Melbourne Bushwalkers is a non-profit volunteer organisation which seeks to develop the experience and knowledge of its members so that they can more readily enjoy the club's activities and contribute to the general safety of the group. Members are responsible for their own safety and well-being.
People wishing to become Leaders are nurtured by a gradual build up in their knowledge in learning basic and advanced Navigation skills, Leadership principles and practical First Aid.
The training activities involve a mixture of group "classroom" sessions and field exercises. An important part of the training is done with a mentor on actual club trips in "as close as possible" to real life situations.
The Club is fortunate to have experienced volunteer Leaders who are able to pass on skills to others. It is important that as many walkers as possible gain new skills from the Training programs in order to develop a broad knowledge base within the club membership.
The club holds regular multi-day Pack Carry trips specifically aimed at those who are new to the activity or more experienced walkers looking to upgrade some of their skills. The emphasis on these trips is generally on enjoying the surroundings on an easier walk while sharing tips and advice on equipment selection, what to eat and how to prepare for longer trips, and at the same time experiencing a night in the outdoors.
From time to time the club also holds special sesions focussed on particular aspects of bushwalking craft, like equipment selection and packing. Frequently these are timed to coincide with Beginners Pack Carry trips.
Review your skills with a series of eight introductory articles on navigation which appeared in The News, the Newsletter of Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc. There are questions relating to the articles for both expert and novice, with answers. Possession of a map, preferably of scale 1:25,000 or 1:50,000, will be helpful.
Four articles on the basics of navigation were published in the October, November, December 2006 and January 2007 editions of The News, the newsletter of Melbourne Bushwalkers Inc, and have been consolidated into a pdf document (346KB) available here.
Melbourne Bushwalkers from time-to-time offers members (and particularly encourages leaders) the opportunity to attend First Aid Training Courses in conjunction with recognised training authorities.
Details of each course may vary but typically provide participants with the skills and knowledge required to recognize and respond to life threatening emergencies using basic life support measures only. These typically cover:
