Q & A
Operation Flinders usually conducts 5 Exercises annually. Each Exercise will have a maximum of 100 young people attend, as each team who participates will be made up of 10 young people. Supporting the young people are 30-40 staff.
These adults consist of field volunteers, support staff affiliated with the school / agency and base camp / operational staff.
The Operation Flinders Exercises are held on Yankaninna Station, in the far northern Flinders Ranges. Yankaninna Station is located 50km east of Leigh Creek towards Arkaroola.
The country is classic Flinders Ranges terrain with flat open plains, some moderate to high ranges with broad creek beds identified with large gum trees. The average rainfall is between 250mm and 300mm per year.
Temperatures range between a maximum of 45 degrees Celsius mid-summer and can get down to 2 degrees Celsius mid-winter.
Participants can be referred through the school/agency they attend or apply to attend an Exercise through our Step Out Program.
Each Exercise is eight days in duration. During the eight days young people experience the wilderness by sleeping in hootchies, cooking on the campfire, and trekking across vast open country.
Teams may have the opportunity to engage with an indigenous elder and challenge themselves by abseiling on the property.
Yes, a follow-up will occur typically 6 weeks after the young people return from Exercise. Our Youth Development Coordinator will arrange a date to meet up with the team where they will do an activity together, receive their certificates of attendance and review their time with Operation Flinders. At this follow-up, the young people are encouraged to join the Peer Group mentor Program.
Our Field Volunteers and Foundation Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and skill sets. Some may be from trades, retired, from the professional services sector or from a service background. Those who are on Exercise with the young people and work within their teams such as Team Leaders and Assistant Team Leaders all must go through a formal interview process. Once accepted, they must attend formal training including Child Safe and Situation Management. All Field Volunteers must have a valid DHS Clearance and first aid certification.