Are you up to the challenge? Jump off a cliff the safe way, with the Sydney North Region Rockcraft Team! There are weekend abseil adventures, Scout abseil days, VET training, and much more!

Getting Involved

We have courses targeted at different levels of experience:

Scout Groups

A Scout abseils on a top belay at Lindfield Rocks

Check out the Scout Abseil Experience Days

Beginner Abseilers
Venturers / Rovers / Leaders

A Venturer Operates a top belay supervised by an Abseil Guide, whilst another Venturer is Abseiling at a Basic Rockcraft Abseil Course.

Check out the Basic Rockcraft (Safe Participant) Abseiling Workshops. This is the first step into abseiling qualifications, and also can be used as the practical component of the OAS Stage 4 Vertical Badge.

Taking it to the next level

A Scout Leader performs a self rescue on an abseil in a training exercise at Lindfield Rocks

Competent abseilers can do our Rigging and Rescue Workshop to work towards their SIS Trained Participant and Assistant Guide Qualifications. As well as the higher levels of their OAS Vertical Badges.

Team

The Abseiling Team is responsible for running workshops for those who need an abseil qualification to participate in an activity and for those who would like to learn more about this adventure sport.

Who Can Do It?

Abseiling is available to all members of the Movement in some form in accordance with Scouts NSW policies and sectional requirements.

When Can I Do This?

All year round, meeting nights, day trips, weekends. The team runs a number of calendared Basic Abseiling, Abseil Trained Participant and Assistant Guide training events each year, but are also happy to arrange alternate dates for your Pack, Troop, Unit, Crew, or even Group Committee if the need arises.

Where we run a custom adventure for your group, an equipment hire fee will apply when Region equipment is used.

Qualifications Required

Single Pitch Abseiling – Activity must be under the control of an Abseiling Guide.

Multi-pitch Abseiling – Activity must be under the control of an Abseiling Guide.

If you want to get qualified let one of our team know to book into a Rigging & Rescue Skills training workshop. We can qualify you with Scout Skills and VET recognised qualifications.

You can either follow a course work path (recommended for most members) or go through a RPL path (recommended for experienced abseilers who already run trips). Below is a possible pathway to achieve an Abseil Guide Appointment is Scouting.

Coursework Path to Abseil Guide. 

A diagram depicting a coursework pathway to abseil guide.
Coursework path to Abseil Guide

Courses

Scout Abseil Days

Scout Abseil Days, Book Your Troup In

Basic Rockcraft (Safe Participant)

This is the base-level for participation in rockcraft activities and is required for vertical canyoning and caving. Attending this workshop will give you a great grounding for rock adventures and you can even earn you Stage 4 OAS under Vertical (New Youth Program).

Cost is $70 plus we throw in a set of prussik loops tailored to you.

Booking links will appear on the events below when booking is open.

Click here to download course information.

Course Dates
  • Safe Participant Abseil Course – Theory Night (ABS25A)

    This is the base-level course for participation in rockcraft activities and is required for vertical…

    2025-02-18 @ 7:00 PM10:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Book Now

    21 of 25 places remaining.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-02-25 17:00:00

    Note: starting your application does not reserve your spot, you must submit your application and pay.

  • Safe Participant Abseil Course – Practical Day (ABS25A)

    This is the base-level course for participation in rockcraft activities and is required for vertical…

    2025-03-01 @ 8:00 AM5:00 PM at Wahroonga Rocks
    Book Now

    21 of 25 places remaining.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-02-25 17:00:00

    Note: starting your application does not reserve your spot, you must submit your application and pay.

Rigging & Rescue Skills – (SIS Training – Trained Participant, Assistant Guide a.k. TP/AG)

If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling then this is the workshop for you. Learn how to set up abseils, rig for rescue and get yourself or others out of difficulty. This course aims to get you through the Trained Participant and Assistant Guide levels of the VET qualifications and can also be used to gain OAS qualifications.

Cost is $125 and we include an autoblock prussik and cows tails.

Booking links will appear on the events below when booking is open.

Course Prerequisites

Hold a current SNR Basic Rockcraft or SIS Safe Participant Abseil qualification; (If you are an experienced abseiler who also knows how to Prussik please reach out to the team, we may be able to wave this requirement)
Have a current logbook documenting abseiling;

Course Co-Requisites

Hold a current HLTAID 001, 002 & 003 (Required for course completion, may register without)
You must also assist on at least one Safe Particiant Abseiling workshop in a Leader role to complete the qualification.
To Gain the full Assistant Guide Qualification you must complete the Common Core aspect of the Certificate III in Outdoor Leadership (more info coming soon)

Click here to download course information

Course Dates

Two courses run every year – one in March and one in June. Unfortunately we don’t have capacity to run any additional courses so make sure you book in for these!

  • Complex Vertical Rescue Workshop – 2025CVR001

    To attend this workshop you should already hold Guide Abseiling or Canyoning and be looking to move …

    2025-02-08 @ 8:30 AM2025-02-09 @ 4:30 PM at Wahroonga Rocks
    Book Now

    11 of 12 places remaining.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-02-05 21:00:00

    Note: starting your application does not reserve your spot, you must submit your application and pay.

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Theory Night 1 (ABS25B)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-03-20 @ 7:00 PM10:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-02-01 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-03-13 00:00:00

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Theory Night 2 (ABS25B)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-03-27 @ 7:00 PM10:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-02-01 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-03-13 00:00:00

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Practical Weekend (ABS25B)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-04-05 @ 8:00 AM2025-04-06 @ 5:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-02-01 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-03-13 00:00:00

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Theory Night 1 (ABS25D)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-06-04 @ 7:00 PM10:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-03-20 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-05-27 00:00:00

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Theory Night 2 (ABS25D)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-06-11 @ 7:00 PM10:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-03-20 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-05-27 00:00:00

  • Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Practical Weekend (ABS25D)

    If you want to build on your skills and work towards being able to take other people out abseiling t…

    2025-06-21 @ 8:00 AM2025-06-22 @ 5:00 PM at Barra Brui Activity Hall
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-03-20 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-05-27 00:00:00

  • Express Abseil Rigging & Rescue Course – Residential Weekend

    This is an express version of our normal Rigging & Rescue course which will consist of two onlin…

    2025-08-29 @ 7:00 PM2025-08-31 @ 8:00 PM
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-06-04 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-08-05 00:00:00

Tuesday Evening Rescue Workshops

The Region Rockcraft Team Runs Monthly Rockcraft Skills workshops. These are open to anyone who has attended a Rigging and Rescue course and is working towards Abseil TP, AG or Guide. Current Qual not required. A great way to build your skills towards guide (or your OAS levels). Rescue workshops are also one of the ways you can demonstrate your rescue currency which is required for all guides, and especially if you are going through requal. If you are a current guide this is also a good way to stop your rescue skills getting rusty. Scouts policy requires current Guides to do Rescue Training at least once a year.

Upcoming Workshop Dates
  • Evening Rockcraft Workshop (REW25A)

    Monthly Rockcraft Skills workshop – open to anyone who has attended a TP/AG (Level 2) course, …

    2025-01-07 @ 6:30 PM8:00 PM at Lindfield Rocks
    Book Now

    Registrations closes by: 2025-01-07 18:15:00

    Note: starting your application does not reserve your spot, you must submit your application and pay.

  • Evening Rockcraft Workshop (REW25B)

    Monthly Rockcraft Skills workshop – open to anyone who has attended a TP/AG (Level 2) course, …

    2025-01-22 @ 6:30 PM8:00 PM at Lindfield Rocks
    Registrations for this event open on: 2025-01-01 00:00:00.

    Registrations closes by: 2025-01-22 18:15:00

Current Workshop Details & Downloads:

To register for any of the courses listed here, please click the “Book Now” button on the event entry above or alternatively visit the registration system directly.

Participants should download all details below and follow the directions as per the participant’s letter to be sent to you to complete all the prerequisites prior to the first theory night.

Location Information:

Other Course Downloads

Leave No Trace documents:- Download Part 1.    Download Part 2.

Rock Activities Standard Operation Procedure:- Download SOP.

Adventurous Activities Policy:- Download Policy.

Who Can Help Me?

Harry Day – harry.day@nsw.scouts.com.au