SCHOOL & AGENCY RESOURCES

Schools and agencies wanting to nominate a team to attend an Exercise must do so during the nomination period which is at the end of each calendar year. Usually occurring in October, all schools and agencies who have asked to be added to our contacts list will receive a nomination invitation. An MOU is completed and an Exercise date preference is nominated.

After the close of nomination date, the staff at Operation Flinders compile these nominations and the teams will be allocated to one of their preferences.

If a school or agency are late in nominating a team, they can be placed on a reserve list. If an allocated team cannot attend an Exercise and must withdraw, this stand-by team is then allocated this position.

All enquiries or expressions of interest to be added to the school and agency contacts list must be sent to the General Manager of Programs, People and Culture. administration@operationflinders.org 

Operation Flinders receives approximately 25% of its’ overall funding from the State Government to support the 60 teams who participate on an Operation Flinders exercise each year. The remaining 75% to fund the programs are raised through corporate donations, local Government and Service Clubs, fundraising events, philanthropic Trusts & Foundations, membership and general donations.

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

Each Exercise is held on Yankaninna Station, located 65kms east of Leigh Creek in the Northern Flinders Ranges. The Exercise area is some 650kms from Adelaide and is served by a bitumen road and dirt track. The terrain is rugged hilly country with some large mountains. The country is saltbush, native pine and mallee with large gum trees along creek beds. The creeks are dry but tend to flood easily with moderate rain. This is very different to the imagery you see relating to Wilpena Pound and the central Flinders region.

The Traditional Land Owners of the region are the Adnyamathanha people.

Teams provide their own transport to and from Exercise on Yankaninna Station. It is the school or agencies responsibility to source a bus or mini van 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)
• Ask local community groups to use 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 use to attach their harness to with two leashes, and allows them to secure themselves while limiting any fall. The purpose of a via ferrata is to safely allow climbing on routes that would otherwise be considered dangerous. They also give opportunities to climbers who may not have a high experience level or lack technical climbing equipment.

Team Challenges

Each Team participates in established Team Challenges. One involves using ropes and other equipment to transport themselves and their equipment safely over a 'poisoned' water hole. Another challenge, is to build a bridge across a 'flooded creek'. Team Leaders often introduce impromptu challenges at times during the Exercise to facilitate and reinforce team work skills.

High Ropes

The high ropes course is a new addition to Yankaninna Station. The course is designed to challenge all participants in a fun and safe manner. 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 the Exercise area, they are presented (individually), with a T shirt and a set of dog tags.  The tags have a 24-hour a day 1800 telephone number that they can ring for further support. Two specific 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 First Care Medical. Should a serious medical problem eventuate an evacuation plan is in place with support from the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The Foundation also has links with the Hawker Hospital or Leigh Creek clinic.  Ambulance officers also transport stores and water to re-supply each team.

Communication

This is a vital component of the operation. Radio technicians attend as volunteers. Each teams carries two hand-held VHF radios. Radio links are also established with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Radio 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

Support Staff are vital to the teams performance 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 the best outcomes. Support Staff members are from the school or agency in which the team is from. These people are most commonly a year level co-ordinator, school counsellor or outdoor education teacher.

It is vital that Support Staff are strongly connected to the young people as they provide valid insight into the behaviours and personality of the young people. These people all provide valuable follow-up and ongoing support for the young people once they return to home and back into the school / agency environment.

Just like the others in the team, the Support Staff members participate in the Exercise in its entirety.