Overview
If you have a passion for the great outdoors, the Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership will give you the training and skills to work as an instructor or leader in outdoor recreation and activities.
Career opportunities, include:
- Outdoor Guide
- Outdoor Education Group Leader
- Activity Leader
- Adventure Tourism Guide
- Bush and Adventure Therapy Worker
Pathways to further study:
- SIS50419 Diploma of Outdoor Leadership
Studying the Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership at Holmesglen
The course prepares you for the demands of the outdoor education/adventure industry and focuses on training you to both assist or guide a wide range of outdoor activities. Specific skills developed are in the areas of bushwalking, canoeing, white water rafting, challenge high ropes, rock climbing and abseiling.
The course content focuses around developing the capabilities required to plan and deliver an outdoor activity session(s) for a wide range of clients. Your ‘classroom’ will be predominantly away in the great outdoors, and at the Glen Waverley Campus. Practical field trips and industry placement form part of the course too. These vary in length from single days to 15-day expeditions.
This course is ideal for those with a strong interest in the outdoor environment and a sense of adventure. Having the opportunity to work in the outdoors and facilitate enriching and life-changing outdoor experiences for other people is a fantastic lifestyle. Becoming qualified as an Outdoor Leader allows you to work and live that dream in a truly rewarding career.
Course structure
Timetable: 4 days per week, Monday – Thursday: 9am to 4pm
Classes are a combination of both practical and theory delivered with a mix of face-to-face lessons on campus, online classes and field excursions.
To receive this qualification, you must complete 27 units of competency, which comprise of 12 core units and 15 elective units.
Units
View units
| Unit code |
Name |
| HLTWHS003 |
Maintain work health and safety |
| SISOPLN004 |
Identify hazards, assess and control risks for outdoor recreation activities |
| SISXCAI006 |
Facilitate groups |
| SISOPLN005 |
Interpret weather and environmental conditions for outdoor recreation activities |
| SISOFLD002 |
Minimise environmental impact |
| PUAOPE013 |
Operate communications systems and equipment |
| SISORSC001 |
Conduct search and rescue |
| SISXEMR002 |
Coordinate emergency responses |
| SISOFLD006 |
Navigate in tracked environments |
| SISOFLD007 |
Navigate in difficult tracked environments |
| SISOCNE002 |
Paddle a canoe on inland flatwater |
| SISOCNE003 |
Paddle a canoe on moving water up to grade 1 rivers |
| SISOCNE005 |
Lead canoeing activities on inland flatwater |
| SISOCNE006 |
Lead canoeing activities on moving water up to grade 1 rivers |
| SISXFAC001 |
Maintain equipment for activities |
| SISOCHC003 |
Lead challenge course sessions, high elements |
| SISOPLN001 |
Finalise operation of outdoor recreation activities |
| SISOPLN002 |
Plan outdoor activity sessions |
| SISOABS003 |
Abseil single pitches, natural surfaces |
| SISOABS009 |
Lead single pitch abseiling activities on natural surfaces |
| SISOCLM002 |
Top rope climb single pitches, natural surfaces |
| SISOCLM009 |
Lead single pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces, top rope climbing |
| SISXCCS003 |
Address client needs |
| SISOBWG002 |
Bushwalk in difficult tracked environments |
| SISOBWG004 |
Cross rivers during bushwalks |
| SISOBWG006 |
Lead bushwalks in difficult tracked environments |
| SISORAF001 |
Guide a raft on grade 2 rivers |
| Code | Name |
|---|
| HLTWHS003 | Maintain work health and safety |
| SISOPLN004 | Identify hazards, assess and control risks for outdoor recreation activities |
| SISXCAI006 | Facilitate groups |
| SISOPLN005 | Interpret weather and environmental conditions for outdoor recreation activities |
| SISOFLD002 | Minimise environmental impact |
| PUAOPE013 | Operate communications systems and equipment |
| SISORSC001 | Conduct search and rescue |
| SISXEMR002 | Coordinate emergency responses |
| SISOFLD006 | Navigate in tracked environments |
| SISOFLD007 | Navigate in difficult tracked environments |
| SISOCNE002 | Paddle a canoe on inland flatwater |
| SISOCNE003 | Paddle a canoe on moving water up to grade 1 rivers |
| SISOCNE005 | Lead canoeing activities on inland flatwater |
| SISOCNE006 | Lead canoeing activities on moving water up to grade 1 rivers |
| SISXFAC001 | Maintain equipment for activities |
| SISOCHC003 | Lead challenge course sessions, high elements |
| SISOPLN001 | Finalise operation of outdoor recreation activities |
| SISOPLN002 | Plan outdoor activity sessions |
| SISOABS003 | Abseil single pitches, natural surfaces |
| SISOABS009 | Lead single pitch abseiling activities on natural surfaces |
| SISOCLM002 | Top rope climb single pitches, natural surfaces |
| SISOCLM009 | Lead single pitch climbing activities on natural surfaces, top rope climbing |
| SISXCCS003 | Address client needs |
| SISOBWG002 | Bushwalk in difficult tracked environments |
| SISOBWG004 | Cross rivers during bushwalks |
| SISOBWG006 | Lead bushwalks in difficult tracked environments |
| SISORAF001 | Guide a raft on grade 2 rivers |
Assessment
Assessments are designed to provide learners with opportunities to demonstrate they have attained the required skills and knowledge using a range of practically based activities and tasks, as required by recognised standards.
Entry requirements
Applicants must be 18 by February 1 of the year they commence the course and students will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend campus.
Prior to enrolment or commencement of training, you will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment. These will assist with determining your suitability to the course, verify your training plan, and identify any learning support needs.
You will need to attend an interview to assess suitability for the course. You must be able to commit to attending off-campus field excursions that require overnight camping and stays throughout the year.
You must also have the physical capacity to be able to successfully operate and work within the field where you may be required to assist with set up and loading of outdoor leadership equipment, while making sure you follow all Manual Handling WHS legislation.
A Working with Children's Check is required due to the practical placement component in the course.
Applicants should also have
- a passion for the outdoors and the environment
- a mature attitude and approach to study
- good level of physical fitness
- an ability to be flexible and show initiative
- a desire to work with wide variety of people in a range of difficult and dynamic environments.
COVID-19 vaccination requirements
Please refer to our coronavirus update page to view current vaccine requirements.
Recognition of prior learning
You may be able to shorten the length of your chosen course by measuring skills acquired through work, life experiences or qualifications obtained from formal studies or training. AQF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by another registered training organisation will be recognised by Holmesglen. Read more about Recognition of Prior Learning, Credits and Advanced Standing.
Outcomes
Qualification and recognition
On completion, you will receive the SIS40619 Certificate IV of Outdoor Leadership.
Connections with industry
Outdoor Leaders are employed in a variety of settings, including school and commercial outdoor education camps, corporate facilitation, in the adventure and bush therapy and in private companies. Freelance work is also available throughout Australia and overseas.
How to apply
Direct
Apply Now
Visit How to Apply for more information on the application process.
Recruitment
Holmesglen may engage third parties to recruit students on behalf of the institute. Third party recruiters receive a commission and this will not impact on your fees.
Find out more about your rights and obligations as a student and the services we provide at Holmesglen.
Fees
| Tuition fees (GST exempt) |
Cost |
|
| Full Fee | $15,529 | |
| Government subsidised | $8,480 | |
| Concession | $1,696 | |
| Free TAFE eligible student | FREE | |
| JobTrainer eligible student | FREE | |
| Mandatory Materials and Activities fees * (GST inc) |
|
|
| Materials fee | $0 | |
| Activities fee | $2,000 | |
*Mandatory Materials and Activities fees are still payable by all students including students who may be eligible for Government subsidised fees or a Free TAFE course.
**Additional costs may also apply for course consumable and other costs. These may include consumables such as learning resources, personal protective equipment/clothing and other costs such as immunisation costs, National Police Check and Working with Children Check for relevant courses. To view the additional costs that apply for each course, download a full list of estimated additional costs by course (PDF - 102kb).
All fees are indicative only. Your fees will be calculated on your individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. Training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth funding. Find out now if you are eligible for Government-subsidised fees or Concession
.