Field          Community and Social Services

 

Review of Avalanche unit standards

 

Subfield

Domain

ID

Snowsport

Avalanche

18127-18129, 18134-18136, 21741

 

Skills Active Aotearoa has completed the review of the unit standards listed above.

 

Date new versions published                                                          August 2017

 

Planned review date                                                                           December 2022

 

Summary

 

The review of these unit standards was prompted by the outcomes of the mandatory review of qualifications, specifically the listing of:

 

·            New Zealand Certificate in Avalanche Risk Management (Level 5) [Ref: 3490].

 

Feedback from stakeholders was gathered through an open consultation process and used to guide the development of the industry training programmes for the qualification above, as well as the development and review of the associated unit standards.

 

The reviewed unit standards were found to no longer be fit for purpose, relevant nor aligned with outcomes listed in the new qualifications.

 

New unit standards were developed to meet industry needs for Avalanche.

 

Main changes

 

·      Seven standards were expired without replacement.

·      Four new standards were developed.

 

Category D unit standards will expire at the end of December 2020

 

Impact on Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR)

 

All standards have been moved to CMR 0099.

 

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

 

All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and the same version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID

D

Standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Community and Social Services > Snowsport > Avalanche

ID

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

18127

Record and communicate avalanche and weather observations

3

4

D

18128

Contribute to the avalanche stability assessment for a snow safety programme

3

5

D

18129

Demonstrate knowledge of snow formation, snowpack structure and snow metamorphism

3

3

D

18134

Demonstrate knowledge of avalanche phenomena

3

2

D

18135

Assist on an avalanche response

3

2

D

18136

Demonstrate own party avalanche rescue

3

2

D

21741

Identify strategies to minimise risk to self and others when planning a backcountry mountain trip

3

3

D

30451

Demonstrate and apply knowledge of snowpack, weather and terrain in relation to avalanche hazards

5

10

New

30452

Record and communicate snowpack, weather and avalanche hazard information

5

20

New

30453

Apply avalanche mitigation techniques to reduce risk to self while operating in avalanche terrain

5

5

New

30454

Apply avalanche search and rescue knowledge and skills to participate in a small party rescue

5

5

New