Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation

School of Health Sciences

Do you love the great outdoors? The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation is an exciting degree designed to meet the growing demand in Western Australia for qualified individuals to work in the recreation, education, adventure tourism and eco-tourism sectors. Over three years you will learn key outdoor skills while developing the ability to design, plan and implement safe outdoor programs. Take the next step today.

• Why study this degree?

  The Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation is designed to meet the growing demand in Australia for qualified individuals within the fields of recreation, adventure tourism and eco-tourism by providing essential knowledge, practical skills and leadership opportunities.

  Practical competence and professional standards are at the core of this program, providing students with extensive practical experience in outdoor leadership in various natural environments. Pursuits include white water kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, abseiling, bushwalking and mountain biking.

• Program summary

  15 required courses - Outdoor Recreation

  • Introduction to Professional Practice in Outdoor Recreation
  • Introduction to Teaching and Learning in an Experiential Context
  • Basic Expedition Skills
  • Introduction to Roping and Challenge Courses
  • Expeditions on Land
  • Expeditions on Water
  • Expedition Planning and Implementation
  • Health Communications
  • Research Methods
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Physical Geography, Climates, Geology and Soils
  • Health Issues and Preventive Approaches
  • Physical Health and Activity
  • Aboriginal People
  • Adapted and Inclusive Practice in Physical Education

  Six electives. Courses may include:

  • Introduction to Behavioural Science
  • Environmental Approaches to Public Health & Health Promotion
  • Principles of Management
  • Counselling Skills
  • Coastal and Marine Systems
  • Australian Ecology and Environmental Issues
  • Environmental Ecology and History of South Coast
  • Environmental Impact and Assessment Planning
  • Events Management
  • Population Approaches to Health Promotion
  • Community Approaches to Health Promotion
  • Health Science Research

  Three industry practicum placements

  • Industry Placement (50 hours)
  • Industry Placement (150 hours)
  • Industry Internship (150 hours)

  Core Curriculum

  • CORE I: Foundations of Wisdom
  • CORE II: Elective
    • Electives in philosophy and\or theology
    • Professional embedded electives that integrate studies in a profession with philosophy and\or theology
    • An option to undertake a pilgrimage embedded in the study of the philosophy and theology of pilgrimage, e.g., World Youth Day
    • An option to undertake a course that integrates philosophy & theology with community service and charity work
    • An option to undertake an elective in philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts contained within an international experience

  More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  Please Note: Students studying this program will be charged additional fees to cover transport and accommodation costs associated with field based expeditions and external certifications

  Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

• Entry requirements

  Entry requirements WA

  Academic requirements for this program are outlined below.  In addition, to be eligible for admission, all applicants need to satisfy the Minimum University Admission Requirements outlined. These include those relating to minimum age and English Language Proficiency.  We also consider your application more broadly – your non-academic achievements (such as any previous leadership roles, volunteering, work, church and/or community involvement) as well as personal qualities - your aspirations and interests and your capacity to complete your chosen program.  See Individual Factors for further details regarding this.

  Applicants with recent Secondary Education

  • Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank* of 70

  OR

  • International Baccalaureate (IB) score of 25

  *Selection Ranks include ATAR plus Adjustment Factors.

  Applicants with Higher Education Study

  • Successful completion of 4 subjects at an undergraduate level or higher*

  OR

  • Successful completion of the Notre Dame Tertiary Pathway Program (TPP), or a tertiary preparation program from another institution that is deemed to be of a similar academic rigour to the Notre Dame TPP

  *Applicants who have successfully completed subjects at another University, which are relevant to the selected program of study, may be eligible for credit (Advanced Standing).

  Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study

  • Successful completion of AQF Certificate IV or higher from an accredited provider such as TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

  Applicants with Work and Life Experience

  Applicants who left secondary education more than two years previously and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since may be considered for direct entry. This includes applicants who have completed Steiner, Montessori or home school curriculums. To qualify, applicants must be 20 years of age as at 1 March in the year of intake and meet one or more of the following:

  • Applicants who have completed at least two years of relevant work experience may be considered for direct entry. Applicants must provide evidence of their work experience, including duties undertaken and years of experience, and they must demonstrate that they have the academic capability to undertake undergraduate studies. The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) may be required.

  OR

  • Completion of STAT with scores of at least 135 in the Multiple Choice section and 140 in the Written English section.

  OR

  • Completion of two Year 12 WACE, HSC or equivalent exams, with a result equivalent to the Indicative ATAR/Selection Rank listed under Secondary Education section above.

  *STAT results must have been obtained within the last three calendar years in order to be considered (e.g. for 2024 admission, STAT results obtained in 2023, 2022 or 2021 can be considered).

  Please note: all applicants must be of school leaving age or older to apply.

• Learning outcomes

  Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation graduates will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate effective outdoor leadership knowledge and practices in a variety of settings with diverse sub populations.
  2. Evaluate, develop and apply technical, safety and environmental practices
  3. Critically analyse and formulate instructional, organization and facilitation practices
  4. Critically evaluate decision making, experience based judgment, problem solving, effective communication, flexible leadership and professional ethics
  5. Apply research skills to update outdoor recreation related professional knowledge as a basis for independent lifelong learning
  6. Plan, implement and evaluate expedition based programs
  7. Exemplify professional standards in a variety of practical, interpersonal and theoretical contexts related to outdoor recreation and its associated fields; and
  8. Articulate objective and universal truth, appreciate the intrinsic dignity of the human person, and exhibit good intellectual, moral and theological habits.

• Practical component

  You must complete a minimum of three hundred (300) hours of practicum.

  • Industry Placement (50 hours)
  • Industry Placement (150 hours)
  • Industry Internship (150 hours)

  In the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation Industry Practicums are taught across the whole academic year but are structured as multi-term courses in which students enrol into a Part A and Part B course.

• Career opportunities

  Graduates of this program can follow diverse career paths in the private and public sectors; Career opportunities range from Community program organiser, education & community programs officer, adventure tourism leader, teacher – health & physical education.

• Real-world experience

  You will learn from academics who are industry leaders and, through our practicum placements and internship programs, you will gain real professional experience and make valuable contacts with potential employers.

• Honours

  An Honours award is available for this program. Further information can be found in the Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation (Honours) regulations, or by contacting the School of Health Sciences.

• Study abroad

  A global perspective adds a valuable dimension to your university education. At Notre Dame University you can study while experiencing the world. We encourage students to become active global citizens through a range of exchange programs, professional placements, study tours, and volunteer opportunities. Visit International Opportunities to find out more.

• Fees and costs

  This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:

  
  

  Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
  A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a place at a university where the Australian Government pays part of your fees. This part is a subsidy, not a loan, and you don’t have to pay it back. However, this subsidy does not cover the entire cost of your study. Students must pay the rest, which is called the ‘student contribution amount’.

  In a Commonwealth Supported Place, your fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your fees will be split into two portions:

  The Commonwealth contribution, which is the portion paid by the Australian Government.

  The student contribution, which is the portion you pay. You may choose to pay upfront or defer your student contribution with a HECS-HELP Loan. The HECS-HELP loan scheme assists eligible students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your HECS-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.

  Eligible students will be offered a CSP – you do not need to apply.

  
  

  International Full-Fee Paying
  Tuition costs depend on an international student’s study load and discipline. Fees are payable each semester at least four weeks prior to the commencement of your program.

  
  

  For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

• Student profile data

  The tables below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this Program. It provides data on all students who commenced in this Program in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  TABLE 1a – Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation BASIS OF ADMISSION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  Applicant background	Semester 1 2022
  	Number of students	Percentage of all students
  (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course)	<5	N/P
  (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study	<5	N/P
  (C) Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)	<5	N/P
  (D) Recent secondary education: Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)	N/A	N/A
  Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, interview, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)	<5	N/P
  Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, interview, school marks &   recommendation with no minimum ATAR requirement)	5	71%
  International students	N/A	N/A
  All students	N/P	100.0%

  TABLE 1b – Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation ATAR PROFILE DATA FOR APPLICANTS ENTERING ON THE BASIS OF RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SEMESTER 1, 2022 INTAKE

  RECENT SECONDARY EDUCATION - ATAR-based offers	ATAR (Excluding adjustment factors) *	Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) *[only if relevant]
  Highest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Median rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A
  Lowest rank to receive an offer	N/A	N/A

  Notes:  

  “<5” – the number of students is less than 5
  N/A – Students not accepted in this category
  N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent the calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students

  In 2022, due to COVID, additional adjustment factor points were granted to applicants from NSW, ACT and VIC.

• More information

  Considering your uni options?

  Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.

  
  

  For more information, please call our Prospective Students Office on +61 8 9433 0533 or email future@nd.edu.au.

  
  

  All international enquiries should contact the International Students Office on international@nd.edu.au.