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Frequently Asked Questions

These Frequently Asked Questions are best read as a complete set. In most cases there are no short answers to each question. Many factors must be investigated in each separate situation in order to determine the appropriate answer. More comprehensive answers to these and other questions about EOTC will be available from the forthcoming Ministry of Education resource on safety in EOTC in association with a professional development programme.

These FAQs are periodically updated and FAQs added in response to queries.

Latest additions

• Is it compulsory for my son or daughter to attend school camps and be expected to pay for it?
• If I have prior criminal convictions can I still help with EOTC events?
• When asking parents/caregivers to assist with transport on school trips, are schools required to ask for licence and Warrant of Fitness details?
• Does Parental Consent need to be obtained for students to participate in EOTC?
• Are my children covered by ACC if they suffer an injury on a sports trip overseas?

EOTC

• What is EOTC?
• Where do I go for information?
• First Aid

Ratios

• What is a ratio?
• What ratio of competent supervisor to novice/learner should I have for an EOTC activity?
• Can senior secondary school or tertiary students be counted in ratios?

Learning

• Is this activity appropriate to be doing with this age group of students?
• Should students take responsibility for some of the planning in an EOTC activity?

Qualifications and standards

• What qualifications/competencies are required to run this EOTC activity?
• Where do I find people who have these qualifications?
• How does the teacher know if an outside provider or instructor is competent or if a centre / facility / equipment hired, meets accepted standards and/or best practice?
• What are the standards required for running an EOTC activity, equipment, centre or facility and where can the teacher find them?
• Where do we send people to get training?
  

Legal responsibilities

• What are the requirements for first aid coverage in schools?
• Liability FAQs
• What authority does the teacher in charge have over parents and other assistants at an EOTC activity and what responsibility do schools have for them?
• If we are hiring equipment and/or instructors and/or facilities, who is responsible if something goes wrong?
• What will happen if something goes wrong?
• Will the teacher, as leader, be held legally accountable, if something goes wrong?
• Does a school EOTC programme need to disclose risk to participants' parents/caregivers and have them sign a waiver form?

Alcohol

• Is it okay for adults to drink a little alcohol at camp?

Systems

• We don't have a Safety Management Plan in place at school. What do we need to have in a Safety Management Plan?
• Is parental consent required for every EOTC activity?
• Should the school use the Safety Management Policy or Plan prepared by another person, group, school or commercial provider?

Appendix

• EOTC – Professional Bodies and National Organisations

Print version of first set of FAQs (PDF, 47k)

Print version of liability FAQs (PDF, 50k)

If you can't find answers to your EOTC questions on this site, please contact eotc@tki.org.nz