Photo - on the way to Glacier Rock, view of Cairns and Mount Whitfield
Membership Process
When you join a walk for the 1st time we call you a "Temporary Member".
We ask all new walkers to attend 3 walks as a Temporary Member. This is to see if the Club is the right fit for you.
After 3 walks, if you want to do more, please complete a "Contact - Membership" website page.
Please remember to list the 3 walks you have attended, and the club member who has agreed to nominate you.
We have a member approval process to keep the group harmonious.
Cost
Temporary Member Cost - Each walk, as a Temporary Member, costs $5
The Walk Leader will also ask you to complete an “Acknowledgment of Risk Form” This is an insurance requirement.
Annual Membership - costs are $40per year, due each June. Once the end of the calendar year is passed membership fees for new members will be reduced dependent on the month of joining as follows:
Membership will be due as you join and then every year of membership thereafter.
The Walk Leader will also ask you to complete an “Acknowledgment of Risk Form” This is an insurance requirement.
Annual Membership - costs are $40per year, due each June. Once the end of the calendar year is passed membership fees for new members will be reduced dependent on the month of joining as follows:
- If join in Jan –pay $35
- If join in Feb – pay $30
- If join in March – pay $25
- If join in April – pay $20
- If join in May – pay $10
- If join in June – pay $5
Membership will be due as you join and then every year of membership thereafter.
Bushwalking Queensland
As a club we are affiliated with Bushwalking Queensland Inc. (BWQ). BWQ is the peak body that represents the interests of its affiliated bushwalking clubs in the state of Queensland, Australia. It also acts in the interest of the wider bushwalking community, through its advocacy role with land managers and various government departments. BWQ is a not-for-profit, non-commercial association, run by volunteers drawn from the club network.
Why walk with a club? Bushwalking Queensland strongly urge anyone wishing to take up bushwalking to make contact with a local club. Clubs provide peer group support, offer resource and knowledge sharing, advise on walk gradings suitable for beginners, teach you minimum impact bushwalking skills so you can walk ethically and safely, and can organise car pooling to share transport costs. Importantly, clubs provide a social structure that serves its members for a lifetime.
What if something goes wrong? In the event of a serious (life threatening or time critical) incident on a bushwalk ring 000 and explain the situation. For lost persons or parties overdue more than 24 hours, ring 000 and ask for the Police. If no signal, try 112 for the extended mobile network.
Insurance cover: Clubs affiliated with BWQ participate in an Australia-wide insurance scheme administered by Bushwalking Australia providing Personal Accident and Public Liability cover. Click on Insurance for details.
Why walk with a club? Bushwalking Queensland strongly urge anyone wishing to take up bushwalking to make contact with a local club. Clubs provide peer group support, offer resource and knowledge sharing, advise on walk gradings suitable for beginners, teach you minimum impact bushwalking skills so you can walk ethically and safely, and can organise car pooling to share transport costs. Importantly, clubs provide a social structure that serves its members for a lifetime.
What if something goes wrong? In the event of a serious (life threatening or time critical) incident on a bushwalk ring 000 and explain the situation. For lost persons or parties overdue more than 24 hours, ring 000 and ask for the Police. If no signal, try 112 for the extended mobile network.
Insurance cover: Clubs affiliated with BWQ participate in an Australia-wide insurance scheme administered by Bushwalking Australia providing Personal Accident and Public Liability cover. Click on Insurance for details.
Child Protection Policy
Cairns Ramblers have adopted the following Child Protection Policy
Cairns Ramblers have adopted the following Child Protection Policy
A Child Safety Policy has 8 mandatory requirements:
1.Statement of commitment.
Cairns Ramblers Inc is committed to providing services to the children or young persons of full members to assist them to hike or participate in Cairns Ramblers Inc activities in a safe and supportive manner. This is only when children/young persons are accompanied by and under the full supervision of their parent, relative (such as grandparent), or guardian.
2.Code of conduct.
The child or young persons should be relatives or friends of members with full parental/guardian permission. The permission should be in writing.
This could also cover, for example a school friend of the child, attending as a temporary member, provided that child's parent has given written permission.
Cairns Ramblers Medical and Emergency Contact Form should be completed and carried on any activity by all children/young persons.
The BWQ insurance covers children 5 years and older.
If, in the future, the club intends to run children's events for all-comers, then a Blue Card may be necessary for the activity leader(s), unless all the parents attend as well.
3.Recruitment, selection, training and management.
Ensure all members are aware of the Cairns Ramblers Child Safety Policy.
Add a copy of the current approved policy to the STA and the Cairns Ramblers website.
4.Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm.
Any concerns or problems or thoughts should be discussed with the Cairns Ramblers Inc committee in a very expedient manner.
5. Managing breaches.
Any breaches with the policy, problems or thoughts should be discussed with the Cairns Ramblers Inc committee in a very expedient manner.
6. Risk management plan for high-risk activities.
Children or young persons should never be included in high-risk activities. If a child or young person is listed to attend a hike or activity, and it is graded as hard, a full assessment of the child’s ability to safely complete the activity, plus the suitability of other persons on the outing should be very carefully taken into consideration.
Examples:
A child/young person should be able to hike on easy and medium hikes before being taken on a hard hike.
The fellow hikers of a child/young person, particularly on a hard hike, must be experienced and fit hikers. If a group has a hiker included who may have difficulties, a child/young person should not also be included. Leader and hike members must place care of the child/young person as the priority.
7. Managing compliance with the blue card system.
Currently children/young persons can only attend a Cairns Rambler Inc activity if accompanied and under the full supervision of their parent, relative (such as grandparent), or guardian. Therefore, it is not currently considered necessary to apply for Blue Cards for Leaders.
If Cairns Rambler Leaders want to start a children/young person’s hiking group, for example, all Leaders involved must hold current and valid Blue Card. Evidence of the Blue Card must be submitted to Cairns Rambler Inc. Note - Blue Card Services have an online system to organise and track records.
8. Communication and support.
Child Safety Policy must be communicated to all members, be available for review by everyone on the Cairns Ramblers Inc website and in STA. A review of the policy should be included in the annual training of full members.
1.Statement of commitment.
Cairns Ramblers Inc is committed to providing services to the children or young persons of full members to assist them to hike or participate in Cairns Ramblers Inc activities in a safe and supportive manner. This is only when children/young persons are accompanied by and under the full supervision of their parent, relative (such as grandparent), or guardian.
2.Code of conduct.
The child or young persons should be relatives or friends of members with full parental/guardian permission. The permission should be in writing.
This could also cover, for example a school friend of the child, attending as a temporary member, provided that child's parent has given written permission.
Cairns Ramblers Medical and Emergency Contact Form should be completed and carried on any activity by all children/young persons.
The BWQ insurance covers children 5 years and older.
If, in the future, the club intends to run children's events for all-comers, then a Blue Card may be necessary for the activity leader(s), unless all the parents attend as well.
3.Recruitment, selection, training and management.
Ensure all members are aware of the Cairns Ramblers Child Safety Policy.
Add a copy of the current approved policy to the STA and the Cairns Ramblers website.
4.Reporting disclosures and suspicions of harm.
Any concerns or problems or thoughts should be discussed with the Cairns Ramblers Inc committee in a very expedient manner.
5. Managing breaches.
Any breaches with the policy, problems or thoughts should be discussed with the Cairns Ramblers Inc committee in a very expedient manner.
6. Risk management plan for high-risk activities.
Children or young persons should never be included in high-risk activities. If a child or young person is listed to attend a hike or activity, and it is graded as hard, a full assessment of the child’s ability to safely complete the activity, plus the suitability of other persons on the outing should be very carefully taken into consideration.
Examples:
A child/young person should be able to hike on easy and medium hikes before being taken on a hard hike.
The fellow hikers of a child/young person, particularly on a hard hike, must be experienced and fit hikers. If a group has a hiker included who may have difficulties, a child/young person should not also be included. Leader and hike members must place care of the child/young person as the priority.
7. Managing compliance with the blue card system.
Currently children/young persons can only attend a Cairns Rambler Inc activity if accompanied and under the full supervision of their parent, relative (such as grandparent), or guardian. Therefore, it is not currently considered necessary to apply for Blue Cards for Leaders.
If Cairns Rambler Leaders want to start a children/young person’s hiking group, for example, all Leaders involved must hold current and valid Blue Card. Evidence of the Blue Card must be submitted to Cairns Rambler Inc. Note - Blue Card Services have an online system to organise and track records.
8. Communication and support.
Child Safety Policy must be communicated to all members, be available for review by everyone on the Cairns Ramblers Inc website and in STA. A review of the policy should be included in the annual training of full members.