SISORAF003 — Guide a raft on grade 4 rivers

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What an assessment for SISORAF003 must cover

173 assessable components: 6 elements (35 performance criteria), 28 performance evidence and 105 knowledge evidence requirements, plus 5 foundation skills. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Prepare for the rafting activity.

1.1Select clothing, footwear, personal protective, rescue and other equipment suitable for the trip conditions, and check for safe working condition.
1.2Prepare craft and complete safety and serviceability checks, including pressure checks on inflation.
1.3Waterproof, pack and stow clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during trip.
1.4Interpret planned course from activity plans and maps to assist in following the course.
1.5Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
1.6Confirm protocols for communications between team members.
1.7Fit and adjust personal protective equipment to ensure comfort and safety.

2 Launch raft and complete participant drill.

2.1Select launch site according to river conditions and participant abilities.
2.2Board participants in seating positions appropriate to their paddling, swimming and physical abilities.
2.3Launch raft using technique suitable for river conditions and participant abilities.
2.4Inform participants of guide commands and strokes to be used.
2.5Demonstrate and explain correct stroke technique, and engage participants in practice.
2.6Check and confirm participant stroke abilities and understanding of communication protocols.

3 Manoeuvre rafts on grade 4 rivers.

3.1Identify hydrological features from the water and utilise favourably to control and manoeuvre raft.
3.2Control direction of raft forward, in reverse and sideways using a range of appropriate strokes and combinations.
3.3Maintain appropriate posture, use of trunk rotation, paddle and blade to efficiently paddle the raft.
3.4Utilise appropriate padding strokes and techniques to cross currents and break into and out of eddies.
3.5Avoid or negotiate obstacles and hazards using a combination of strokes, paddling techniques and weight shifts.
3.6Maintain control over participant paddling, providing prompt and clear commands.
3.7Maintain visual contact and effective communication with participants, other rafts and guides in party throughout all activities.
3.8Monitor party formation paddling pace and space between rafts and make required adjustments.

4 Plan and run routes through grade 4 rapids.

4.1Scout rapids from the water and shore to identify hydrological features, hazards and impediments.
4.2Assess features and hazards to determine a safe route through rapids.
4.3Plan route through rapids accounting for participant abilities; communicate route, strokes and manoeuvres.
4.4Identify reference points to guide chosen passage through rapids.
4.5Run predetermined route using avoidance techniques and commands to safely negotiate river hazards.
4.6Use efficient paddling techniques and strokes and utilise hydrological features to assist in turning and crossing currents.

5 Perform swimmer and capsize rescues.

5.1Assist ejected participants in moving water using reach techniques and assist to re-enter raft.
5.2Rescue self in water, maintaining position upstream of raft, retrieve paddle and re-enter craft.
5.3Promptly reach and recover capsized raft using techniques to re-establish upright raft.
5.4Manage capsize response of participants and take actions appropriate to situation.

6 Land and secure rafts.

6.1Select a suitable location to exit the river, and to allow for any subsequent re-entries.
6.2Land and disembark raft using techniques suitable for river conditions and participant abilities.
6.3Select a secure bank feature and secure raft using appropriate knots.
6.4Secure raft for road transport, on activity conclusion, using suitable methods.

Performance evidence

complete three rafting trips on different rivers or different sections of eth same river
during each trip:
consistently follow safety procedures and safely negotiate hazards
use different locations to launch and land rafts to include:
the bank in moving water
ledges
eddies
run routes through at least four rapids
consistently control direction of rafts forward, in reverse and sideways using this range of strokes:
forward and reverse paddle
forward and reverse sweeps
draw stroke
Pry
emergency stop
utilise the following techniques while consistently controlling the raft:
combining strokes to effectively manoeuvre the raft
breaking in and out of eddies and currents
forward and reverse ferry gliding
eddy hopping
weight shifting
paddling through holes
paddling over drops
using rocks to stop
using hydrological features to assist with paddling, controlling the raft and negotiating rapids
participate in simulations to:
complete two self-rescues in moving water and re-enter the raft
complete two rescues of an ejected person, one at any given time, and assist re-entry to raft
compete two capsize rescues, re-establish the upright raft, assist a minimum of three swimmers simultaneously in the water to re-enter or reach the shore, and take the raft to the shore on at least one occasion.

Knowledge evidence

organisational safety and emergency response procedures for rafting activities
suitable clothing and footwear for rafting activities:
types of clothing and fabrics that protect against the effects of weather and water conditions including sun, temperatures, winds, and precipitation of different levels and extremes
reasons for layering clothes
effective design and construction features of waterproof gear and exposure suits
types of footwear suitable for rafting including specialist sandals, river or paddling shoes and their advantages over other types of footwear
features and uses of gloves and mittens, and advantages and disadvantages
features and functions of lifejackets and helmets suitable for grade 4 river conditions and how to fit and adjust these for comfort and safety
types of white water rafts suitable for use in grade 4 river conditions and:
location and function of different parts of the raft
different construction materials, effects on performance, advantages and disadvantages
design features including size, handling characteristics and limitations: manoeuvrability, stability and speed
pressure requirements and factors which affect different levels of inflation
types of paddles suitable for use with rafts used in grade 4 river conditions, different construction materials and designs, effects on performance, advantages and disadvantages
techniques used to effectively stow items:
for ease of access and maximum usage of space
for stability of craft and minimal effect on trim
to waterproof clothing, food and resources
safe manual handling techniques used to lift and carry rafts
equipment features and techniques used to secure rafts to the bank and for transportation
communication protocols for group rafting activities to include:
guide commands:
forward paddle
back paddle
left and right turn
over left and right
hold on
lean in
high side
on the job
stop
calls
hand and paddle signals
whistles
the International River Grading system:
strengths and limitations of the grading system; what is covered and not covered in classifications
specifications for grade 4 rivers
examples of local rivers attributed as grade 4
typical hydrology features and hazards for grade 4 rivers, how to recognise features from the shore and water, and techniques used to safely negotiate hazards:
currents
eddies
waves
strainers
holes
stoppers
sieves
rocks, including undercut rocks
waterfalls
downstream and upstream Vs
boils
pour overs
built objects – weirs, piers
steep or slippery banks or shore
overhanging trees
fallen trees on waterway
submerged logs, rocks and vegetation
sections of dark, deep or cold water
other boating traffic
exposure to lightning, storms and strong winds
prolonged emersion in cold water
different locations that can be used to embark, launch, land and disembark rafts in grade 4 waters including:
the bank in moving water
ledges
eddies
for each of the above locations:
factors that affect selection
advantages and disadvantages of use
techniques used to embark groups of participants, launch and land
a range of strokes used in grade 4 river conditions to direct rafts forward, in reverse and sideways:
forward and reverse paddle
forward and reverse sweeps
draw stroke
Pry
emergency stop
for each of the above strokes:
how to use them when paddling as the raft guide
correct posture and trunk rotation
correct hand placement on paddle and movement of top hand through the stroke
wrist movement required to enable correct blade placement in water
correct paddle entry and exit points in relation to craft and body position
appropriate paddle depth in water to achieve effective stroke
correct paddle blade angle throughout stroke
a range of techniques used to manoeuvre rafts in grade 4 water:
combining strokes and which combinations are effective
breaking in and out of eddies and currents
forward and reverse ferry gliding
eddy hopping
weight shifting
paddling through holes
paddling over drops
using rocks to stop
how certain types of hydrological features can be used to assist with paddling, controlling the raft and negotiating rapids
for rescues of ejected persons:
appropriate swimming strokes and techniques to use while in paddling gear in grade 4 river conditions
techniques used to re-enter raft from water and to assist swimmers to re-enter raft
aids used in rescues and how to use these effectively as rescuer and rescuee:
reach equipment, including improvised use of equipment on hand
craft and paddle as a flotation device
for capsize rescues:
methods used to re-establish an upright raft, guide multiple swimmers and their re-entry to raft and importance of head count
methods for taking a raft to shore
when different knots are used, advantages and disadvantages, and how to tie them:
knots for tying on
rope joining knots
quick release knots.

Foundation skills

Reading skills: interpret detailed and familiar organisational safety and emergency response procedures; interpret straightforward but potentially unfamiliar information on maps; interpret factual activity plan information in familiar formats.
Oral communications skills: use clear and unambiguous verbal and non-verbal communications to make intent known.
Numeracy skills: interpret and calculate numerical data involving river gradients, distances, times and speed of currents.
Teamwork skills: pro-actively and cooperatively work within teams of guides and operational staff to organise activity logistics, solve operational problems and deliver a quality experience to participants.
Planning and organising skills: manage own timing to complete activities within planned timeframes.

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing SISORAF003

What does an assessment tool for SISORAF003 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for SISORAF003 needs to address all 173 unit components: 6 elements with 35 performance criteria, 28 performance evidence requirements, 105 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for SISORAF003?

Auditori pulls the current release of SISORAF003 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for SISORAF003 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing SISORAF003 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of SISORAF003, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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