New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5)

This qualification is for outdoor recreation professionals who operate independently and provide instruction and leadership for participants during specific outdoor activities.

Outdoor instructors have deep, specialised knowledge and skill in their activity area. Friendly, responsible and confident, they have the trust of the groups they lead, to manage activities and trips safely in dynamic outdoor environments. Their training and know-how enables them to respond calmly and competently when things get tricky or the weather turns bad.

This qualification is designed to be delivered on-the-job in the great outdoors.

Graduates of this qualification will be able to lead and instruct a specific outdoor recreation activity, in line with their organisation's Safety Management System.

Did you know: Once you've achieved your Outdoor Leadership certificate, you will be registered with the New Zealand Register of Recreation Professionals. You can keep your registration current by re-registering every three years.

The trainee chooses from a range of activity strands. The following strands are available now: 

• Bushwalking 
• Mountain Biking 
• High Ropes 
• Education Outside the Classroom
• Rock Climbing

This 80-credit qualification involves completing the Outdoor Instructor Fundamentals module, plus an activity strand.

The Outdoor Instructor Fundamentals module covers:

• Independently planning, preparing and instructing safe and enjoyable outdoor recreation activities and facilitating skill progression in a dynamic outdoor environment
• Exercising judgement to plan, prepare for and instruct an outdoor recreation activity that is consistent with the Safety Management System of an organisation, including being able to assess and manage an emergency care situation
• Role modelling the principles of kaitiakitanga that incorporate respect for the tikanga and kawa of local iwi or hapū, sustainability, and the environment in which they are operating
• Applying pedagogical practices to create a sequenced programme of learning that meets the needs of learners in the outdoors.

This qualification is designed to be completed in 12 months.

Te Mahi Ako is a Private Training Enterprise (PTE) funded by the government to create world-class, nationally-recognised programmes linked to qualifications that staff can complete on the job. The benefit of on-the-job training is that you are earning an income, gaining a qualification, and getting real-life experience, all in one go. And because Te Mahi Ako’s programmes are government-subsidised, they are very affordable.

Te Mahi Ako works with a wide range of facilities throughout New Zealand, from small to large. Te Mahi Ako or the facility will provide learning resources and assessment tasks for the staff member, and supporting materials will help the workplace to deliver the training. In some cases, an organisation’s own in-house training programme will be aligned to a Te Mahi Ako programme, so staff members who complete the in-house training will simultaneously earn a national qualification. Te Mahi Ako also has a Recognition of Current Competency process, which means that you may be able to get your existing skills and experience recognised through a qualification.

To enrol in a Te Mahi Ako on-the-job qualification, you must be employed in the industry or be a volunteer. Make sure to check with the business that you’re working in, or would like to work in, to see if they are already registered with Te Mahi Ako.

For more information go to: www.temahiako.org.nz