Preparing for your program:
Gutsy Girls Adventure

Everything you need to be ready to go.

Welcome to Outward Bound Australia and thank-you for choosing us for your next adventure. Your program will be hosted from our Operational Base in Walpole, WA. You will be working both individually and as a small team in a series of adventure and leadership experiences, which may include high ropes, hike expedition, paddling expedition, overnight Solo, and team initiatives. You will be camping out every night. We will supply all the camping, cooking and activity equipment, and food. Please refer to the packing list for your requirements.

Please read carefully through each preparation section below and attend to each action as necessary. If you have any questions about getting ready, you can contact us at mailbox@outwardbound.org.au.

For all Participants
1. Understand our Behaviour Expectations of you

Participants and parents, please ensure you have read the Participant Behavioural and Personal Competency Expectations. You are asked to confirm you have read and agree to these expectations in the Consent & Medical Form (see next step).

In summary:

  • Disrespectful, physical or verbally abusive behaviours will not be tolerated.
  • Participants are expected to co-operate and partake in the fundamental elements of the program, without deliberatively disrupting group activities.
  • Participants must be able to self-manage living skills in an outdoor camping environment.

Behaviour:

We expect you to conduct yourself in a manner that embraces the intent of the program, and maintains behaviour that is respectful towards yourself, all other people around you, and the environment. You will be provided with instruction and guidance for all the tasks you are presented with, and we ask you to give 100% of your commitment and ability; and have the courage to ask for further assistance if you need it or are not comfortable with something you may be asked to do. All our activities are delivered with the philosophy of “challenge by choice”. This translates as we actively and empathetically encourage all participants to be involved in all activities. We will work with you to set your own standard for what is a challenge and facilitate your personal success.

Drugs:

No drugs will be permitted or tolerated during your stay, except for those medications declared in your Medical Form. This includes over-the-counter or non-prescription medications, including if you have brought these for non-specific / “just in case” use.

2. Complete the Participant Consent and Medical Information Form

Ensure the digital Participant Consent and Medical Information Form is filled in and submitted.

This form MUST be completed no later than 30 days prior to your program’s start date.
For January 2024, the medical  form will lock on Sunday 17 December 2023 at 11:45pm.

If you are 17 years or younger, you will need to have your parent or legal guardian complete and submit on your behalf.

If you are diagnosed as having anaphylaxis or chronic asthma you will be required to provide your management or action plan. If your plan is older than 12 months, please visit your GP to have your documents updated.

If something changes in your situation after you have completed this form, please contact us directly at mailbox@outwardbound.org.au 

3. Inform us of your Arrival and Departure plans

Please complete the Public Program Travel Intentions Form, submitting no later than 14-days before your program start date. 
For January 2024, the travel intentions form will lock on Monday 01 January 2024 at 11:45pm.

Arrival

The program begins at Walpole Visitor Centre at 1630 (4:30pm).

You can organise private transport to here or join the provided shuttle coach from Perth Airport at 1100 (11:00am).

Departure

The program concludes at Walpole Visitor Centre at 0930 (9:30am).

You can organise private transport from here or join the provided shuttle coach to Perth Airport. We anticipate arriving at Perth Airport for 1630 (4:30pm).

4. Get your clothing and equipment

Please click here to download your Outward Bound Gutsy Girls Adventure Packing List.

Participants are expected to come on program with all items, as indicated.

If you do not have any of the items listed, try borrowing from friends or family or buying second hand. We have also partnered with Camp List, who provide many of the items listed for hire and/or purchase. To see what is available, go to www.camplist.com.au and in the central search bar type “Outward Bound Australia”.

5. Phones on program

We do want all participants to bring a phone with them, where they have one. Aside from being able to make contact if you are using the shuttle service to/from our Base, we also run a post-experience survey on the final day, which is accessed via QR code.

We do not permit bringing phones into the field, and Participants are required to leave their phones in their soft bags, which will be held on our Operational Base. This is for the security of your possession, and for the privacy of the other participants you will be working with. If you require time to call home, please speak with our staff upon arrival, or during your program so we can arrange a suitable option within the program structure.

6. Contact During Program

All Participants will be required to not have their phones on during program activities. 

During your program, for general correspondence, or if someone at home needs to send you a message, they can e-mail Outward Bound Australia at mailbox@outwardbound.org.au. Please reference the Participant’s name and program in the subject heading.

For emergency situations arising at home, where the Participant must be reached with short notice, please use the following numbers:

  1. During ACT/NSW/VIC business hours (9:00am – 4:50pm) please call our Tharwa ACT Head Office on 02 6235 5700 (option 1)
  2. Outside of these hours the Program Coordinator can be reached on 0419 913 611.
Are you attending to complete part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?
Your Award Leader may want to see these documents.

If you have not already done so, inform your Award Leader of your intention to attend this program to complete part of your Award. Your Award Leader may also like to be given the link to this website.

If needed, your Award Leader can click here to see our insurance policies and risk assessment documents.

Setting up your Online Record Book

Gold Residential Project

Activity Detail
Assessor Details:
  • Name
    • Outward Bound Australia
  • Email
    • dukeofed@outwardbound.org.au
  • Phone
    • +61262355700

Adventurous Journey

Please be aware that the Gutsy Girls Adventure does not meet the requirements of the Adventurous Journey, as per the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Handbook. You must gain prior approval from your Award Leader to have this program recognised for this section. Outward Bound Australia will not assess this section as successfully completed without your Award Leader’s prior consent. 

Journey Details
  • Name
    • Outward Bound Australia: Gutsy Girls Adventure
  • Journey Type I
    • Practice OR Qualifying
  • Journey Type II
    • Practical
  • Suitable for Level
    • Bronze, Silver, Gold
  • Mode of Travel
    • Other
  • Journey Activity
    • Other
      • Multi-modal expedition (hiking and paddling)
  • Location
    • Walpole WA
Supervisor & Assessor Details:
  • Name
    • Outward Bound Australia
  • Email
    • dukeofed@outwardbound.org.au
  • Phone
    • +61262355700
Assessor Commencement Guide / Code of Conduct

Please refer to the following for your signed Assessor documents required to be provided to your Award Leader. 

NSW Award Participants

Volunteer Commencement Guide

NSW Department of Education (i.e. State/Government) Schools

Education Department Declaration for child-related workers

All other States and Territories (NOT NSW)

Volunteer Code of Conduct

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