Orienteering is part treasure hunt, part amazing race. It is as much a mental activity as a physical one. It can be conducted outdoors and indoors and it caters for all levels of fitness, for walkers as well as runners.
The program teaches students orienteering skills using a variety of active, fun and inclusive games. Some of the skills students will learn include reading maps, map symbols, orientating the map (cardinal points/NESW) and route choice. The program concludes with an orienteering line course around the school.
Orienteering Australia offers a program for both primary schools and Year 7 and 8 students as part of the targeted secondary school program.
Program Details
Orienteering Australia offers a range of Sporting Schools program packages that can be customised according to the age and experience of the students, as well as the number of lessons required.
An essential part of orienteering at school is having an up-to-date orienteering map for your school area. If your school has never been mapped, or the map requires updating, please choose the Mapping of School add-on in your booking.
Packages can be delivered as 45 or 60 minute sessions (dependent on class size).
Orienteering Australia has developed a Primary (Years 3-6) and Secondary (Years 7-8) Schools Program which gives school students the opportunity to be involved in a fun, safe and inclusive, modified orienteering program in their school environment.
The program incorporates a series of activities and support resources which seamlessly align to the Australian Curriculum in the learning areas of Health and Physical Education, and Mathematics, using engaging, group-based, modified orienteering activities as the vehicle for learning.
Coverage
ACT:
Orienteering ACT can provide services for all of the ACT and the surrounding region of SE NSW. Services include coaching for schools, mapping of the school and adjacent ovals and parklands, and professional development for teachers.
New South Wales:
Coach-led programs are available in Sydney, Newcastle, Central Coast, Illawarra, Blue Mountains, Armidale, Coffs Harbour, Wagga Wagga, Southern Highlands. Teacher-led programs are available state-wide with mapping services and NESA-accredited Professional Development in partnership with the NSW School Sports Unit. Orienteering NSW also provide online PD workshops to teachers.
Northern Territory:
Please contact Top End Orienteers for current availability of services.
Queensland:
Orienteering Queensland (OQ) provide mapping, coaches and teacher training to many areas in South East Queensland, and some parts of Wide Bay, Cairns and Townsville. Contact OQ for Qld services.
South Australia:
The area covered for coach-led programs in SA is Adelaide metro area, Adelaide Hills including the Fleurieu Peninsula, Mid North as far as Clare and Burra, Northern and Central Yoke Peninsula, Lower River Murray towns.
Tasmania:
Orienteering Tasmania can service the greater Hobart region, Launceston and the Tamar valley, and the Devonport region (the south, north and northwest of the state).
Victoria:
Orienteering Victoria (OV) can service coach-led programs, including mapping, to metropolitan Melbourne (boundaries are eastern Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Woodend, Healesville, Narre Warren and Mornington, and up to 50km from Ballarat). Please contact OV for availability in Bendigo. Teacher-led programs, including mapping and Professional Development, are available state-wide, through consultation with OV.
Western Australia:
Please contact Orienteering WA (OWA) for current services in your area. In general, OWA will not provide orienteering services north of Geraldton or east of Kalgoorlie.
Equipment
Windchill School Kit $355 (inc GST) - 20 control flags, 20 punches, 100 control cards
Orienteering Service of Australia school kit $355 (inc GST) - 20 control flags, 20 punches, 100 control cards
The essential requirements for teaching orienteering is a school map and a qualified orienteering coach. If your school doesn’t already have a map that can be used for orienteering, then this can be organised.
An orienteering map of the school is a great resource beyond this program – it will be of use to social science, maths, PE, and gifted and talented classes. It’s also a handy planning tool if the school wants to add new buildings!
The cost of mapping a small primary school starts at around $250 – $350. A larger school may cost around $600 to map. More information is available by viewing the Orienteering Australia website.
Teachers
To deliver orienteering as a teacher, you need to meet the requirements below:
- Hold a valid state and/or territory teacher registration
- Be employed at the school
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Complete Orienteering Learning Centre (OLC) course for Orienteering Instructor (Teacher)
Coaches
To deliver orienteering as a coach, you need to meet the below requirements -
- Registered in OfficialsHQ as a coach and connected to a provider, SSO or NSO
- Be aged 16 years or over
- Hold a current Working with Children Check (paid check) or relevant exemption
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Agree to Coach terms and conditions
To deliver on behalf of Orienteering Australia, coaches need to:
- Be connected to an endorsed provider, Orienteering Australia or your local State Association in OfficialsHQ
- Have Orienteering Instructor (Community) accreditation or a higher level accreditation
Coaching Providers
To deliver orienteering as a provider organisation, you need to meet the below requirements:
- Registered as a provider in OfficialsHQ
- Hold a valid ABN or declare ABN exempt
- Confirm adequacy of insurance
- Agree to Provider Guidelines and Provider organisation terms and conditions
- Meet safety assessment (as determined by the NSO)
To be an endorsed provider for ORIENTEERING and deliver on behalf of Orienteering Australia, providers must also meet the requirements below:
- Agree to Memorandum of Understanding with Orienteering Australia or your local State Association
NOTE: All coaches that deliver under any provider must be registered and meet coach registration minimum requirements.
Orienteering Australia Resources
Orienteering Learning Centre: Orienteering Learning Centre