Outdoor Education syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the SA Outdoor Education subject outline, in syllabus order, with a focused answer for each. Open any dot point for the answer, exam-style questions and links to related points.
Assessment Type 1: About Natural Environments
Topic overview →What makes Australian ecosystems biodiverse yet fragile, and which threats most endanger the environments outdoor users travel through?
How do the ecological systems of an Australian natural environment function, and why does understanding them matter for outdoor users?
How do weather and climate shape an Australian natural environment, and why must outdoor users understand these patterns?
How do outdoor educators gather and interpret reliable data about a natural environment to judge its health and how it is changing?
How have First Nations peoples understood and managed Australian environments over tens of thousands of years, and what can outdoor users learn from caring for Country?
What are the past, present and potential human impacts on a chosen Australian natural environment, and how can it be managed sustainably?
How do conservation, First Nations land management and modern policy work together to protect Australian natural environments?
Assessment Type 3: Connections with Natural Environments
Topic overview →How do you reflect on and evaluate your own development through outdoor experiences in a way that is honest, evidenced and insightful?
How do people form relationships with natural environments, and how does deepening that connection shape attitudes and actions?
How do experiences in natural environments affect human health and wellbeing, and how can they foster lifelong engagement with nature?
How does a deepening sense of place turn into stewardship, and what responsibility do outdoor users hold for the environments they value?
How do outdoor experiences in natural environments contribute to personal and social growth and wellbeing?
Assessment Type 2: Experiences in Natural Environments
Topic overview →How do you navigate accurately and safely through an Australian natural environment using a map, compass and modern tools?
How do you assess and manage risk so that an outdoor journey is safe without losing its challenge and value?
How do you interpret forecasts and read conditions in the field to make safe decisions on an outdoor journey?
How can outdoor users travel and camp in natural environments while doing the least possible harm to them?
How do leadership style, group dynamics and sound decision-making shape a safe and positive outdoor experience?
What technical skills and equipment does a safe, self-reliant outdoor journey require, and how do you choose them for the environment and activity?
How do groups develop on an outdoor journey, and how can interpersonal skills keep a group safe, effective and positive?
How do you plan food, water and logistics so that a multi-day outdoor journey is fuelled, organised and self-sufficient?
How do you prepare for and respond to emergencies on a remote outdoor journey where help may be hours or days away?
How do you plan and manage a safe, sustainable multi-day journey in an Australian natural environment?