Your river retreat.
Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre is perched on the cliff escarpment in Bicton, overlooking the Swan River. It features magnificent river and city views from its broad acre parkland environment.
The centre is at the hub of the precinct surrounded by parklands and includes the Point Walter Public Golf Course, Point Walter Reserve and the Swan River where there are dual use paths for walking and cycling.
The centre was first established as a migrant camp in 1948, as a ‘gateway to a new life’. In 1972 it was used by the Education Department and was home to the Graylands Teachers College.
It was taken over by the Ministry for Youth, Sport and Recreation in 1980 and run as a recreation camp.
In 1986, during a redevelopment, the remaining migrant hostel buildings were demolished. The Ministry officially re-opened the facility on 26 September 1986, first hosting the members of the Costa Smerelda Yacht Club – the Italian syndicate that challenged for the America’s Cup held in Fremantle.
The facility was used to stage youth leadership courses, sport and fitness seminars, live-in educational conferences and other community based programs. Today the facility still plays an important role in improving educational and recreational outcomes for young people.
Following the refurbishment of the centre in 2005, which was funded through the DSR Capital Works Program, the construction of an additional accommodation dormitory, dining rooms, new day area, change rooms and ablutions as well as significant upgrades to existing amenities has been provided.
Point Walter Golf Course contains 10 grassed tennis courts, and the 18-hole golf course is highly regarded for its quality fairways, greens and picturesque landscape. More information about Point Walter Golf Course.
All client groups with participants under the age of 18 years must supply appropriate adult supervision at each activity site. Point Walter staff will supervise the clients in relation to their safe participation in the activity. Client groups have the responsibility to monitor the behaviour of participants in matters not relating to the activity.
Teachers and adults play a vital role in ensuring participants have an enjoyable camp experience. Point Walter staff will allocate at least one (if not two or three, depending on the size of your group) suitably qualified instructor in charge of facilitating the activity. The department requires one member of the client group supervisory team (teacher or adult) to be in attendance with the group during each program.
Please note that with flying fox programs we will require an able teacher or adult to supervise or assist students in the dismount of the flying fox.
We try to minimise the work of teachers or adults during their stay, however, teachers and adults may be asked to deal with student misbehaviour on a case-by-case basis. Department instructors will use low-key behaviour management techniques to ensure participants are engaged during the activities. It is an expectation that teachers and adults support the department instructor when required, throughout the duration of the program. We recommend asking participants to stand aside for five minutes to reflect on their behaviour and the effect it has on them personally and the group. The teacher or adult can help in the reflection process.
We encourage the adult supervisor of the group to ensure the following so that participants enjoy their experience during camp programs:
At times, teachers and adults may be asked to help facilitate certain aspects of the activity. This would be during times of questioning or debriefing to enhance experiential learning. The instructor will discuss this responsibility prior to the start of the activity.
It is recommended that teachers and adults discuss supervisory roles and responsibilities for meal times, at night and other free times. It is also recommended that room checks are done after lights are out to ensure participants are asleep. It is encouraged that a duty roster is developed to ensure staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities. A template for a duty roster can be found on our website:
In the lead-up to the camp please use the organisational checklist.
What camp leaders should bring:
A template for a supervision roster is available.
Please familiarise yourself with our emergency plan. The Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre emergency mobile number is 0419 919 018. Camp leaders should provide their own emergency mobile number to parents and campers.
All department camps staff are required to have a current senior first aid, or equivalent qualification as a minimum. In the event of an injury occurring to a participant during one of our programs our staff will provide first aid care. First aid care may be handed over to the client group if they have personnel capable of delivering an equivalent or better standard of care due to their training and experience upon their request.
Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre management highly recommends that every client group should have at least one qualified and current first aid practitioner and their own comprehensive first aid kit onsite at all times.
Oxygen and advanced first aid equipment is onsite in the office and all full time staff are trained in its use. Should an ambulance need to be called, please notify camp staff or contact the emergency on-call number.
There are two separate emergency assembly areas located at Point Walter Recreation and Conference Centre. Please find these points on our Emergency Response Manual.
To facilitate programs at Point Walter, all staff must have completed a department induction and have been deemed competent by a senior staff member in the particular pursuit they are facilitating. Depending on the program being facilitated, qualifications relating to that outdoor activity are also required by the department.
Point Walter centre management strongly recommends that every camp has at least one qualified Aquatic Rescue Qualification (ARQ) through Royal Life Saving WA, or Surf Rescue Certificate recognised by Surf Life Saving WA in attendance and in control of every eight persons when in or near the water. It should be remembered that aquatic rescue qualifications are current for 12 months only, and unqualified persons should only be used as additional support.
The ratio of qualified supervisors to persons in the water varies between organisations from around 1:8 to 1:20 and is constantly being reviewed by most organisations. Surf Life Saving WA can be contacted for the latest information on 61 8 9293 9444.
Water safety personnel should be dressed ready to respond to an emergency and should have appropriate aquatic rescue equipment (e.g. rescue tubes on location). These may be obtained from the camp office. All rafting and paddling programs are conducted under qualified staff instruction. Personal floatation devices (PFDs) are worn by all participants and a safety dinghy is provided for the reassurance of novice paddlers as required.
Although all accommodation areas are thoroughly cleaned prior to your arrival, to make our job easier your group, prior to departure, are required to do a basic clean around the areas you have utilised.
Going on a camp is exciting for most children, but can be terrifying for others. It is important that parents discuss with their children prior to them going on camp any concerns they may have; missing home; sharing with others; and fear of participating in a certain activity. Reassure them that they are in good hands and that the school/organisation’s staff and DSR staff will take good care of them. Remember, discuss what they are looking forward to or are most excited about camp. It will help prepare your child for their camp experience if you talk to him/her regularly beforehand.
When staying at Point Walter the following items are required by each guest:
It is important that group supervisors and DSR staff have ready access to relevant medical information to be able to respond appropriately to an emergency situation and prevent further injury. Medications should be stored appropriately and located within close proximity to the person to whom the medication belongs.