Cycling - People

Staff

All staff members must comply with current Departmental police check requirements or the Working With Children Check.

A teacher registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching and either employed by the Department or the school council must be present and have overall responsibility for the activity.

Where not directly responsible for the instruction of the activity or assisting the instructor, the teacher responsible for the activity must understand the activity and the environment in which it will be conducted.  This teacher must confer with the designated instructor about the supervisory role and establish areas of responsibility.  If the teacher is not the designated instructor, he/she is to act on the advice of the designated instructor on technical safety issues.

Any staff member with a known medical condition that might compromise the group’s risk management plan should make accompanying staff aware of this condition.  Issues of confidentiality and privacy will apply to any such disclosure.

Experience and qualifications

At least one excursion staff member must have an approved qualification in Bicycle Safety Education.  For further information, please see Bicycle Safety Education Instructor Training.

The designated cycling instructor(s) must have and provide evidence of having the following knowledge and skills:

Required knowledge

• the implications of relevant Australian and international standards on equipment use and performance
• relevant state legislation impacting on cycling activities
• accepted industry best practice or recommendations (specified operating procedures, risk management guidelines, professional association's recommendations and/or current texts)
• manufacturer's design specifications and recommendations for equipment use
• cycling equipment
• the technical aspects of cycling
• first aid appropriate to the location
• common injuries/ailments associated with cycle touring, and first aid for such
• the selection and use of equipment for cycling
• the effect of construction features of touring bicycles on their use
• equipment and touring bicycle features that provide comfort
• personal cycling gear
• maintenance tools
• road rules and cycling codes including rider etiquette
• the efficient use of touring bicycle features
• the location.

Required skills

• personal cycling skills to a high level of technical competency
• decision-making skills to tailor the activity to meet group needs
• observation skills to maintain group control
• problem-solving to eliminate or minimise hazards
• ability to use repair equipment
• first aid skills appropriate to the location.

 

The knowledge and skills above conform to the requirements of the Australian Outdoor Recreation Industry Training Package units SROCYT005A and SROCYT06A.    For current information about relevant recreation industry training please refer to the National Training Information Service.

The designated assistant to the instructor should have sufficient experience in the activity and must:

• be able to assume a supervisory role during the activity
• be competent in emergency response procedures
• have conferred with the instructor to establish the emergency response and supervision responsibilities.

Documentation of Staff Qualifications and Experience (Word - 132Kb) must be used to document staff qualifications/experience in lieu of qualifications.

Where an external contractor is chosen to run all or part of this activity, the guidelines for the use of External providers should be followed.

Supervision

A minimum of two staff members must be present for each activity.  One staff member is to have responsibility for instruction in the activity and the other is to assist the instructor.

The following table shows the minimum staff-to-student ratios for cycling.  These must be applied when establishing the instructional and supervision strategy for the activity.

Activity	Staff required	Student numbers
Cycling	2	1-20
	3	21-30

Decisions about staff numbers and suitability for the activity should be based on the:

• age, maturity and gender of students
• ability and experience of students
• needs of individuals                     
• dynamics of the student group
• experience, qualifications and skills of staff
• location of the activity
• anticipated conditions at the location.

The teacher in charge is responsible for the supervision strategy, which must be endorsed by the school council as part of the excursion approval process.  Staff members should supervise students according to this strategy.

If a decision is made to vary the recommended allocation of supervising staff, reasons for the variation must be documented.  The minimum requirements for this activity are provided above.

Overnight excursions

Informed consent

Informed consent should be based on an understanding of:

• the educational purpose of the activity
• the nature and details of the activity
• the supervision strategy
• other information deemed relevant by the school, parents or guardians.

Informed consent must be given in writing and signed by parents or guardians.

First aid

Staff members must carefully consider the nature and location of the excursion, as well as the medical history of the students, to determine the level of first aid training required by staff.  For example, if any student in the group has a history of