Adventure Activity Standards (AAS) are voluntary guidelines describing industry-recognised minimum standards of practice for a number of specific adventurous activities, for organisations conducting outdoor recreation activities where the participants are dependent on the activity provider.

In alignment with the other Australian States and Territories, and as the Outdoor Council of Australia supports the word 'standard' as a minimum guideline or base, ORIC has adopted the term NSW Adventure Activity Standards (NSW AAS) to describe the minimum guidelines for the conduct of adventure activities in NSW.

The NSW Adventure Activity Standards (NSW AAS) have been developed to assist organisations (both commercial and voluntary), leaders and guides to plan and conduct an outdoor recreation activity, and cover essential aspects and practices including planning, leader competency, equipment, safety, emergency procedures and environment.

They are non-compulsory guidelines for risk management in the operation of organised outdoor activities, and provide a framework and a checklist for outdoor activity providers to devise their own individual risk management programmes and strategies.  The NSW AAS provide a good starting point for providers to develop their own effective risk management programmes and strategies.

They provide an opportunity for those who lead and participate in outdoor activities to have an opportunty to be appropriately informed of the responsibilities, duty of care and legal expectation they should meet.  Further they help to guide knowledge of the appropriate duty of care required for self, others and the environment.

The NSW AAS are not statutory standards by law, however, they have been established as minimum standards for organisations and leaders conducting outdoor recreation and adventure activities or programs for dependent groups (where participants have a level of dependence upon the organisation and leader), to undertake activities in a manner that is safe for both participants and providers.  The NSW AAS may also be a useful reference for any in-formal group or individual undertaking the activities they describe.

This was achieved by engaging in consultation across the outdoor industry so that a single and consistent set of guidelines could be established and agreed to by the contributors. By the outdoor adventure industry demonstrating its collective integrity and agreed guidelines, it in turn will provide a measure of quality for the purposes of assisting:-

• Consumers of our services to make informed choices about the services they select;
  
  
• Training organisations to produce graduates who understand and meet industry standards;
  
  
• Media, insurance and legal scrutineers of our industry and its members, to understand what is acceptable practice and what is not;
  
  
• The development of sustainable use practices that consider the specific natural and cultural heriage values of an area.

The result is this first version of the NSW AAS, V1.0 August 2011, providing information for stakeholders of safe and sustainable practices in the outdoors.

NSW Adventure Activity Standards are available for the following outdoor adventure activities:-

• Abseiling
• Bushwalking
• canoeing and Kayaking
• Challenge Ropes Course
• Mountain Biking
• Rock Climbing

Each NSW AAS has on it's cover page its version number and publication date.  Where a version is listed as Version 1.0 for example, it means it is the first major published version.

Where it is listed as Version 1.1, 1.2 ... it means that there has been minor changes to the previously published version.  Version 2.0 would be used once a major review has been carried out.

As living documents, the NSW AAS will require updates.  If you identify any errors, or have suggestions on how the NSW AAS might be improved, we are keen to hear from you.  Constructive feedback on layout, content, presentation, detail and/or ommissions are welcome.

If you would like the opportunity to be involved in the development of NSW AAS for additional activities being pursued, please complete the expression of interest.