2014 Archive

Orienteering Australia has a new Anti-Doping Policy coming into force on 1 January 2015 & complying with WADA, ASADA and IOF Anti-Doping policies coming into force on the same day. The OA policy is found in section 5.12 of the OA Operational Manual at http://www.orienteering.asn.au/administration/operation-manual/
Australian international and national level orienteers have a responsibility to be familiar with the policy. The final page of the policy defines who is considered a national level orienteer for the purposes of the policy.

Orienteering Australia has appointed a new monthly Enews editorial team following the retirement of Maggie Jones from the position. The team comprises
Managing editor: Nicole Davis (over 20 years experience in marketing, website management and newsletter production; organiser of the last Easter orienteering carnival in WA and consultant to OA in determining specifications for the new OA website) Contributing editors:
*  Nicola Blatchford (multiple JWOC rep, just finished her 1st year of a uni degree of a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Media Production and Public Relations).
*  Rebecca Jaffe, current OV Enews editor.
Nicola will focus on covering the elite news such as major events, competitor interviews, the international coaching seminar during the Oceania Championships etc.
Rebecca will have a roving role to bring interesting content items from the world of orienteering to the Enews.

It is advisable to check with your doctor well in advance on vaccinations recommended for international orienteering events in Europe and other countries.

The following message is from Australian company HL Pharma in relation to Tick Borne Encephalitis:

We have been contacted by some of your members who are taking part in the 2015 World Masters Orienteering Championship in Sweden. They have been enquiring about the Tick Borne Encephalitis Vaccine. We were informed one of your members contracted the viral disease whilst competing overseas last year, so we thought by writing to you with some information about vaccinating against this disease, you may wish to pass this onto your members attending the World Championship next year.

HL Pharma as a specialist pharmaceutical wholesaler supplying unregistered and unlicensed pharmaceuticals throughout Australia. We are aware of the need for the use of this vaccine for people travelling to specific areas of Europe so we keep stock of both the Adult and Junior Tick Borne Encephalitis Vaccines.

The Tick Borne Encephalitis vaccine is licensed in Europe, however, as there is no Tick Borne Encephalitis here in Australia, the manufacturer would not apply for a license here, therefore, it is an unlicensed product in Australia.

For someone to be vaccinated here in Australia, a clinic would need to apply for permission to supply. We can assist doctors in obtaining the correct permissions for supply and we are very happy to assist any of your members in regards to the Tick Borne Encephalitis vaccine.

Matt Hayward
Director
BPharm, MRPharmS
Mobile +61459 827716

A Coaching Seminar with international guest speakers will be held in Tasmania on Friday 9th January: St Helen’s High School. Time 2:00pm-5:00pm (during Oceania Carnival)

Special guest speakers will be the current Danish and Swedish National Team Coaches;

Lars Lindstrom and Hakan Carlsson.

Both these very experienced orienteering coaches will be talking about the pathways structure- from junior to world champion, that currently exists in two of the most successful orienteering countries in recent years- Denmark and Sweden.

This seminar is open to any orienteer who is interested in learning more about how the successful countries achieve the level they have. Any orienteer who is planning on attending the Coaching Conference in January will especially benefit from attending the seminar.

The 2015 Masters MTBO World Championships  are in Portugal from 7-14th June.  As well as individual events, Sprint, Middle and Long there are the relays (W/M 120, 160) for which we’d need to team up.   Leigh Privett (leighprivett@bigpond.com) and Tim Hackney (timotro@gmail.com) would like to know who else is considering going, so they can form relay teams and perhaps coordinate accommodation, bike and people transport in Portugal.

The costs involved (travel, accommodation & entries etc.) would be down to each individual person. Email Leigh & Tim if interested.

Here’s a link to World Masters MTBO – Portugal website.

Time Period:  For 2015 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, 8-23 August.

Job Requirements:
Co-ordinate the day to day arrangements of the Australian team (WMTBOC & JMTBOC team members) whilst they are overseas, both at the pre-champs training camp and at WMTBOC itself.   This specifically involves food, accommodation and travel needs.

Assist the coach through being present at the finish of all WMTBOC competitions, so as to meet the immediate needs of the riders.

Manage the team budget on a daily basis and maintain financial records of items spent whilst overseas and forward these on in orderly fashion to the coach, at the conclusion of the WMTBOC carnival.

Assist with publicity for the team via the OA website, Facebook and any blogs, in conjunction with the Coach.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential Skills/Experience:

Knowledge of or participation in mountain bike orienteering.

Proven high-level interpersonal skills, especially discretion and tact, that facilitates interaction, cooperation and trust with diverse individuals and organisations.

Ability to apply psychological knowledge to create a comfortable team environment and to maximise individual athlete success through building self-confidence and the ability to perform under pressure.

The capacity for flexibility and adaptability in dealing with challenging environments and complex situations, as necessitated with overseas trip management.

Ability to be reflective, particularly on the impacts of travel, training, competition, interpersonal dynamics and daily events. As a consequence to be proactive in adjusting team plans, communication strategies and support structures to maximise the preparedness of all athletes.

Leadership in modelling and promoting ethical standards required of elite national teams.

Desirable Skills / Experience:

Relevant experience in managing, leading or coaching sporting groups or managing people within business/community organisations.

Level 1 Orienteering or mountain bike coaching qualification.

A record of successful coaching of junior orienteers or cyclists as individuals or in teams or squads.

(Note: this is primarily a managerial role and coaching involvement is not essential.)

Remuneration: The position is voluntary in its nature. All overseas based expenses at the training camp and during WMTBOC will be met.  This covers accommodation, food and car travel.

 Application Requirements

If you are interested in this position please respond with:

1. A brief outline of your skills and experience in relation to the selection criteria.  No more than 2 A4 pages.

Please Note: The provision of a working with children police check, or evidence of having already undertaken one, (or evidence of having recently undertaken one), to show they are a person of good character as outlined in the Orienteering Australia Member Protection Policy, and the signing of the OA Team Official Code of Conduct will be required by the successful applicants.

Applications and any questions can be directed to Kay Haarsma, Manager, MTBO High Performance.

Email: kayhaarsma@hotmail.com   0883370522 / 0403565534    Applications close COB Friday 12 December.

Time Period: December 2014 to October 2015.  (2015 World Championships in Liberec, Czech Republic, 8-23 August.)

Job Requirements:
Primary role: Coach of the combined WMTBOC & JWMTBOC team, with a management role within Australia.
Other roles:
1. Conducting and leading training and coaching of the HP squad, liaise and provide technical assistance to both the individual coaches of squad / team members and the athletes themselves to assist in their development as internationally competitive mountain bike orienteers.
2. Conduct at least one training camp within Australia annually and organise the 7-10 day pre-Championship training camp overseas.
3. Be a member of the High Performance Management Group and provide leadership nationally on the development of competition, training and infrastructure to support and guide the development of elite MTB orienteering in Australia.
4. Liaise with the other Australian WMTBOC team official; Manager High Performance and High Performance Operations manager with respect to the preparation of WMTBOC Teams.
5. Provide appropriate information to all potential WMTBOC / JWMTBOC team members, both directly through email, and indirectly through the OA High Performance website, The Australian Orienteer magazine, state email newsletters etc.
6. Develop an understanding of global current trends and development in mountain bike orienteering coaching and promulgate this information to other Australian coaches.
7. In conjunction with the Manager, High Performance agree on the specific individual division of responsibilities between yourself and the manager appointed for the World Championships.
8. Collaborative skills to work with the tour manager and other OA HP officers.
9. Co-ordination of HP squad / WMTBOC team travel arrangements within and outside Australia.
10. Collaborate with other coaches about state or national camps.
11. Maintenance of records of meetings, interviews and conversations appropriate to squad/team activities.
12. Support the team managers to manage the financial records of squad/team activities.
13. In conjunction with team managers, arrange for the supply of official uniforms and equipment for the WMTBOC & JWMTBOC National Team in conjunction with the Operations Manager, High Performance.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
Essential Skills/Experience:
1. A record of successful individual coaching of mountain bike orienteers.
2. Relevant experience in coaching, leading or managing orienteering or cycling squads or teams at state, national or international level.
3. Proven high-level interpersonal skills, especially discretion and tact, that facilitates interaction, cooperation and trust with diverse individuals and organisations.
4. Ability to apply psychological knowledge and skills to create a comfortable team environment and to maximise individual athlete success through building self-confidence and the ability to perform under pressure.
5. Well-developed oral and written communication skills including the ability to develop well researched, clear and, concise reports and plans. High level communication strategies to enable all athletes, with varying personalities, to deal positively with the intense demands of competition in a team environment. Collaborative skills to work with the tour management team and other OA HP officers.
6. Negotiation skills and the capacity for flexibility and adaptability in dealing with challenging environments and complex situations, as necessitated with overseas trip management.
7. Ability to be reflective, particularly on the impacts of travel, training, competition, interpersonal dynamics and daily events. As a consequence to be proactive in adjusting team plans, communication strategies and support structures to maximise the preparedness of all athletes.
8. Leadership in modelling and promoting ethical standards required of elite national teams.
9. Proven organisational and planning skills in tour/team travel management, including planning, budgeting, bookings, communication and team coordination.

Desirable Skills / Experience:
Level 1 or 2 Orienteering Coaching qualifications or an international equivalent and / Level 1 or 2 mountain bike coaching qualifications.
Competent competitive experience in mountain bike orienteering events.

Remuneration: The position is voluntary in its nature. Negotiated funding is available to support squad & team activities and coach expenses within Australia. All expenses will be met for travel to WOC.

Application Requirements
If you are interested in this position please respond with 2 items:

1. A brief outline of your skills and experience in relation to the selection criteria. No more than 2 A4 pages.
2. An outline of your plans for the development of high performance orienteering in Australia in 2015 and beyond, with specific reference to the improvement of Australia’s international competitiveness in World Championships and contribution to the relevant aspects of the High Performance Strategic Plan. Two pages maximum.

Please note: The provision of a working with children police check, or evidence of having already undertaken one, (or evidence of having recently undertaken one), to show they are a person of good character as outlined in the Orienteering Australia Member Protection Policy, and the signing of the OA Team Official Code of Conduct will be required by the successful applicants.

Applications and any questions can be directed to Kay Haarsma, Manager, MTBO High Performance.

Email: kayhaarsma@hotmail.com   0883370522  / 0403565534  Applications close COB Friday  12 December.