Abseiling (Artificial Surfaces)
Listed here are the units of competency from the current National Outdoor Recreation Training Package. These
have been provided to enable leaders to benchmark their skills and experience.
Leaders in this activity should be confident that they have the skills and knowledge, at least equivalent to that
described by the following selected units, relevant to the competency levels within the activity (where applicable).
To obtain detailed information on the content of each unit of competency it is necessary to access the National
Training Information Service (NTIS) website at www.ntis.gov.au then insert the unit identification code into the
search function.
Restricted Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces)
A person designated as a Restricted Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) has the knowledge, skills and experience
that enable them to work autonomously within a defined range of skilled operations. These should involve known
routines, methods and procedures, where minimal discretion and judgement is required in the selection of
equipment, services or contingency measures.
Restricted Abseiling Guides (Artificial Surfaces) may work within clearly defined contexts conducting abseiling
activities on artificial surfaces acting according to clearly defined Standard Operating Procedures and relevant
documented guidelines. Persons with this level of competence may only conduct abseiling activities on Artificial
Structures, NOT natural rock faces.
The Restricted Abseiling Guide may only conduct abseiling on artificial surfaces for which they have received
instruction on how to operate that particular facility and how to respond in an emergency at that facility. Both the
normal operation and emergency response have been determined and documented by someone with a higher
level of skill, such as those held by a Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces).
A Restricted Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) works as a guide in a context where there is no intention of
imparting skills or knowledge to clients beyond that which is necessary to enable their safe participation in climbing.
At the end of a session or program with the guide, the intent is not for the client to have acquired the skills to
independently participate in abseiling activities. Persons with this level of competence may also work as an
assistant with a more experienced leader in potentially non-routine or more complex activities and programs (e.g.
with "at risk" clients).
Restricted Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) units of competency:
 SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
 SRXGRO001A Facilitate a group
 SRXGRO002A Deal with conflict
 SRXINU002A Apply sport and recreation law
 SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policy and procedures
 SRXRIK001A Undertake risk analysis of activities
 SROODR002A Plan outdoor recreation activities
 SROODR005A Guide outdoor recreation activities
 SROOPS002B Plan for minimal environmental impact
 SROABA002A Apply single pitch abseiling skills on artificial surfaces
 SROABA003A Establish ropes for abseiling on artificial surfaces
 SROABA005A Guide abseiling on artificial surfaces (single pitch)
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Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces)
A person designated as a Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) has the skills, knowledge and
experience to work autonomously within a closely defined range of skilled operations involving known routines,
methods and procedures, where a small amount of discretion and judgment is required in the selection of
equipment, services or contingency measures.
This person may conduct activities independently only within clearly defined contexts where there are clearly
defined Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and relevant documented guidelines for the activity, they are
familiar with those SOPs, and where assistance is readily available should a non-routine situation arise.
A Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) leads or guides reliant clients in single pitch abseiling activities.
There is no intention of imparting skills or knowledge to clients beyond that which is necessary to enable their safe
participation in the abseiling activity. At the end of a session or program with a guide, the intent is not for the client
to have acquired the skills to independently participate in the activity
A Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) may conduct activities only at sites which have documentation
which defines the key safety features and risk management procedures for the activity. They may only work at sites
which:
 Provide the opportunity for single pitch abseiling
 Have fixed anchors
A Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) does not have the ability to adequately assess the suitability of a
new artificial abseiling facility/site and its anchors or to independently develop procedures for the conduct of
abseiling activities. They may work as an assistant with a more experienced leader in potentially non-routine or
more complex activities and programs (e.g. in multi-pitch situations).
Single Pitch Abseiling Guide (Artificial Surfaces) units of competency:
 SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
 SRXGRO001A Facilitate a group
 SRXGRO002A Deal with conflict
 SRXINU002A Apply sport and recreation law
 SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policy and procedures
 SRXRIK001A Undertake risk analysis of activities
 SROODR002A Plan outdoor recreation activities
 SROODR005A Guide outdoor recreation activities
 SROOPS002B Plan for minimal environmental impact
 SROABA002A Apply single pitch abseiling skills on artificial surfaces
 SROABA003A Establish ropes for abseiling on artificial surfaces
 SROABA005A Guide abseiling on artificial surfaces (single pitch)
 SROVTR001A Perform vertical rescues
Single Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces)
A person designated as a Single Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces) facilitates skill transfer or
development to clients in order that they may independently abseil on single pitches on artificial surfaces. This
requires the instructor to be able to transfer required skills and knowledge, apply a variety of appropriate
instructional strategies, and assess a client's skill and knowledge acquisition during and at the end of a program or
session.
Single Pitch Abseiling Instructors (Artificial Surfaces) may only work at sites which:
 Provide the opportunity for single pitch abseiling
 Have fixed anchors
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Single Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces) units of competency:
 SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
 SRXGRO001A Facilitate a group
 SRXGRO002A Deal with conflict
 SRXINU002A Apply sport and recreation law
 SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policy and procedures
 SRXRIK001A Undertake risk analysis of activities
 SROODR002A Plan outdoor recreation activities
 SROOPS002B Plan for minimal environmental impact
 SROABA002A Apply single pitch abseiling skills on artificial surfaces
 SROABA003A Establish ropes for abseiling on artificial surfaces
 SROABA006A Instruct abseiling on artificial surfaces (single pitch)
 SROVTR001A Perform vertical rescues
 TAADEL301A Provide training through instruction and demonstration of work skills
Multi Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces)
A person designated as a Multi Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces) has the skills, knowledge and
experience to instruct clients in order that they may acquire single-pitch abseil guiding or multi-pitch abseiling skills
or multi-pitch abseil guiding or instructional skills to enable independent operation. This requires the instructor to be
able to transfer required skills and knowledge, apply a variety of appropriate instructional strategies, and assess a
client's skill and knowledge acquisition during and at the end of a program or session.
Multi Pitch Abseiling Instructors (Artificial Surfaces) also have the skills, knowledge and experience to operate
independently at a broad range of venues with a variety of different client groups and within a broad range of varied
contexts that may be complex and non-routine. A person at this level of competence may perform a broad range of
skilled applications. These may include the evaluation and analysis of current practices, development of new
criteria and procedures for performing current practices and provision of some leadership and guidance to others in
the application and planning of the skills.
A Multi Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces) may work at sites which:
 Have fixed anchors
 Are multi-pitch artificial surfaces
 Have the potential to provide non-routine situations (eg. adverse weather conditions, complex rescue
situations).
Multi Pitch Abseiling Instructor (Artificial Surfaces) units of competency:
 SRXEMR001A Respond to emergency situations
 SRXEMR002A Coordinate emergency response
 SRXGRO001A Facilitate a group
 SRXGRO002A Deal with conflict
 SRXGRO003A Provide leadership to groups
 SRXINU002A Apply sport and recreation law
 SRXOHS001B Follow defined occupational health and safety policy and procedures
 SROOPS002B Plan for minimal environmental impact
 SROODR003A Plan outdoor recreation activities (advanced)
 SROODR006A Manage risk in an outdoor activity3
 SROABA002A Apply single pitch abseiling skills on artificial surfaces
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 SROABA003A Establish ropes for abseiling on artificial surfaces
 SROABA004A Establish ropes for multi pitch abseiling on artificial surfaces
 SROABA006A Instruct abseiling on artificial surfaces (single pitch)
 SROABA007A Instruct abseiling on artificial surfaces (multi pitch)
 SROVTR001A Perform vertical rescues
 TAADEL301A Provide training through instruction and demonstration of work skills
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