Paddling Leader - Flatwater Guide Course

Hi everyone,

For experienced paddlers who are interested in becoming paddling leaders at the club, Paddle Victoria will be running a 2 day course + 1 day assessment at a later date that will give you a professional certification to guide other paddlers in flatwater environments.

The Flatwater Guide Training Course is for people seeking a professional certification in flat water paddling environments and will cost $395. If you are interested in getting the full qualification, you will need to assist leading flatwater trips before completing a 1 day assessment - $295 and register with Paddle Australia (PA) as a flatwater guide for 3 years - $170.

You will need to have logged at least 5 flatwater kayaking activites of at least 3 hours in duration on the PA paddle log. See more details on prereqs for this course here.

The club does not currently require trainee leaders to complete the assessment or register as a guide with PA, but to become a checked off leader with the club, you will need to assist running trips with a flatwater leader who is already checked off.

Reimbursement of course fees by the club will be done in installments as you run more trips with the club. It is also an expectation for people who complete this course to run in-house courses to produce more leaders in the club.

Click here for links to register to the training and assessment courses.

Click here to see the skills required for this qualification.

Click here to see the training grant document to apply to have your course fees subsidised by the club. Consideration can be given to have a higher percentage of the course fees covered by the club due to the need for new paddling leaders.

If you have any questions you can message me, Nathan, on fb messenger here or approach either of the paddling deputies, Avryl and Polly at Tuesday meetings.

Please email applications for course funding to .

*This is an externally run course*