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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author
Cert IV - Outdoor Ed?
argos44
25-Oct-2013
8:38:09 AM
Thinking of studying to do my Cert IV in outdoor education and picking the climbing/abseiling modules. Would like to hear from others on why this is a good/bad idea.

I already have a good trade but getting bored and need options.

Cheers

E. Wells
25-Oct-2013
9:47:32 AM
I think its a fantastic Idea, the package has changed since I did it due to alot less funding but I certainly learned alot , I highly recommend Blue Mtns Tafe. Our teachers were exceptional, and the roping side of things is just a small part of the fun, though you could possibly just focus on this. Cert.3 may be an advantage though if your clued up with basic hauls and redundant rigging etc should be sweet. One thing....maybe its changed but was VERY full time. Be prepared to be very poor, save up now!!

BoulderBaby
25-Oct-2013
11:12:01 AM
On 25/10/2013 E. Wells wrote:
. Be prepared to be very poor, save up now!!

Both my housemates have done the cert 3, 4 and diploma - they love it.

I personally feel that cert 3 is a bit redundant if you plan to do 4 & the diploma.( and another year of your life poorer)
lockydoc
25-Oct-2013
11:54:05 AM
I did my cert 4 2 years ago with O.E.G it was a lot of fun did heaps of rafting climbing hiking etc. however at the end we did not get any nationally recognised climbing quals as in single pitch/multi pitch guiding. If you wish to do guiding for a company like the Australian climbing company etc you will have to go through A.C.I.A which makes doing a cert 4 redundant (if you are already an experienced climber). Cert 4 is good if you are totally new too climbing otherwise a waste of money if you only whent to do climbing.
simey
25-Oct-2013
1:18:10 PM
I agree with lockydoc. The Cert 4 course is great for gaining a lot of outdoor experience in a variety of fields, but if it is climbing guiding that you primarily want to pursue then you are much better doing your training and assessment through the ACIA (Australian Climbing Instructors Assoc). The ACIA qualifications are held in fairly high regard as applicants at entry level (Single Pitch Guide) are expected to be competent lead climbers before they even apply for training. The standard to which it is assessed is also a lot more rigorous.

Increasingly there seem to be qualifications coming into existence where you can become some sort of accredited top-rope instructor and yet have never led a climb in your life. This might be fine in very controlled environments, but it also means that the person being employed as a climbing instructor probably has very limited experience.
argos44
25-Oct-2013
2:18:12 PM
Thanks for the input, it doesn't sound like the cert 4 is for me. I will take a look at ACIA as being able to guide is the major interest and I already have a reasonably high experience level.

Cheers

Jason

E. Wells
25-Oct-2013
5:51:49 PM
Interesting, I had done plenty of climbing, trad multipitching on Katoomba cliffs and the Wolgan , as well as sport routes up to grade 29 or so before I did Cert.4 (multipitch climbing being one module) and learned so much from super amazing teachers. I also know a few younger climbers that walk up my projects who would testify the same. Climbers such as Gilbert Munier, Carl Jagusch, Brendan Helmrich, Damon Cupitt, Adam Darragh, Jason Beechcroft, Julie McVee, Robbie McKillop, all taught me many things....hell, even my hiking/nav teacher apparently soloed Morphyd naked at night in his younger years (not named) not that this is currently core curriculum. I certainly wouldnt have had such a great time in places such as the warambungles as I have since without theyre expertise training.......I probably need to do the course again some day!!
Wendy
25-Oct-2013
6:01:40 PM
I think it really does depend on where you do your course. The Blue Mtns one is probably the most reputable one in the country. Some of the others aren't worth the paper they are written on by the end of it in terms of climbing employablilty.

You planning to stay in Darwin? I would think there was minimal climbing work! In all honesty, there's not a lot of work in climbing guiding anywhere. It's very seasonal. You'll get the most work out of the Blueys, but your bread and butter will be abseiling and canyons. And the pay rates are low. OEG were running very low on climbing guides for their programs a few years ago, but it will be toproping/abeiling/roped bushwalking. Some form of general outdoor education qual (and the higher level the better) will increase your options, but ACIA is definitely the standard for climbing guiding.
mr poo
26-Oct-2013
9:42:23 PM
one thing to think about.
ACIA dose not give you a national recognised qual (VET qualification).
They do how ever train to a very high standard.

There are 9 messages in this topic.

 

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