paddle log support page

Once you have downloaded the Paddle Log app to your device or opened the Paddle Log web page, you are ready to start logging your paddling activities. Below you will find some basic steps to get you started.

Logging in

If you hold a login to the Education site, enter those details into the correct fields. Only enter your username and password: do not fill in the ‘Name’ field, as this is only for those who do not have an account in our system.

If you don’t hold an Education login or cannot remember your username and password, you can click here here.

If you don’t hold an account and don’t want to create one, you can use Paddle Log without logging in by entering your details in the ‘Name’ field only.

Please note: Automatic back-ups can only be taken if you are logged in to an account. Therefore, it is recommended that you log in using your existing account details or create a new account to ensure you benefit from these back-ups.

Navigation

Click on the headings with a plus sign to expand those fields. To collapse the fields, click on the headings again.

Use the back button to go back one step, on the bottom right-hand side of the screen in the log entries section. Note: on a desktop computer, pressing the back button in the browser will take you out of Paddle Log.

Retrieving Qualifications

Once you have logged in to your account, you can retrieve your qualifications so they are displayed in Paddle Log. Simply press “My Qualifications” and then “Refresh Qualifications”.

Next to your qualifications will be a coloured marker which indicates the status of the qualification.

  • Green: current
  • Orange: ready to be renewed
  • Red: expired

There are buttons which appear next to the qualifications (on a mobile device, swipe left over the qualifications to reveal these buttons).

Renew: press this button to reveal how many points you have accumulated towards this qualification. When you have accumulated enough points to renew, an application form will appear below the points table.

View: press this button to view your certificate.

Delete: press this button to delete your qualification from Paddle Log. You can retrieve it again by pressing “Refresh Qualifications”.

Logging activities

From the homepage, click “Log Entries” to display the list of log entries. Sample log entries should automatically appear so you can see how log entries look once they are added in. To add your own entries, click on the button on the top of the screen call “Add Log Entry”. You can then fill in the fields to complete the details of your trip.

Please note: You do not need to have every log entry verified by somebody else, it is not a compulsory field, however you will need to have a peer reference when submitting your renewal.

There are three buttons which appear next to each log entry (on a mobile device, swipe left over the log entry to reveal these buttons).

Copy: press this button to insert a copy of the log entry. This is helpful if you are doing similar trips regularly. You can copy one entry and then edit the copied entry to update the details for that trip (e.g. different date, conditions, etc).

Edit: press this button to edit the details of the log entry.

Delete: press this button to delete the log entry.

Renewing a qualification

To renew a qualification, go to your qualification under the “My Qualifications” section and press the renew button (on a mobile device, swipe left over the qualification to reveal this button).

To check how many points you’ve accumulated in Paddle Log, click on the renew button against the qualification. To reveal the renew button in the app, swipe left over the qualification.

This will show the total points accumulated for that qualification, with a break down of the categories where they have been accumulated. Please note that there are minimum point requirements in certain categories, based on the qualification you hold. For more details, please see the points table at the bottom of the page.

To renew a qualification you must gain a minimum amount of points over the three year registration period.

Points are calculated in Paddle Log based on the number of hours which are entered, on either a half or full day basis. For the full details of how points are calculated, please see the points table.

Paddle Log will only accumulate points against your qualification if the environment and craft match the qualification. For example, if you hold a Whitewater Guide – Canoe qualification, you will only accumulate points for entries which have the environment set to “Whitewater” and the craft set to “Canoe”.

If you find that you’re not accumulating points, check that you have log entries with the same environment and craft as your qualification. If the environment and craft are correct but you’re still not accumulating points, please contact education@paddle.org.au.

Skills and Rescue qualifications require 50 points.

Leadership qualifications require 100 points.

Once you have accumulated enough points to renew, an application form will appear below the points table which you can scroll down to fill in and submit.

NOTE: You can  click on the renew button at anytime during your qualification period to check how many points you have accumulated and how many more you need to be able to renew when the time comes.

For those unable to use Paddle Log, a paper renewal form can be found here.

Recovering Paddle Log Entries

Paddle Log saves to the device or internet browser that you’re using, so if you tried logging in to Paddle Log on another computer (or a different internet browser on the same computer) or mobile, this may be why you can’t see your entries. If so, try logging on to the same computer and internet browser that you were using previously, and you should find your entries.

Another possibility is that you have cleared your internet history or cookies recently: as Paddle Log saves against the device, this will also delete your Paddle Log entries.

If using a different browser or computer isn’t the issue, then there are a few options to try to recover your Paddle Log entries.

Manual Back-up Recovery

Firstly, have you taken any back-ups of your Paddle Log? The system will prompt you to take a back-up of your entries. If you have done this and saved your entries as a CSV file elsewhere, you can simply import your entries back into Paddle Log. On the main page, press the button at the top left-hand side of the page (three horizontal bars). This will bring up a list of options, one of which is “Import”. You can press this and add the CSV file to import your entries.

On a mobile device:

You should be able to click and hold on the CSV file to bring up a range of options. Scroll through the options to find the Paddle Log icon (you must have the Paddle Log app downloaded to your phone first). It will then ask if you would like to import the file into Paddle Log. Click “Yes”.

Automatic Back-up Recovery

If you haven’t taken any manual back-ups, there is still a back-up which is taken automatically if you have been signed in to your account. Try logging in to Paddle Log and pressing the button at the top left-hand side of the screen (three horizontal bars). One of the options will be “List Backups”. This should bring up three of the most recent back-ups taken. You can click on one of these to restore your Paddle Log entries. You must be careful to select the correct backup however, which should be either the most recent or the one with the most rows (entries) listed.

Backing-up your Paddle Log

Your logbook is saved on the device that you are using Paddle Log on. This will be either your mobile device where the Paddle Log app is downloaded or the computer/internet browser where you have accessed the Paddle Log website. If you delete the app or clear the history/cookies on your browser, your Paddle Log entries will also be deleted. Therefore, it is recommended that you ensure your Paddle Log is backed-up at all times.

Following the Prompt

Paddle Log should prompt you to take a back-up of your entries if one hasn’t been taken recently. Simply click “Yes” on the notification to download a CSV file of your log book, which can be saved in a secure location. On a mobile device, this can be emailed to yourself or a friend.

Automatic Back-ups

Paddle Log will take automatic back-ups if you are logged in using your PA login information. To check if automatic backups are being taken, click on the icon at the top left-hand side of the screen (three horizontal bars). One of the options should be “List Backups”. This will show you any recent automatic backups which have been taken.

Manual Back-ups

The most secure way to ensure that you have back-ups of your log book is to manually back it up. To do this, click on the icon at the top left-hand side of the screen (three horizontal bars). Select “Export”. This will download a CSV file of your log book, which can be saved in a secure location. On a mobile device, this can be emailed to yourself or a friend.

How to transfer Paddle Log between devices

As Paddle Log saves to the device that you’re using, it’s recommended that you only use Paddle Log in one location. However if you would like to change this location, you can transfer your log book over to the device where you would like your log book to be stored.

Click on the icon at the top left-hand side of the screen (three horizontal bars). Select “Export”. This will download a CSV file of your log book, which you can email to yourself. Once you have done this, access your email in the device where you would like your Paddle Log stored. Follow the next steps based on whether this device is a desktop computer or mobile device.

On a desktop computer:

Download the CSV file, making sure to note where this has saved on your computer. Open a new browser with Paddle Log, click on the top left-hand side of the screen (three horizontal bars). Select “Import”. You can then select your CSV file to import into Paddle Log.

On a mobile device:

You should be able to click and hold on the CSV file to bring up a range of options. Scroll through the options to find the Paddle Log icon (you must have the Paddle Log app downloaded to your phone first). It will then ask if you would like to import the file into Paddle Log. Click “Yes”.

How do I get a log entry verified?

To get a log entry verified, you can simply ask a fellow paddler that was on the same activity if you are able to put their name and contact details against that Paddle Log entry. PA will then be able to follow up with this paddler if required.

Note: This person does not need to be PA qualified, simply just been with you on the trip.

What is a peer reference

A peer reference is a person that supports a renewal application and is agreeing that, to the best of their knowledge, the award holder’s skills and knowledge have been maintained at the qualification level.

To re-register through Paddle Log, the peer reference is required to hold a PA ID number. If a peer reference does not hold a PA ID number, please contact education@paddle.org.au for further advice.

What does it mean if I agree to be a peer reference?

A peer reference is a person that is happy to support a renewal application and is agreeing that, to the best of their knowledge, the holder’s skills and knowledge are at or above the award level.