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In 2007, the Outdoor Programmes at CPIT were awarded OutdoorsMark. The staff elected to enter into the OutdoorsMark process because we viewed the award as an industry benchmark for safety policy and practice in the outdoor sector. The process of self audit followed by external audit and field observation allowed for detailed scrutiny of how we managed our staff and students in a variety of situations. A significant outcome of going through the OutdoorsMark award process is that we confirmed our safety management systems are robust and will stand up to external scrutiny. We found the process very supportive and our auditor worked closely with us throughout. Our auditor was someone who had worked in the industry for a long time and recognised the diversity and complexity of working in a range of environments under different conditions. As a result, he took a flexible approach to what he was doing, helping us to build upon the systems that we had in place. Dave Irwin ~ Senior Academic Staff Member, Outdoor Programmes |
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Dunstan High School (Outdoor Education) OutdoorsMark allows us to measure ourselves against a national standard and consider the key safety aspects that the outdoors industry thinks are important for a top programme. We aim to deliver the highest safety standard possible rather than working at the minimum standard. Annual self audits help us to keep on top of all our systems and consider any changes. A three yearly outside audit allows us to tap in to the collective knowledge of our auditor and consider new and more efficient ways of doing things. OutdoorsMark allows us to market our outdoor education programmes overseas with confidence, it gives extra assurances to our parents and community, it adds another level of self protection into our EOTC systems, and regular outside audits are quite simply good, professional practice in our industry and in line with trends for registration and revalidation. Eric Schusser ~ Head of Department Outdoor Education |
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YMCA Shakespear Lodge was awarded OutdoorsMark in March 2007. We feel that all our hard work and commitment in producing quality experiences for our clients has been recognised by an independent industry body to be as good as we think it is. It's a buzz to know that what you're doing is so good. |
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More than anything else, the process of gaining OutdoorsMark has given our team confidence in knowing that our safety management system has lived up to a certified standard. Because of this our clients feel more at ease. This by no means replaces good quality staff and a healthy working culture. These form the essence of a safe, professional organisation. Clients have at times questioned OutdoorsMark as a marketing idea, but assurance from Outdoors NZ that this is a recognised industry standard has been refreshing. Andrew Whitehead ~ Programme Director |
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The value we gained from the OutdoorsMark certification process was immense. The professional auditing system is robust, thorough and well tailored to the sector; the auditor being an outdoors expert with relevant background knowledge was hugely beneficial in providing us with quality ideas for minor improvements. As a package, it provides additional reassurance for our staff and customers that our systems and processes are above the industry standards. We highly recommend aiming for OutdoorsMark. Matt Hollyer ~ General Manager |
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Achieving OutdoorsMark certification was a rewarding experience for our glacier guiding operation. We were impressed with the process and the way in which every applicable area of our business was assessed. We found the self-assessment component particularly useful as it ensured we were well prepared for the day of the audit. Being ready for the audior's visit meant an efficient use of veryone's precious time and, as a result, a successful outcome. Rob Jewell ~ Chief Executive |