This course takes key units from the Certificate IV in Youth Work and combines them with key units from the Certificate III Outdoor Recreation to create a new qualification suitable for people working with youth in the Adventure Based Learning (adventure therapy) areas.

The course is currently being trialled with industry personal with existing experience in the field as Recognition of Prior Learning and Skill Gap Training. It is expected that this course will be on offer in 2009 as a mainstream course.

To gain the qualification students must complete one outdoor recreation skill area to Certificate III guide level, and two other skill areas to certificate II participant level.

The take up of the course and the benefits for the individual and the organisation have been outstanding. The content is a well balanced mixture of counselling and adventure based learning, providing the necessary foundation skills to work in the industry.

Blue Mountains College is offering RPL in the Diploma in Outdoor Recreation for people with current industry experience in the management of outdoor recreation programs during the second half of 2008.

In 2009 the Blue Mountains College will be running the Diploma for those people who wish to gain this qualification through a mixture of block training programs, self paced study and specific projects to be conducted in the workplace. People wishing to enrol in the Diploma in 2009 would need to be at least competent to Certificate IV Outdoor Recreation level.

For further information please contact:

Len Metcalf 02 4753 2053, leonard.metcalf@tafensw.edu.au or

Parrish Robbins 02 4753 2052, parrish.robbins@tafensw.edu.au