined above are available on request.

These are extensively covered in the teachers’ manual mentioned previously and confirmed during the site briefing on first day of your camp. Ratios set by Vic Ed are fully complied with. All other ratios are set in-house to ensure participants safety, activity enjoyment and time compliance.

All relevant PPE supplied and used in accordance with relevant activity standard operating procedures (SOPs). Usage is logged where applicable.

CYC provides trained program staff for all high element activities, and training for guest activity leaders/teachers on industry recognised low risk activities. Before any activity is undertaken, activity leaders/teachers are required to sign off as competent before leading recognised low risk activities.

All equipment is used, stored, maintained, logged and replaced in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

All CYC Ltd adventure activity staff are trained and signed off as competent, by a qualified challenge ropes course (L3) instructor, workplace trainer and assessor, before taking on the full responsibility of activity instructor.

All CYC Ltd high element activity equipment has been installed by or approved by  a professional equipment provider, (Vertical Innovations or Outdoor Initiatives are our preferred suppliers) who are members of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (USA) and as such meet their engineering and compliance regulations. CYC has several staff trained as advanced riggers, who follow a regular maintenance schedule.

All high element equipment is audited every 18 months by CYC’s own certified advanced riggers who cross-check each others’ work to ensure integrity of inspections. The last available audit report is available on request.

Weekly equipment inspections are carried out on all harnesses, carabineers etc, as well as before and during each use.  Regular in-house activity structure checks are carried out. Copies of the current check ‘tick-lists’ are available on request.

ADANAC supplies one water qualified staff person per 40 students to supervise  lake activities. However a minimum of two staff and a ratio of 1-10 is the minimum required  by the education department. Arrangements can be made in advance for additional CYC Ltd staff, or outside providers at an additional cost.

While instructors have the technical knowledge and expertise to instruct students, teachers/guest group leaders continue to have the responsibility for the general safety and welfare of the students/guests, even when they do not directly provide the actual instruction.

All mowing and land-care vehicles and machinery are required to stay and work at a safe distance from any guest group. Activity instructors, guests and teachers are encouraged to approach any offending machinery and request staff to move it away from the activity area.

This would fall under part of each facility’s emergency plan. All campers are made aware of the emergency evacuation procedures upon arrival at camp. Refer resource page

All CYC Ltd facilities have an accreditation approved emergency plan for many contingencies. Refer resource page.

While instructors have the technical knowledge and expertise to instruct students and other guests, the teachers/group leaders continue to have the responsibility for the general safety, welfare and behaviour, at all times.

Each CYC facility has a 24-hour caretaker or assistant who lives on site.

Every CYC Limited facility and site is accredited by the Australian Camping Association (ACA) via the ATAP program and the National Accommodation, Recreation and Tourism Accreditation (NARTA). Both these accreditation bodies are recognised by the Victorian Education Department.

All sites hold current local Health Department certificates for Prescribed Accommodation and Registration of Food Premises.

All CYC Limited sites hold current public liability Insurance to the value of $40 million.