Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to ride personal water craft, usually as part of a group, in smooth water conditions and according to planned courses.
A personal watercraft (PWC) is a vessel with an engine used for propulsion, a fully enclosed hull and is designed not to retain water when capsized. The operator sits, stands or kneels on the vessel and uses handle bars to steer the craft. Craft are often referred to by their trademarked brand names which include Jet Ski®, WaveRunner® and Sea-Doo®.
This unit provides skills to ride craft in smooth water conditions within bodies of water which might include lakes, rivers, bays, harbours and sheltered coastline waters within breakwaters or headlands. Smooth water could feature small formed rippled wavelets which do not break but can include no more than small breaking white capping waves up to 0.5 metre. Riders at this level can operate craft in light winds up to 10 knots (Beaufort Scale).
It applies to leaders, guides or instructors, who use these skills when leading participants during riding activities. Leadership skills are provided in complementary units. The unit can also apply to assistants and support staff.
This unit applies to any type of organisation that delivers outdoor recreation activities including commercial, not-for-profit and government organisations.
Recreational boating is regulated by specific laws in each Australian state and territory with variable rules. General and specific waterway rules apply to the operation of personal watercraft. All training and assessment activities must comply with the local state or territory requirements
Most states and territories require personal water craft riders to hold a licence but they are not required to be certified as competent in this unit.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• complete three group personal water craft (PWC) sessions
• during each session, consistently:
• follow safety procedures and safely negotiate hazards
• follow waterway rules for PWC
• control speed and direction of craft forward, in reverse and throughout turns using appropriate level of throttle
• participate in simulations to:
• complete three self-rescues following a capsize
• complete four deep water rescues to assist a single rider:
• two ejections, craft upright
• two capsizes, craft upturned
• conduct two craft to craft tows to return PWC to shore.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• organisational safety and emergency response procedures for personal water craft activities
• exposure protection swim wear suitable for PWC activities:
• types of swim wear and fabrics that protect against the effects of weather and water conditions including sun, temperatures, winds, and precipitation of different levels and extremes
• features and uses of exposure suits, booties, water shoes, gloves and mittens of different styles and grades suited to different conditions
• features and functions of lifejackets suitable for PWC activities in different types of waters and how to fit and adjust these for comfort and safety
• location and function of these PWC parts:
• deck and hull
• handle bars, throttle and reverse levers
• steering cable
• ignition and kill switch
• battery
• engine and drive shaft
• water pump, impellor and steering nozzle
• intake grate
• fuel tank
• how personal water craft work, at a basic level of understanding
• manufacturers' recommendations for use
• types of personal water craft suitable for use in smooth water conditions and:
• different construction materials, effects on performance, advantages and disadvantages
• design features, handling characteristics and limitations: manoeuvrability, stability and speed
• types of pre-start safety and serviceability checks completed prior to riding, how to complete these and what tools would be used:
• checking fuel, oil and battery fluid supplies
• ensuring engine compartment is adequately ventilated with no excess fumes
• looking for leaks in fuels lines, oil tanks, exhaust system
• ensuring battery terminals are secure
• checking that the pump/intake area is free of debris
• checking for cracks and other damage to the hull
• ensuring engine hood cover is securely latched
• testing throttle is working
• ensuring kill switch is working and lanyard is attached to self
• 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
• equipment features and techniques used to secure PWCs for transportation
• communication protocols for group riding activities to include:
• calls
• hand signals
• whistles
• typical hydrology features and hazards for smooth waters, and techniques used to safely negotiate hazards:
• currents
• tides
• built objects – piers, navigation markers
• steep, slippery or rocky shores
• sections of dark, deep or cold water
• marine animals
• other boating traffic
• features of different locations that can be used to launch, board, land, alight and retrieve PWC including:
• boat ramps
• jetties
• the shore
• for each of the above locations:
• factors that affect selection
• advantages and disadvantages of use
• techniques used
• techniques used for riding and manoeuvring PWC in smooth water conditions:
• sitting and standing
• weight shifting
• throttle control for speed and direction
• controlling direction – forward, reverse, turns
• for ejections, capsizes and rescues:
• appropriate swimming strokes and techniques to use while wearing lifejackets in smooth water conditions
• where to locate manufacturer’s directions for rolling PWC in water and importance of following
• methods used to right upturned PWC
• importance of avoiding craft with engine running and for reboarding from stern
• equipment and towing techniques used for PWC to PWC tows
• rules specific to the operation of personal water craft and specific to the local state or territory:
• requirements for PWC registration and display of registration numbers and labels
• requirement for safe operation sticker, where this is affixed and information inclusions
• requirements to hold a carry a PWC licence
• restrictions that apply to licence holders under 16 years old
• alcohol and drug restrictions for riders and others
• restrictions on hours of operation
• restrictions for number of passengers
• give way rules – passing, crossing and overtaking powered and non-powered vessels
• distance limitations ("distance off") – rules for swimmers, designated swimming zones, dive flags, unpowered and powered vessels stationary or underway, moored or anchored vessels, built structures (bridges, jetties, navigation markers, residential properties)
• prohibited local areas – also called "exclusion" and "no go zones"
• speed limits and any associated distance limitations, e.g. 4 knots when within 50metres of…
• freestyling distance limitations; including what constitutes freestyling and how this is described in local rules, e.g. surfing, crossing or jumping waves, driving in irregular manner, erratic and non-directional operation
• towing requirements – limitations, observer requirements, distance and speed limitations
• incident reporting requirements including those for verbal and written reports
• life jacket requirements
• safety equipment requirements including those for kill switch safety lanyards and fire extinguishers.

Assessment Conditions

Skills can be demonstrated in bodies of water which can include lakes, rivers, bays, harbours and sheltered coastline waters within breakwaters or headlands.
The environment must feature the following:
• smooth water defined as water which features small formed rippled wavelets which do not break, or no more than small breaking white capping waves up to 0.5 metre
• ideally light winds up to 10 knots (Beaufort Scale); winds could vary but warnings should not exceed light wind conditions.
The following resources must be available to replicate industry conditions of operation:
• first aid equipment
• communication equipment for emergency response.
Assessment must ensure use of:
• a group of participants with whom the individual interacts during PWC activities
• exposure protection swim wear suitable for conditions, and exposure suits as required
• Australian Standard, or equivalent, compliant lifejackets of a grade that meets maritime regulator requirements
• personal water craft
• basic tool and repair kit
• ropes and tie down straps
• towlines
• activity plans to include details of planned route
• marine charts and guides
• template safety and serviceability checklists
• boating guide issued by the local state or territory maritime authority
• organisational safety and emergency response procedures for personal water craft activities.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors, and:
• have a collective period of at least three years’ experience as a personal water craft leader, guide or instructor, where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency; the three years’ experience can incorporate full and or part time experience
• where required by local state or territory law, hold a compliant personal water craft driving licence.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Reading skills to:', 'description': 'interpret detailed and familiar organisational safety and emergency response procedures; interpret factual activity plan information in familiar formats; interpret potentially unfamiliar and complex information about waterway rules.'}
• {'skill': 'Oral communications skills to:', 'description': 'use clear and unambiguous verbal and non-verbal communications to make intent known.'}
• {'skill': 'Numeracy skills to:', 'description': 'interpret and calculate numerical data involving distances, times and speeds.'}
• {'skill': 'Planning and organising skills to:', 'description': 'manage own timing to complete activities within planned timeframes.'}
• {'skill': 'Self-management skills to:', 'description': 'critically analyse all circumstances and implications to provide a prompt and considered response to rescue requirements.'}

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