Version control: Original 1999/ Updated 2004/ Updated 2016/ Updated May 2025/ Updated Oct 2026
Introduction
Teachers must follow these Specific sport and physical activity guidelines together with the Sport and physical activity procedures and Supporting tools and resources to meet duty of care and manage risks effectively at the local level.
All teachers delivering sport and physical activity should be familiar with the Concussion information and protocols included in the Supporting tools and resources and have completed the School Sport Unit - Recognising and responding to concussion MyPL online course.
The guidelines support safe, inclusive and compliant sport delivery through:
- weekly school sport
- one-off events or gala days
- the Representative School Sport Pathway.
They outline compliance measures to address inherent risks, offer advice on modifying traditional rules and equipment to reduce risk, and provide guidance on adapting activities to support the inclusion of all students.
Key
The following key indicates the level of teacher qualification required to deliver a specific activity as part of a school sport program:
Note: This key does not determine the WHS risk level for an activity. It may inform local risk assessment as one component of the broader WHS risk management process, as outlined in the WHS Risk Management procedure.
AbseilingHigh risk (Red)
Abseiling has the following characteristics:
- involves descending a rock face or structure using ropes, a harness and a controlled belay system
- requires participants to rely on specialised equipment and correct set-up, for example, anchors, ropes, helmets and belay devices
- is conducted on a vertical or steep surface, with height exposure and fall risk managed through systems and procedures
- requires competent instruction and active supervision to manage rope handling, communication and safe technique
- is typically delivered as an outdoor adventure activity where site conditions, for example, weather, surface stability and access, influence risk controls.
Teacher/instructor qualifications and experience
Teacher and instructor
The adult leading the abseiling activity must hold at least one of the following, or an equivalent industry-recognised, qualification relevant to the activity scope:
- a nationally recognised outdoor leadership qualification with relevant abseiling competencies, for example, SIS40621 Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership with appropriate abseiling units or skill sets
- Australian Climbing Instructors Association qualification, for example, Top Rope Guide (TRG) for top rope climbing/abseil at single pitch crags, and/or Single Pitch Guide (SPG), where required
as well as
- a current remote first aid certificate at an appropriate level for remoteness of area.
In addition, the leader must have recent experience at the location and have current capability in:
- group management procedures appropriate to the safe conduct of the activity
- emergency procedures, including vertical rescue procedures
- use, inspection and care of abseiling equipment
- single-rope techniques and the ability to manage emergencies
- a range of abseil techniques, including transitioning between systems.
Permission
All students must have parent/carer permission to participate in abseiling.
- See Permission page for more information.
Supervision
During active abseiling at the cliff face, supervision ratios must be appropriate to the activity and site. As a guide, the qualified instructor/teacher to student ratio should not exceed 1:6 for active abseiling.
For students away from the cliff face and not directly involved, the teacher-in-charge must determine supervision based on student age, experience and maturity, environmental conditions, terrain difficulty and the experience of adult supervisors.
In wilderness areas, group size must be kept manageable for safety and minimal environmental impact and must comply with land manager requirements or permit conditions. This may require smaller groups and increased supervision.
Instructors may be included in the supervision ratio. However, a teacher must be present for each class-sized group of students to take overall responsibility for supervision and to hold duty of care. This teacher does not need to be abseiling-qualified.
Accompanying teachers must have completed the department’s mandatory Emergency Care training. At least one accompanying teacher must hold current department-approved CPR training.
Equipment
A first aid kit that meets the checklist in the First Aid Plan, as outlined in the department’s First aid procedure, is required.
Abseiling equipment
- Equipment must be well maintained, fit for purpose and suitable for abseiling. A system must be in place for checking, recording, reporting and removing damaged equipment from service.
- Helmets, harnesses, belay/descending devices, ropes and connectors, carabiners, must be manufactured to a recognised standard, for example, EN and/or Australian Standards, as relevant to the item.
- Ropes must be manufactured as life-safety rope suitable for abseiling and compatible with the belay/descending devices being used.
- Slings and tapes must be rated and used within their stated strength and safe working load.
- All equipment must be used, stored and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, including retirement criteria and any expiry or service-life limits.
- Vertical rescue equipment appropriate to the site and activity must be readily available.
- Communication equipment appropriate to the context must be available, for example, mobile phone, UHF radio, satellite device and/or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), as required.
- A water-resistant method of storing and carrying communications and first aid equipment must be available.
- Spare clothing for use in an emergency must be available.
Personal safety
- Clothing and footwear must be appropriate to conditions, with fully enclosed shoes worn at all times.
- Helmets must be worn and correctly secured during abseiling activities.
- Gloves may be used at the discretion of the instructor.
Venues
Locations must be approved for abseiling by the relevant land manager or property owner, for example, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, state forest managers, Crown land managers or private landholders. All required permissions or permits must be obtained before the activity.
Current restrictions and conditions must be checked prior to the activity, for example, access closures, fire bans and weather warnings.
The proposed site and activities must be assessed and deemed suitable by an appropriately qualified leader, in consultation with the teacher-in-charge, before final decisions are made about the area to be used.
The venue must enable safe walking access to both the top and the bottom of the abseil site.
The abseil site must be free of loose hazards that could fall or cause slips, for example, scree, detached rock and loose vegetation.
School buildings or on-site infrastructure must not be used as anchor points unless they are purpose-built, certified and approved for abseiling use.
The abseil system must be set up so the instructor and belayer can maintain visual and/or clear verbal contact with the abseiler for the entire abseil.
When selecting the venue and planning the program, the teacher-in-charge must minimise environmental impact and disturbance to other users.
Guidance for novice abseilers
- Short, low angle face or slab, for example, around 8 to 10 m, with easy access at the top
- Belay or anchor points positioned higher than the take-off point
- No sharp edges or overhangs on the line
- A large, flat area at the base for safe landing and group management
Safety
Students must receive instruction and practice in equipment use, basic abseil technique, communication signals and safe working procedures before abseiling on a cliff face.
The leader must ensure a site-specific emergency response plan is in place and that supervisors and students know the key procedures and signals to request assistance.
Activity boundaries must be identified, communicated and actively supervised, for example:
- on-rope zone: entry only when attached to the safety system
- safe zone: waiting areas at the top and bottom when not participating
- no-go zone: areas students must not enter.
Only instructors or supervisors are to dispatch abseilers.
Anyone within 2 m of a cliff or unprotected edge must be secured by a safety system. Increase this distance in wet, windy or unstable conditions.
A back-up system must be used for abseiling, selected by the qualified leader, for example, top-rope belay or bottom brake, as appropriate.
A dispatch and buddy-check process must be followed for every descent, including harness fit, correct attachment, locked carabiners and confirmation of two-way communication.
For remote or wilderness locations, trip intentions must be left with a responsible contact, and an agreed escalation time, aligned to location risk and expected return time, must be set in case the group is overdue.
Glasses should be secured and long hair tied back.
Students must remove jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury.
Sun exposure must be managed in line with the department’s Sun safety guidance. Strategies should be appropriate to the event, venue, weather conditions and duration of exposure, including adjustments to activity timing where required.
Students must not participate or continue to participate if injured. If a teacher or instructor suspects an injury, the student must be removed and must not return until fully healed or medically cleared.
If an injury involves bleeding, follow the department's Infection Control Procedures.
- Appendix B: Procedures for spills of blood and other body substances
- Appendix C: Procedures for contact with blood or body fluids
Resources
Risk assessment support
*Disclaimer: In line with the NSW Government’s full disclaimer regarding links to external sites, links are provided with the intention of increasing the information available to you and do not imply that the department endorses those websites or the people or companies who own them. The NSW Department of Education has no control over linked websites, and is not responsible for the views, opinions, standards or information expressed on them.