NEW SCHOOLS & AGENCIES

Schools and agencies that would like to nominate a team to attend an Exercise do so during the nomination period at the end of each calendar year.

All schools and agencies who submit an Expression of Interest will receive an invitation to complete a Nomination Form and can select their preferred Exercise dates.

After the close of nomination date, Operation Flinders staff compile the nominations, and every effort is made to allocate teams according to their preferences.

Any Nomination Forms received after the close of nomination date will be placed on a reserve list. If an allocated team cannot attend, reserve teams will be contacted.

While the preference is for 1 team from each school/agency, some schools or agencies may also come together and create a team, sending 5 Participants and 1 Support Staff from each.

Enquiries can be sent to administration@operationflinders.org 

Operation Flinders receives approximately 25% of its’ overall funding from the State Government to support the 50 teams who participate on an Operation Flinders exercise each year. The remaining 75% of funding is raised through corporate and public donations, Local Government, fundraising events, service clubs, philanthropic trusts and foundations, and membership.

Participation on an Operation Flinders Exercise is highly sought after. There is an expectation that schools/agencies will assist in some way to the funding required for their teams’ participation.

Operation Flinders Exercises are held on Adnyamathanha Country at Yankaninna Station, in the far northern Flinders Ranges. Yankaninna Station is located 50km east of Leigh Creek towards Arkaroola.

Operation Flinders Foundation acknowledges that the Adnyamathanha people are the traditional custodians of the Country on which we work, Yankaninna Station, and recognises that ‘Country’ incorporates the land, water, and sky. It is also the blood, spirit, creation stories, teachings, and lore of Aboriginal people. We pay our respect to this connection, as well as to the Elders, past and present.

The country is classic Flinders Ranges terrain with flat open plains, some moderate to high ranges with broad creek beds and large gum trees. Temperatures range between a maximum of 45 degrees Celsius mid-summer and can get down to 2 degrees Celsius mid-winter.

Teams provide their own transport to and from Exercise on Yankaninna Station. Schools or agencies responsibility to source a bus or minivan to commute between the departure location and the station and return.

Transport Options:

• Hire a minibus and have a staff member drive up and back
• Hire a minibus and have this situated at Base for the duration of the Exercise (meaning the Support Staff drive)
• Enquire with local community groups about using their buses

Abseil

Operation Flinders' qualified abseil instructors manage the abseil site on the property during Exercise. Teams must place their trust in our Field Volunteers and other team members to overcome the challenges faces when looking over the 30 metre high cliff. This site is aimed at improving the participants' self-confidence, by overcoming challenges perhaps they initially thought they would be unable to achieve.

Via Ferrata

The Via Ferrata is a climbing route that uses steel cables and rungs fixed to rocks, which climbers attach their harness to, allowing them to secure themselves. The purpose of a Via Ferrata is to safely allow climbing on routes that would otherwise be considered dangerous. It also provides an opportunity to have a go and build confidence.

Team Challenges

Each Team participates in structured Team Challenges. Examples may include using ropes and other equipment to transport themselves and their equipment safely over a 'poisoned' water hole or building a bridge across a 'flooded creek'.

Team Leaders also introduce impromptu challenges at times during the Exercise to facilitate and reinforce teamwork skills, resilience, connection, purpose and wellbeing.

High Ropes

The high ropes course has been a recent addition to Yankaninna Station. The course is designed to challenge all participants in a fun and safe way. Participants are secured with a safety harness and then must navigate their way through the course which is suspended high off the ground.

Exercise Completion

Once the Teams have completed the Exercise and before they leave, they are presented (individually), with a T shirt and tag necklace. The tags have a 24-hour a day 1800 telephone number that they can ring for further support. Additional team member awards may also be presented.

Medical Support

All Team Leaders, Assistant Team Leaders and Exercise Staff have first aid qualifications. Further medical support is provided by qualified ambulance officers from First Care Medical, who are available on site for the duration of each Exercise. Ambulance officers also transport stores and water to re-supply each team.

A trained Wellbeing Officer is also onsite for the duration of the Exercise. They are available to attend call outs to any team where a young person may require mental health or wellbeing support.

Should a serious medical incident occur, an evacuation plan is in place with support from the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Operation Flinders is also connected with the Hawker Hospital and Leigh Creek clinic.

Communication

This is a vital component of the program. Radio technicians attend as volunteers. Each team carries two hand-held VHF radios. Radio links are also established with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Communication at headquarters is monitored 24 hours per day. Regular scheduled calls are received from each team daily, early in the morning and at the end of the day. All Foundation vehicles operating in the area carry radios.

This list below includes the recommended items all participants are required to bring with them. Please note that all items will be carried through the Exercise, so please do not pack more than you require or is recommended.

Clothing

• Loose, comfortable walking pants / cargo (not jeans)
• Shorts
• Underwear
• Socks
• Thongs or crocs (to wear at campsite)
• Warm top
• T-shirt
• Beanie

Personal Items

• Toiletries - toothbrush, toothpastes, small soap, hand towel, sunscreen, lip balm, wipes
• Torch
• Spare batteries
• Medication

Footwear - everyone MUST wear hiking boots suitable for the very rugged terrain. These must be:

• Well-worn
• Able to be worn with thick socks
• Ankle height to prevent rolled ankles

Operation Flinders WILL SUPPLY:

• Hootchies (sleeping shelter)
• Sleeping bag
• Eating utensils
• Water bottle
• Backpacks
• Wide-brimmed hat
• Roll mat
• Food
• Water

Two Support Staff form the school or referring agency attend the Exercise and complete the entire 8 days with their team. Support Staff are vital to the team’s achievements, wellbeing and structure during an Exercise. The Support Staff are not only connected to the young people in the team prior to an Exercise but they have the educational background and youth experience required for positive outcomes. Support Staff are most commonly year level co-ordinators, school counsellors, outdoor education teachers, or teachers with connections to the team. School Principals have also completed Exercises which has been fantastic. Referring agency Support Staff may be social workers or similar.

It is vital that Support Staff are strongly connected to the young people as they provide valid insight into personalities, strengths and behaviours, as well as valuable follow-up and ongoing support for the young people once they return to the school / agency environment.