The factors influencing contemporary societal

relationships with outdoor environments, including:

Social responses to risk

taking

What we are going to look at..

Perceived Vs Real risk
Responses to risky behaviour safety guidelines,
qualifications, instructor: participant ratios, legal action,
media coverage, documentation, evaluation of activity
Long term social, environmental and management effects
of risk-taking

Challenging
But relatively safe

Challenging and risky

Perceived Risk

No real challenge
Generally safe

Real Risk

DANGEROUS!!!

Chain of events:
Media coverage initial story reported
Public response sadness, dismay, outrage
Investigation by police into circumstances
Coroners inquest into cause of injury or death
Media coverage results published for public
Public response call for action or inaction
Criminal or civil proceedings charges laid if
breeches in law
Industry self-regulation changes to industry
standards, ratios, certification, safety standards,
documentation and evaluation of activity
Government legislation changes to legislation
to prevent incident happening again.

school caving incident

Sadness, dismay, outrage

Example story..

Tim Holding Lost on Feathertop

Water Minister Tim Holding has told paramedics he got lost on Mount
Feathertop after falling 100 metres down the mountain during his
attempt to climb the peak.Mr Holding - who went missing on Sunday in
freezing conditions - was reunited with his parents and partner at the
Bright Oval after his dramatic air rescue this morning. He appeared
tired and drawn after arriving at The Alfred hospital this afternoon but
told the waiting media that he was feeling better now.
The Alfred's Dr De Villiers Smit said Mr Holding was doing very well. He
was in the emergency department and would be kept in hospital for
observation overnight. Mr Holding, who has no major injuries, is being
treated for slight dehydration and is on an intravenous drip. He does
not have hypothermia.Dr Smith said Mr Holding was in good spirits and
wanted to thank everyone for their support.
Read the public responses (via blog) and highlight one that
encapsulates the publics view about this rescue, to then share with the
class

..By police into circumstances

Try

to uncover what truly happened

(without influence of media or other
opinions)

Into cause of injury or death

Read through Coroners inquest in text
book and answer associated questions

 Media

coverage results of
coroners report published for public

Public

response call for action or

inaction

Police

re-involved - Criminal or civil

proceedings charges laid if
breeches in law

 Government

legislation changes to
legislation to prevent incident
happening again.

Industry

self-regulation changes to
industry standards, ratios,
certification, safety standards,
documentation and evaluation of
activity

How this has effected me and you..

Social effects: Cost of activities increases, cost of

rescue, questioning the NEED to participate,
questioning of leader and participant qualifications,
review of industry standards. Reduction in the
opportunity to participate in these activities.
Environmental effects: Access restrictions or
closure of sites in fragile areas use of zoning to
decrease environmental impacts
Management effects: Regulations and permits
brought in for both area and participant in parks
owned and managed by the State and Federal
Governments.
Example Horse riding in the Alpine National Park
and surrounds.

Brainstorm all the outdoor activities you wish we

could take part in as a part of your OES VCE
studies..
Individually

place them on a continuum of least to

most risky in your work books
Which

activities wouldnt your mother allow you to

do? Why?
What
How

is the value of risk in outdoor activities?

can it affect relationships with environments?

Societal responses include:

Media responses including outrage over incidents
Legal responses including coroners investigations,
court action and legislation
Increase in insurance costs
Development of infrastructure fences, roads, signs
Rules and regulations
Accreditation of instructors
New technologies including safety equipment

Impacts of some of these responses to natural environments

Increased safety might encourage more people to participate
and increase negative pressure on environments, or increase
positive appreciation of environments.
Legal responses and restrictions may reduce the number of
participants and benefit environments that are left alone

Impacts of some of these responses to natural

environments
Idolisation of adventurers may encourage unprepared
people to enter environments and lead to negative
effects (like erosion, clearing, damage to native
vegetation, pollution, etc.)
Fear arising from negative portrayals of environments
may lead to negative views and a reduction in care for
such places