Flatwaters are: Enclosed waters with no or little current, little wind influence and very small waves. Hazards are minimal and there is ready access to safe landing.
Who: Holders of the Flatwater Skills Qualification have demonstrated that they can competently paddle during a trip, as part of a group of peers, on flat, sheltered and/or undemanding water. Designed for those paddlers that seek to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to safely and competently undertake a journey without Guide or instructor supervision.
Course Duration: Training Course: 1.5 days, Assessment: 0.5 days
Costs(RRP): Training Course: $250, Assessment: $175.
20% discount on course RRP for all Paddle Australia members. For other discount options and group quotes please contact your local training provider.
Pre requisites: NIL, However to gain the qualification a minimum logbook is required, these requirements can be found in the Assessment Guidelines. Please pay particular attention to the logbook requirements that need to be logged in your Paddlelog
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the qualification is craft specific.
Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including craft, life jackets, paddles etc. However if you do require equipment please contact your local provider.
Assessment:
- Practical: Completed through the training/assessment day
- Quiz: An online quiz is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
Program enrollment: All current programs can be found here. If there is not one in your area or would like to organise a program for a group, please contact your local State Paddle Association.
Flatwater Skills qualifications can be delivered and assessed by any current PA Flatwater, Whitewater, or Sea Instructor, you can search for a local PA paddle instructor here
What will you learn: What you will learn and be assessed on can be found in the Assessment Guidelines below.
Who: Holders of the Flatwater Guide Qualification are qualified to lead or guide trips on inland waters such as open lakes and rivers (but not on whitewater or sea) in controlled conditions for inland kayaking and canoeing. The Flatwater Guide is for people seeking a professional certification in flat water paddling environments. The Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS) course is the industry benchmark certification designed to meet the needs of the paddling Guide and Instructor industry for education, recreational and tourism sectors nation wide.
Course Duration: Training Course:2 days, Assessment:1 day
Costs(RRP): Training Course: $395, Assessment: $295.
20% discount on course RRP for all Paddle Australia members. For other discount options and group quotes please contact your local training provider.
Pre requisites: Participants knowledge and skills should be at the level of Flatwater skills. To gain the qualification a minimum logbook is required, these requirements can be found in the Assessment Guidelines. Please pay particular attention to the logbook requirements that need to be logged in your Paddlelog
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the qualification is craft specific. If you are guiding people in canoes, you will need the “Canoe” qualification etc.
Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including craft, life jackets, paddles etc and present as a Guide with appropriate equipment ( First Aid Kit, Repair kit etc). If you do require equipment please contact your local provider.
Assessment:
- Practical: Completed through the training/assessment day
- Quiz: An online quiz is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
- Project: An online project is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
Program enrollment: All current programs can be found here. If there is not one in your area or would like to organise a program for a group, please contact your local State Paddle Association.
What will you learn: What you will learn and be assessed on can be found in the Assessment Guidelines below.
Who: Holders of the Flatwater Instructor Qualification are qualified to instruct and facilitate skill transfer to develop participants in order so that they may act independently or with minimal supervision in controlled conditions for inland kayaking and canoeing. The Flatwater Instructor is for people seeking a professional certification in flat water paddling environments. The Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme (PAQS) course is the industry benchmark certification designed to meet the needs of the paddling Guide and Instructor industry for education, recreational and tourism sectors nation wide.
Course Duration: Training Course:2 days, Assessment:1 day
Costs(RRP): Training Course: $395, Assessment: $295.
20% discount on course RRP for all Paddle Australia members. For other discount options and group quotes please contact your local training provider.
Pre requisites: Participants knowledge and skills should be at the level of Flatwater skills. Plus to gain the qualification a minimum logbook is required, these requirements can be found in the Assessment Guidelines. Please pay particular attention to the logbook requirements that need to be logged in your Paddlelog
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the qualification is craft specific. If you are instructing people in canoes, you will need the “Canoe” qualification etc.
Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including craft, life jackets, paddles etc and present as a Guide with appropriate equipment ( First Aid Kit, Repair kit etc).If you do require equipment please contact your local provider.
Assessment:
- Practical: Completed through the training/assessment day
- Quiz: An online quiz is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
- Project: An online project is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
Program enrollment: All current programs can be found here. If there is not one in your area or would like to organise a program for a group, please contact your local State Paddle Association.
What will you learn: What you will learn and be assessed on can be found in the Assessment Guidelines below.
Who: Holders of the Paddling Supervisor Qualification are qualified to manage a paddling activity in enclosed situations, performing rescues as required, where the group under supervision can be seen from a single vantage point at any time and does not leave the immediate launch area. The Paddling Supervisor Qualification is for people seeking professional certification in enclosed flat water paddling areas perfect for school camp style paddling needs.
Course Duration: One day Approx 9am – 5pm
Costs(RRP): Training/Assessment Course: $200
20% discount on course RRP for all Paddle Australia members. For other discount options and group quotes please contact your local training provider.
Pre requisites: NIL. To gain the qualification a minimum logbook is required. These requirements can be found in the Assessment Guidelines. Please pay particular attention to the logbook requirements that need to be logged in your Paddlelog
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the qualification is craft specific. If you are supervising people in canoes, you will need the “Canoe” qualification etc.
Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including craft, life jackets, paddles etc. However if you do require equipment please contact your local provider.
Assessment:
- Practical: Completed through the training/assessment day
- Quiz: An online quiz is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
- Project: An online project is made available to participants upon registration that needs to be completed prior to the practical program
Program enrollment: All current programs can be found here. If there is not one in your area or would like to organise a program for a group, please contact your local State Paddle Association.
What will you learn: What you will learn and be assessed on can be found in the Assessment Guidelines below.
Who: The Moving water Endorsement is designed for Flatwater Guides or Instructors leading groups of paddlers on Grade 1 water that is clearly moving and has hazards such as strainers and a degree of risk, but less than that of a Grade 2 river.
Course Duration: One day Approx 9am – 5pm
Pre requisites: Current PA Guide or Instructor qualification. To gain the qualification a minimum logbook is required, these requirements can be found in the Assessment Guidelines. Please pay particular attention to the logbook requirements that need to be logged in your Paddlelog
What Craft: You need to determine which craft you will be assessed in, as the qualification is craft specific. If you are teaching people in canoes, you will need the “Canoe” qualification etc.
Equipment: It is expected that participants will supply their own equipment including craft, life jackets, paddles etc. However if you do require equipment please contact your local provider.
Assessment:
- Practical: Completed through the training/assessment day
Program enrollment: All current programs can be found here. If there is not one in your area or would like to organise a program for a group, please contact your local State Paddle Association.
What will you learn: What you will learn and be assessed on can be found in the Assessment Guidelines below.