Tips For Teachers

It is important to plan ahead and be aware of potential hazards before your visit. Below is a list of important information to consider whilst planning a park excursion.

Parks Victoria requests that large school groups or groups undertaking extended day visits notify the park office of their intentions. Additionally, for any school activity that includes adventure activities, camping, overnight components, weekends or holiday time, the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) requires state schools to comply with the Safety Guidelines for Education Outdoors .

Parks Victoria offices can be contacted by calling the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963 or by emailing info@parks.vic.gov.au.

Come Prepared 

Ensure your students are prepared for a trip into a wilderness area and are accordingly dressed and prepared for all types of weather.

When making a booking for an education activity, remember to notify the parks office of any special considerations regarding student welfare or special needs.

 

Group Sizes

It is expected that school staff will participate in the sessions provided to supervise and manage student behaviour at all times.

The following supervisor-to-student ratios are recommended for day visits to parks:

• 1:1 for special needs
• 1:2 for under 5 years
• 1: 5 for Years Prep - 2
• 1: 10 for Years 3 - 6
• 1: 20 for Year 7- 12

Parks Victoria staff should not be included as part of the above ratios. Please note: when visiting particularly fragile environments, smaller group sizes or higher supervisory ratios may be required

 

Weather

Weather conditions and warnings can be monitored at www.bom.gov.au/weather/vic

Extreme or Severe Weather – if the Bureau of Meteorology issues a weather warning for the region you are visiting, education programs will generally be postponed until another day. Alternatively under-cover programs may be run with small groups

 

Emergencies

Education Officers are trained in first aid and carry a communication device.

Teachers and supervisors are encouraged to carry first aid kits, mobile phones and a list of their school's phone numbers at all times.

 

Fire

If a Total Fire Ban is declared, many parks will be closed and unless discussed prior to the day, education programs will not be offered.

During the fire season, Parks Victoria staff may be called out to a fire at late notice and a session or park visit may need to be rescheduled.

 

Minimal Impact Guidelines

Minimal Impact techniques are used by people to reduce their impact on the local environment. Techniques can include limiting group sizes, handling animals responsibly, respecting cultures, using a soft approach and following the Take In, Take Out philosophy.

Minimal impact techniques should be practiced by all visitors to Victoria 's parks. This includes school groups, tour groups, holiday makers and local visitors.

 

Take In, Take Out

Litter can impact on the environment in many ways including injuring animals, polluting waterways and making an area unsightly. Rubbish bins are not provided in most National Parks, therefore carry a rubbish bag and take everything you bring into the parks back out again with you.

 

Respect the land

Encourage students to respect the park and other visitors by treading lightly and quietly.

Visitors should be aware and respect cultural sites they encounter by not touching, removing or damaging them.

 

Wildlife Conservation

All wildlife, plants and other materials within National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries are protected. This means that all forms of hunting, fishing and the removal of animals, plants and objects such as shells, sand and other materials is prohibited.

Unless advised by a ranger, don't feed native wildlife including birds. Feeding wildlife can lead to health problems for the animals as well as making them reliant and even aggressive towards humans. Remember the healthiest food for wild animals occurs in nature.

Groups should be considerate of and avoid disturbing animal habitats. For example, walk on the low tide mark to avoid trampling bird nests such as those of the Hooded Plover who nest in the soft sand higher up the beach.

 

Stay on track

Many search and rescues are the result of people walking off the tracks. For the safety of you and your students, it is important to remain on the existing walking tracks. By staying on track you reduce the risk of damaging native flora and fauna or causing erosion and degradation of natural areas.

For more information on conducting outdoor education, please contact the Victorian Outdoor Education Association (VOEA) .

Further pre trip advice can be found by reading Parks Victoria's fact files: “Enjoying a Safe Visit to Victoria's Parks” and “Keeping Wildlife Wild”