Urrbrae Trails/Farm Risk Management Overview for School Excursions

As with all public open spaces there are inherent dangers associated with the natural and urban environment. Urrbrae
Agricultural High Schools staff, farm staff & students take the staff and visitor safety seriously.

At this point in time there have been no major safety issues involving school students or teachers and all minor
incidences have been dealt with on-site.

Bookings
All excursions to the Urrbrae Farm must be pre-booked, well in advance to ensure learning objectives of the excursion
can be met and student needs are catered for. The teacher in charge of the excursion must ensure they are clear about
the program details before embarking on the excursion, including ‘duty of care’ obligations and the role of the Trails
leaders (year 10 students).

Role of the Trails Leaders

The Trails leaders undergo training at the beginning of their course. This training helps them to deliver and safe and
educational tour of the Urrbrae farm.

Students will highlight the WHS Policies and Procedures that need to be followed to ensure staff, student and visitor
safety. Taking in mind that Urrbrae is a working farm students are taught about the correct processes for leading safe
and enjoyable tours.

At the beginning of the excursion the Teacher in charge of Urrbrae Trails meets with the school group to introduce trails
leaders and ensure there is an adequate number of support staff for each group. Students also carry mobile phones
with the number of the teacher in charge of the Urrbrae trails class so that quick and appropriate action can be taken if
an accident was to occur during a trail.

Role of the teacher in charge and accompanying staff and supervising adults
The Teacher in charge of the excursion MUST determine the level of supervision required and ensure that it is
maintained for the duration of the excursion. Supervision requirements will be determined by considering:
 age, development and needs of all students/children
 students/children with disabilities or special needs
 nature of the activity
 reasonably predictable hazards
 time of day
 location and environment
 supervision level offered by other teachers, supervisors or instructors within the party.

Accompanying teachers supervise their students in accordance with the DECD Policy. More information can be found in
the ‘DECD Camps and Excursions Guidelines’
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/docs/documents/1/CampsandExcursionsGuide.pdf

All school excursions take place in the presence of the Urrbrae Trails Tour Guides and accompanying school teachers
have a ‘Duty of Care’ for their students. Student ratios for Urrbrae Trails are in accordance with the DECD Excursion
Policy Ratio:
 1 : 6 for preschool – year 2
 1 : 10 for years 3 – 7
 1 : 15 for years 8 – 12

Please note that the Students guides should NOT be taken into account when calculating these ratios.

All staff involved with visiting school groups are expected to undertake safety talks amongst themselves and with
students before attending the activities.
If a hazard is identified during your visit, please report it to one of the Urrbrae Trails Guides who will take appropriate
action.

If the key teachers are unfamiliar with the Urrbrae Farm, it is recommended that they contact the Urrbrae Trails teacher
so they can become familiar with the site and can identify any risk that may affect their specific student group.

Risk Reduction Control Measures for school excursions to the Urrbrae Farm include:

Identified
Risk Reduction Strategies
Risk
 If walking across Cross Road or Fullarton Rd to enter the school, all groups must cross at pedestrian
lights located at:
The Cross Rd / Fullarton Road intersection (800m east of main gate) or
Near West Tce (200m west of main gate)
Traffic  If students are arriving by private bus they are to be dropped off at the Urrbrae Trails Shed (Nature
Hazards Education Centre). Please note that this is a private road and that caution should be taken when
crossing.
Entry to Urrbrae Supervising teachers and staff are to lead the groups into the Urrbrae Trails shed and split them into
School their working groups. The number of groups for your excursion will be discussed with you prior to your
Injury cause by
road accident
excursion.
Presence of  Vehicles must follow a strict speed limit of 10km per hour on site.
contractor  Licenced and competent bus drivers, must park in the appropriate parking area INSIDE the main
vehicles school gates before students disembark
 Teachers must actively supervise students at all time.
Responsibility – Teachers and accompanying adults / bus driver & company / Urrbrae Trails
teacher

 All school / educational institutions MUST follow supervision ratios of 1 : 6 for preschool – year 2
(recommended 1:4 for preschools); 1 : 10 for years 3 -7 and 1 : 15 for years 8-12
 Ensure the students are mentally and physically prepared for walking through an active farm site.
Lost  Teachers/supervising adults should employ effective supervision strategies.
Students For Example: Identify meeting points (These will be made clear by trails guides as you move through
the farm) make regular head counts, name badges, supervising students will carry mobile phones with
the Urrbrae Trails teachers mobile number for direct contact.

Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / Trails guides

Refer to the Urrbrae Hot and Wet Weather Policies available on the Urrbrae Agricultural High Schools
website.
 Ensure students are equipped with appropriate, close-toe footwear and weather protection - hats,
Weather sunscreen, wet weather gear, etc.
 Trails has umbrellas available for tours and will operate activities in shaded and sheltered areas
Heat where possible.
Rain
Extreme
 Ensure students bring their own water bottles. These can be refilled throughout the tour.
Weather  Education sessions may not operate in extreme weather conditions, including when temperatures
Conditions exceed 35°C (some groups are accepted), very high winds, during electric storms, high rainfall
events and catastrophic fire rating days.
Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / Trails guides

 Climbing trees / gates / fences, etc is not allowed.

Slips Trips
 Many of the paths are uneven and not sealed. Therefore students are not to run around the farm and
Falls
must wear enclosed, flat, foot ware. When on tour with the Trails guides, students must walk at the
 same pace alongside or behind their leaders. Each group will be allocated 2 guides where possible,
Slipping on one will be at the front and one at the rear of the group.
paths  Students must keep to the designated paths and listen guides instruction as to whether they need to
Tripping over
tree roots
walk in single file or as a group.
Skidding on  Teachers ensure students are actively supervised
tracks  Paths are regularly maintained by Urrbrae Agricultural High School farm staff.
 All schools are required to carry their own First Aid Kit, and ensure teachers have current first aid
qualifications (BELS)
 There are a number of small first aid kits around the Urrbrae Farm – guides know where these are
situation
 The Urrbrae Education Centre has a Senior First Aid officer on site at all time. They can be
contacted by calling Urrbrae Agricultural High School 8372 6955.
 The farm will also have Senior First Aid officers on site.
Responsibility: Teacher / accompanying adults / Trails guides.

 There are many flowering plants and crops on the Urrbrae farm (particularly in August – November),
Exposure to these may be an issue for students suffering hay fever. The teacher in charge must identify any
plants students have severe allergies to flowering plants and remain vigilant throughout the trail.
 High risk students to bring own medication and medical plans.
High pollen
counts
Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / Wetland Staff

Exposure to  Hand washing facilities are available within the vicinity and students must wash their hands entering
insects and & exiting the piggery, as well as exiting the farm.
small  Students and teachers must walk through foot bath entering and exiting the farm for biohazard
animals safety.
 Trails guides will explain the correct and safe method of patting any animals and point out the
Bites (bees, animals which can be touched on the farm.
ants,
mosquitoes)
 Please notify the Teacher in charge of trails & trails guides if any students have anaphylaxis /
Reptiles allergies to insect bites. Ensure students have epi-pen, medication and medical plans easily
Swooping birds accessible.
Scats  All students are adequately supervised. The Trials guides will highlight and avoid any risk areas or
animals with an aversion to being touched.
 Please be aware that there a bees kept on the farm. The trail does not take students to the
bee hives however they are obviously flying around the school. It is the responsibility of the
supervising adult to carry any medication necessary for bee stings for students who are
allergic.
 Teachers are to bring pest repellent and treatment for insect bites.
 The Trails guides, Trails teacher and supervising staff are to carry a mobile phone at all times.
Senior First Aid officers are on site of the Urrbrae Education Centre at all times, schools have their
own first aid kits and teacher in charge has current first aid qualifications (BELS).
 Ensure students are aware of the risks of direct contact with scats – wash hands before eating, sit in
areas free of scats for eating.
Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / Urrbrae Trails teacher / Trails guides

 Trails students are instructed on the correct way to enter animal enclosures.
 Students and supervising teachers should stay clear of animals unless instructed that it is ok to
Hazards on approach. Some of our animals are not use to large amounts of touching.
an active  Students should not attempt to pick up animals unless directed from a guide.
farm  Guides will highlight the issues on walking on an active farm and be vigilant of vehicles moving
around the farm.
Animals,
equipment,
 Students and accompanying teachers should stay to the sides of the roads when walking around the
gates farm.
 Gates will be opened and closed by guides. Under no circumstances should a student or supervising
teacher open or close a gate without clearing it with their guide.
  Hand washing facilities are available for students to wash their hands after each activity.
Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / Trails guide / Urrbrae Trails teacher

 Urrbrae Agricultural High School must ensure their biohazards are upheld at all times
 Strict guidelines are enforced with hand washing and foot bath when entering and exiting the farm.
 No foreign biomes should be brought onto the farm – including animals
Biohazards  All students are actively supervised in accordance with the DECD ratios.

Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults

 In the case of a Fire, staff are to immediately follow the evacuation procedures, contact Emergency
Services, and assemble the group in the emergency assembly area, on the grass adjacent the trails
shed as directed by the tour guides. All staff and supervising adults to be carrying a mobile phones
and are responsible for ensure all students are accounted for.
Fire  The Urrbrae Farm is equipped with a fire extinguisher within the service date and has emergency fire
exits clearly labelled and clear of obstructions.
Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults / tour guides / Urrbrae Agricultural High School

 All Urrbrae Education Centre staff, volunteers and contractors are compliant with police checks and
Child Mandatory Notification checks where necessary.
Protection  The Urrbrae Farm is not freely open to the general public.

Responsibility: Teachers and accompanying adults

Other Considerations
First Aid
The Urrbrae Trails teacher and supervising teachers have current Basic First Aid accreditations and are able to
administer first aid (CPR and Emergency Care). There is always a Senior First Aid Officer available onsite oat
the Urrbrae Education Centre.

The key teachers have first aid kits on hand and have access to mobile communication at all times. It is
advised that teachers bring their own first aid kits, especially for students with specific medical conditions.
Trails students are aware of where first aid kits are on the farm but are not trained to administer first aid. Trail
students carry mobile phones with the Urrbrae Trail teacher’s direct mobile number.

Clothing / Bags
All students must wear closed toe shoes and other appropriate clothing suitable for the weather conditions
(e.g. sun protection in summer, warm and water proof clothing and/or accessories in winter).
Groups can store their bags in the Urrbrae Trails shed, student bags should not be taken on the farm. Bags
should be stored to the sides of the shed so they do not obstruct exits or walking areas.

This form needs to be signed by the supervising teacher / group leader prior to activities commencing .

I will be supervising the groups from (school/organisation) ____________________________________________during

the visit to the Urrbrae Farm on ___/___/____.

I acknowledge that I have read, understood and agree to the above conditions of entry. I will be held responsible for the
actions and safety of the group.

NAME: ________________________________ Signed: ____________________________ Date: ____________