Attendance at the Basic Skills Workshop is a mandatory qualification event for all Prospective Members seeking to progress to Full Membership, however is also open to any Member seeking to refresh their basic skills.
The purpose of the workshop is to provide an interactive facilitator-led learning experience in the key areas of navigation, first aid and bushcraft in order to prepare you with a level of proficiency to undertake day, overnight and multi-day walks with the Club.
Basic Skills Workshops are held every 3 months (or more often based on demand) over a full day in Centennial Park and are facilitated by a group of experienced volunteers and walk leaders. Refer to the Skills Activities Schedule or Walks Program for scheduling details.
The Advanced Skills Workshop builds on the basic proficiency achieved through the Basic Skills Workshop and through participating in walks with the Club. This workshop is open to all Members wishing to enhance their skills and/or seeking to gain the skills necessary to lead day walks.
The Advanced Skills Workshop is held annually (or more often based on demand) at Coolana over 2 days where we base camp and then participate in two day walks with day pack. The workshop provides a very interactive facilitator-led learning experience that provides hands-on experience in navigation, route selection, incident management and group management. Our volunteer facilitators include experienced specialist navigators, first aiders and walk leaders. Refer to the Skills Activities Schedule or Walks Program for scheduling details.
The Leadership Development Workshop targets those members seeking to extend their proficiency and commence leading overnight and multi-day walks.
The Leadership Development Workshop is held annually (normally in October) over 2 days in the Wollangambe area or Coolana in a full pack overnight walk format which is predominantly off-track walking. The workshop provides a highly interactive facilitator-led experience that provides potential leaders with a very hands-on experience in leading a group through a wilderness area whilst navigating, route finding, managing hazards and associated risks, managing incident scenarios and group management. Our volunteer facilitators are all very experienced walk leaders, navigators and first aiders. Refer to the Skills Activities Schedule or Walks Program for scheduling details.
Skills-based pathways have been developed for members seeking to become leaders of specialised activities – specifically abseiling/canyoning and paddling. The pathways are based on National or Association competencies and provide for graded skills development under the guidance of experienced club leaders.
Following the completion of the pathway the member is required to seek Committee endorsement as a specialised activity leader.
For more information please contact skillsenhancement@sbw.org.au.
Themed walks coordinated by walk leaders that provide the opportunity for Members to enhance their navigation skills "on the job" whilst participating in a normal walk and are highly recommended. Nav 101 walks are conducting regularly throughout the walks program.
The Club provides subsidies for Members who walk regularly to attend formal First Aid accreditation programs including:
Apply First Aid Certificate – 2 day program conducted by accredited suppliers including St John Ambulance and Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS). Members who undertake at least 7 days activities in the previous 12 months may qualify for a subsidy.
Remote Area First Aid – an advanced 4 day program conducted over 2 weekends by Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS). Walk leaders may qualify for a subsidy.
A social evening held periodically where walk leaders or aspiring leaders gather to discuss walk opportunities and share knowledge.
A number of regular specialised activities and skills workshops are conducted as part of the regular walks program including:
Future opportunities in the pipeline:
The Next Information Night will be held on Wednesday 9 May at 7.30pm
The Next Social Night will be held on Wednesday 16 May at 7.30pm
New Members Information Nights are held every month upstairs at 16 Fitzroy Street Kirribilli,
Prospectives doing their first overnight Q can borrow gear for their first overnight walk. Contact gearofficer@sbw.org.au
Please send any news items to communications@sbw.org.au.