WHAT'S ON - EVENTS
06 Sep 2010 - Adventure & Nature-Based Toursim Conference
Held by Tourism Alliance Victoria, details TBA. More »»
PrintActivity Standards
Adventure Activity Standards (AAS) are voluntary guidelines for organisations conducting outdoor recreation activities for dependant groups (where participants have a level of dependence upon the leader(s) . AAS promote:
- Safety for both participants and providers,
- Protection for providers against legal liability claims and criminal penalties,
- Assistance in obtaining insurance cover.
AAS are NOT statutory standards by law. Legal liability for injuries or property damage is primarily governed by the law of Contract and Negligence which are described within each AAS introduction. Commercial activity providers will however be aware that AAS have been applied by most managers of crown land as a legal requirement of neccessery licenses.
The Adventure Activity Standards (AAS) have been established as minimum standards The concept required appropriate consultation with commercial and community involvement so that a single and consistent set of guidelines could be established and agreed by the contributors, provide clarity to the sector and to the external stakeholder of safe and sustainable practices in the outdoors.
A consortium of four government agencies, Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV), Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Parks Victoria (PV) and Tourism Victoria (TV) support and fund the project. The funding consortium has an ongoing role on the steering committee for the project ensuring that the AAS are endorsed and recognised by the Victorian State Government.
The necessity for minimum standards has arisen as the outdoor recreation sector continues to develop ‘best practice’. AAS do not expect best practice but do expect activities to be conducted in a manner appropriate to the specific organisation, the participants being led and the nature of the activity being undertaken. The ORC thoroughly support the pursuit of best practice by organisations which have the expertise and resources to optimise safety and quality of activities for participants and the environment.
For more information about the project and how to get involved contact Don MacDowall, the Project Officer.
You are also welcome to contact the AAS Review Commitee.