This Handbook for Off Campus Activities is designed as a best practice guide to people in schools and colleges.  Off campus activities are an important part of the learning experiences of all students from kindergarten to year twelve.  They can be offered in a diverse range of ways and in a wide variety of locations. This Handbook is not intended to cover Department arranged work placements as defined in the Workplace Learning Guidelines 2012.  Staff should refer to those Guidelines when planning those work placements although information in this handbook may assist in that planning process.

Guidelines for planning and implementing off campus activities are described.  There is a set of requirements that apply to all off campus activities and more specific guidelines for particular activities.  The information indicate considerations that need to be taken into account when organising and managing off campus activities.

This Handbook is a resource for people in schools to use when they are designing student activities outside the immediate environment of their school.  It is designed to ensure that the activities are safe and purposeful, and in so doing enhance educational outcomes for students.

It is essential that the delivery of off campus activities be an integral part of the risk analysis in each school or college.  Using the principles of risk management, information in the Handbook may be varied in light of experience and particular conditions, unless the details are stated as mandatory.  It is the responsibility of the Principal to sign off operational arrangements for off campus activities and make sure that they are part of the risk management plan of the school or college.

Variations in non-mandatory requirements should be documented in the risk management plan of each school or college.  This should be done in consultation with the staff involved in the programs or activities, and where appropriate volunteers and/or contracted services.

Safe and purposeful activities are a shared responsibility for people who work directly with students.  This includes Principals, Teachers, and Support Staff, people with special expertise such as adventure activity leaders, as well as parents and members of the community involved as volunteers in off campus activities.

It is important that people in schools consult other relevant resources on the Department’s Intranet on an ‘as needs basis’.  Additional advice can be obtained from the Tasmanian Adventure Activity Standards administered by the Department of Sport and Recreation, and National Activity bodies in the relevant discipline.  Other States and Territories may also have useful advice.  Should uncertainties or concerns remain about a proposed activity Learning Services should be contacted for further assistance.