The following information is made available to teachers so that they can complete the Department's Excursions: Off School Site Activities: Appendix A: Checklist for Excursion Management Plan as part of their assessment of Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre as an excursion venue.

Where possible, we have correlated the information, with the headings used on the Department's form. The following information relates to Section 4: Procedures and Appendix A of the Department's Excursions: Off School Site Activities. Although Herdsman Lake is a closed water body, due to the nature of the activities conducted by students during School Excursions, An excursion to Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre is not considered a Water Based Excursion as per section 19: Water-based Activities of the Department's Outdoor Education and Recreation Activities policy. If you wish to discuss this further please do not hesitate to contact our Centre Manager.

The Environment
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre is an educational discovery centre consisting of an activities room, mezzanine bird observatory and foyer with aquarium, live animal and touch table displays. It is located at the southern end of Herdsman Lake, on the cnr of Selby and Flynn Sts, Wembley and is situated in a wetland environment. Student activities take place on the grassed area adjacent to the Centre and via a raised wooden boardwalk leading into the lake. The Centre and boardwalk all have wheelchair access. A free tour is available for teachers who would like to assess the venue before their excursion.

Risk Assessment and Risk Minimisation
In the 25 years that the WA Gould League has operated the Wildlife Centre and conducted school excursions there has not been any incident, serious injury or death resulting from the Centre's educational activities.
The WA Gould league has completed a full risk analysis of the Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre and the educational activities it conducts, at or near the Centre, in compliance with Department of Education Risk Minimisation Policy. Risks identified included snake bite, allergic reaction to insect bites, poisoning or allergic reaction from ingestion/handling water contaminated with Blue Green Algae, drowning, exposure to sun, dehydration, fire/smoke inhalation, infection, and risk from members of the public.
 
Risk Minimisation through Education Staff training, teacher and student safety induction, student supervision, emergency response procedures and design of student activities specific to age levels, as per this policy document has reduced the above risks to a NIL to VERY LOW rating.

Students' Skills
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre is suitable for all school ages, from Pre-Primary to High-School. Activities are designed to take student age into consideration. Most activities have been designed so that the users of wheelchair can access them.

Supervision
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre requires that all schools provide an adult supervisor to student ratio, as follows:
  Years K - 4: 1 adult to 5 student ratio
  Years 5-12: 1 adult to 30 students
 
If a school is not able to meet these supervision requirements, the organising teacher may call the Centre's Office to explore the possibility of guides (volunteers who regularly assist at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre) assisting them with the adult: student ratio.
 
Supervision of students is mandatory at all times. Supervising adults are requested to keep their students in their groups and well behaved during their visit, to maximise the student's educational experience, avoid disruption to wildlife and for the comfort of other visitors using the Centre. The following requirements are general mandatory safety rules to be enforced by the supervising adults. The Excursion Coordinator must ensure all supervising adults are aware of the following simple safety rules:

These safety requirements and other specifics relating to the excursion events will be reinforced and explained fully during a safety induction talk, by Centre Staff, upon arrival.

Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre Staff
On arrival, a trained Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre staff member will greet students and staff and will explain your programmed visit, safety instructions and what to do in an emergency. It is the schools responsibility that all supervising adults are clearly identifiable. Supervising adults are reminded that the Wildlife Centre Foyer and toilets are open to the public. All excursion activities are carried out in designated areas with minimal contact with members of the public and there are planned toilet breaks during the teaching sessions. It is the sole responsibility of teachers/supervising adults to monitor toilet breaks.
 
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre staff are responsible for providing a safe and enjoyable learning environment for your students. The Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre facilities and equipment are maintained and operated at a high level to ensure visitor safety. We ask that school adult supervisors ensure that students are well supervised and their behaviour is appropriate. Staff should conduct regular head counts of children in their care. Any hazards, incidents or accidents must be reported immediately to Centre staff so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.

Federal Police and Working With Children (WWWC) Clearance
All Department of Education staff at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre have WWC clearance and Federal Police Clearance. All other Presenters, Volunteers and Work Experience workers have WWC clearance. In addition, any staff waiting for WWC clearance have completed a Department of Education and Training Confidential Declaration form while their WWC clearance is being processed.. Schools are responsible for ensuring any staff and supervising adults with the school group have appropriate WWC clearances. (Please note: school parent volunteers and volunteers who work less than 5 days/yr with children are exempt from WWC documentation requirements)

Public Liability Insurance Cover
The Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre is classified as a Category 2 Active external provider with a public liability insurance cover of $10 million.

Emergency Response Planning
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre has an evacuation procedure in place.

Emergency Procedure:
In the event that an evacuation is required while you are at the Centre, notice will be given by the Centre Manager or Education Officer. It is essential that all school visitors take directions from our Centre Staff, who can be identified by their name badges. Staff will direct school groups to the Emergency Assembly Area, which is clearly marked by a sign on the grassed area outside the front door of Centre. From this area teachers can then check the attendance of their students.
 
The Centre is fitted with emergency EXIT signs, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers are located inside the building. Pressure bandages to be applied in the event of snakebite are located inside the front door of the Wildlife Centre and the Centre has a First Aid Kit.

Communication Strategies
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre has three telephones, one in the shop and one in each office. The Administration Officer will be on duty to assist if required and is the contact person in the case of a first-aid emergency. Excursions are all within 100 m of the Centre.
 
Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre Manager has Emergency Care First Aid training and basic First Aid equipment is on hand in an emergency.
 
The nearest Doctor's Surgery is 89 Essex St, Wembley (cnr of Grantham St.)
phone: 9387 2000.
 
Sir Charles Gardner Hospital, Hospital Ave, Nedlands, phone 9346 3333, is the closest hospital with an emergency department.
 
St John Ambulance, phone 000. It is the policy of WA Gould League that an ambulance must be called immediately for any medical emergency that occurs at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre and the School Excursion Coordinator must have a mobile phone for emergency contact.
 
Teachers can increase safety by always ensuring that they meet the minimum supervision requirements (see above) and by strongly encouraging students to stay in their groups with their adult supervisors whilst at Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre. Any unauthorised or suspicious persons encountered by groups must be reported to the Centre staff immediately.
 
Once evacuation from the building occurs, all visitors will be assembled at a common point away from the building and so as not to obstruct emergency vehicles. Teachers will be able to do a roll call there and need to immediately alert Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre staff if any students are missing.

I DECLARE I HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO COMPLY WITH THE WA GOULD LEAGUE'S EXCURSION SAFETY POLICY:

NAME:     ___________________________ (Please Print)

SIGNED: ___________________________ (EXCURSION COORDINATOR)
DATED:   _____________