Navshield

Navshield includes both one-day and two-day events across three divisions: 

• Emergency Services
• Bushwalking  clubs and outdoor groups
• Rogaine

Emergency Services and Bushwalking teams compete in teams of 2–6 for the two-day event and 2–4 for the one-day event, while Rogaine teams compete in teams of 2–5 in both formats.

Trophies and Awards

• Navigation Shield: Awarded to the winning team, Emergency Services Division two-day event
• Bushwalkers Trophy: Awarded to the winning team, Bushwalking Division two-day event
• Rogaine Trophy: Awarded to winning team, Rogaine Division two-day event

Best In Service: Perpetual trophy awarded to the highest placed team from each Emergency Service across all jurisdictions (requires a minimum of 3 participating teams), in both the one and two-day events.

• Participants must be 18 years or older at the event start date
• Accept the event risk statement and waiver during registration
• Entry is open to recognised emergency service organisations involved in land search and rescue, as well as bushwalking clubs, outdoor groups and members of rogaining associations.
• All attendees are expected to camp on site, and teams must meet the requirements of their nominated division.
• Emergency Service Teams:
  • Minimum 2 and maximum 6 participants for the two-day event (Navigation Shield)
  • Minimum 2 and maximum 4 participants for the one-day event
  • All team members must represent the same emergency service, but team members may be from different units/brigades/stations. Your nominated team name, and team number, will identify your team.
• Bushwalking Teams:
  • Minimum 2 and maximum 6 participants for the two-day event (Bushwalkers Trophy)
  • Minimum 2 and maximum 4 participants for the one-day event
  • Participants must be affiliated with a Bushwalking NSW, or other outdoor group such as university outdoor clubs, adventure clubs, scouts, church groups, and education groups.
• Rogaine Teams:
  • Minimum 2 and maximum 5 participants for both one and two-day events
  • Participants must be members of the Rogaine Association of Australia (and sub-branches).

Emergency Service personnel: FREE
Non-Emergency Service participants:

• One-Day Event Entry: $100 inc GST
• Two-Day Event Entry: $150 inc GST

Entry fees cover event provisions including catering and ration packs.

• One-Day provisions: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, Sunday breakfast (catered at event base), Saturday lunch pack (sandwiches) 

• Two-Day provisions: Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and dinner, Sunday breakfast and lunch (catered at event base), 24hr ration pack 

Instructions for payment of entry fees will be provided at registration. All payments are to be made prior to the event. Event organisers reserve the right to refuse participation for unpaid entry fees.

It is strongly recommended that teams confirm their event division, team members availability and team name prior to submitting a team registration. 

There will be strictly no new registrations or substitutions on event day. 

Key dates:

• Team Registrations open: 13 July 
• Team Registrations close: 2 August
• Last day for team changes: 14 August  

Registration process:

• Each team should nominate a ‘team coordinator’ who will create and manage their team in the registration system.
• The team coordinator will manage their team through an online Team Registration Portal.
• During the team registration process, all participants will receive a link from their team coordinator to complete a participant registration.
• Team coordinators may add, substitute or withdraw team members until the registration close date.
• Team coordinators may substitute or withdraw team members from the close of registrations until two weeks before the event. No additional teams, or team members, can be registered during this time.
• No further team changes are to be made beyond Friday 14th August except at the discretion of event organisers/in extenuating circumstances.
• Numbers are strictly capped to 500 participants across all divisions.

• Any team support personnel (not participating) must also register as part of the team. Team support personnel are not counted towards the minimum/maximum team numbers for each division.

   

  Register here

Is this the first time that you have participated in the Navshield?

For those who are new to Navshield we recommend that each team member in the one day event prepares a small to medium sized day pack which is suitable for a day walk in winter.

You might plan to finish the one day event before sunset, but sometimes the unexpected can happen and you can be accidentally benighted. Therefore we suggest that you think about carrying a space blanket, bivvy bag, or fly sheet during the one day event. A small stove, and some spare food and water, should also be considered.

In the interests of safety, if your team does not expect to finish the one day event on time then you must proceed to the nearest radio check point so event officials can transport you to the finish. Any team who has not returned by themselves to the finish by 30 minutes after the finish time will be marked “Late” and not record a score. 

Navshield minimum gear example download

Minimum Equipment: One-Day Event

Minimum Equipment: Two-day Event

PLBs
All participants are encouraged to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB). Specific information about how to register your PLB for Navshield will be provided in the participant information pack sent to teams one week before the event. Please ensure that your PLB is a digital 406MHz distress beacon with GPS, and that is it registered with AMSA. Check your PLB’s expiry date to ensure that it will be valid for the date NavShield is to be held.

Radios
We encourage NSW emergency services teams to take their service radios on the event. An ESO channel will be monitored for the duration of the event and can be used to contact event officials in case of injury or misadventure. This is not mandatory, but teams are encouraged to do it. For teams who do not have access to the ESO channels the event will have a phone number monitored during the event. The majority of the course has mobile phone coverage (Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone).

Camping
There are no provisions for accommodation other than camping on site at the venue. Camping is free however all attendees must bring their own gear, considering weather and conditions closer to the event. Designated areas will be assigned for camper trailers/vans and tents on site.

Food and Water
Meals at event base are provided for all attendees, as well as ration packs for participants. Dietary requirements can be catered for – please provide details in your registration. Potable water will be provided at event base. No food or drinks can be purchased on site – if you require any special or additional food and drink you must bring it yourself.

Overview

The primary objective is to navigate using only map and compass to as many checkpoints as possible during the time available. Teams score points for each checkpoint that they locate. Checkpoints are scored differently depending upon difficulty - good route planning is important. The team with the most points in each division at the end of the event will be awarded the winning trophy in that division.

1. General

   1. All teams are to be covered by their own insurances.

   2. NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue Unit does not provide insurance to participants.

   3. Participants must read and accept a risk statement and waiver as part of the online registration process.

   4. All team members are to meet the membership requirements of their organisation.

   5. Teams are required to follow minimum impact bushwalking principles.

   6. Specific information about the event location is provided in the information pack. You are expected to read this information and to familiarise yourself with the specific hazards which have been identified for the location.
      
       

2. Checkpoints and Scoring

   1. Before the event begins participants will be informed of the location of the checkpoints by 8 figure grid references.

   2. This information is provided to you, along with unmarked maps of the course, when you arrive at Navshield and visit the registration tent.

   3. It is your team’s responsibility to plot the checkpoints onto your map(s).

   4. At registration all teams will be given a “Route Intentions” sheet and a Navlight tag for each team member. These tags will record your visit to checkpoints (see 1.9).

   5. The only navigational aids allowed are magnetic compasses, watches (with time functions only) and the official event map as supplied by the organisers.

   6. Radios are permitted (for communication only). Details of radio channel monitored by event officials will be announced in the participant information pack and event briefing.

   7. Mobile phones are permitted. The use of mobile phone based navigation aids during the event is not permitted

   8. GPS, altimeters, electronic compasses, non-official maps and other navigational aids are not permitted.

   9. Teams record a visit to a checkpoint, or radio checkpoint by punching their electronic tags with the electronic punch at the checkpoint.

   10. Each checkpoint and radio checkpoint will have a points value.

   11. To score a checkpoint all members of your team must pass within 20 metres of the checkpoint and all tags of the team must be punched.

   12. Teams can score normal checkpoints once only

   13. All teams in the one day event must visit a radio checkpoint at least once during the event.

   14. All teams in the two day event must visit a radio checkpoint at least once on both Saturday and Sunday.

   15. Two-day teams can use base as a radio checkpoint only between 06:00 and 09:00 Sunday. It scores no points, but the team will avoid the penalty for not visiting a radio check point (see rule 1.17) if no other radio check point is visited on Sunday.

   16. Two day teams can score radio checkpoints twice by visiting them on Saturday and Sunday.

   17. Any team not reporting to a radio checkpoint each day will incur a penalty equivalent to 25% of the team’s score.

   18. Points will be deducted for every minute, or part thereof, that a team is overdue after the event finish time. The points value of this penalty will be announced at the start of the event.

   19. Any team more than 30 mins late for the finish of their event will be retired from the event and must immediately return to the nearest radio check point or base.

   20. If multiple teams have the same points score at the end of the event then they will be ranked according to their finish times.

        

3. Safety and Penalties

   1. All members of a team must stay together (within voice contact, about 50m) at all times during the event.

   2. A penalty of up to 50% of your team’s score will be imposed if your team members are found not together.

   3. The minimum personal and team gear must be with the team at all times. Leaving packs at a central point while looking for checkpoints is unacceptable. Not carrying the minimum personal and/or team gear at all times incurs a penalty of up to 50% of the team’s score.

   4. Participants in the rogaine divisions are exempt from the minimum equipment rules, but must instead carry the minimum equipment specified by the Australian Rogaining Association.

   5. Once the event has commenced all support teams, and their vehicles, must remain at the base site until the event has finished.

   6. Driving on the course, except on the route shown in the participant information pack, is strictly prohibited.

   7. The consumption of alcohol during the event is prohibited.

   8. Any participant found to be intoxicated as a result of the consumption of alcohol or drugs; either prior to, or during, the event will be disqualified from the event.

4. Injuries

   1. If any member of a team is unable to continue, the other team members must provide assistance.

   2. If possible, the team should attempt to make their way to the nearest radio checkpoint or back to base.

   3. The rules committee will then advise if the rest of the team is able to continue Navshield in their entry division.

   4. If any team finds an injured person they must assist if required.

   5. Points can be awarded in lieu of time lost helping an injured person from another team. This does not include assisting injured members from the same team.

5. Rules Committee

   1. A rules committee will be formed prior to the start of the event.

   2. The rules committee will be comprised of a minimum of three people.

   3. The rules committee shall be comprised of the Safety Officer, Event Coordinator, and Course Setter, plus additional volunteers as required.

   4. The rules committee will determine the order of precedence for every team in each division at the completion of both events. This will be based upon team points, finish times, and any penalties imposed.

   5. The winners in each division of both the one day event, and the two day event, will be only announced after the rules committee has judged the final team scores.

   6. The rules committee shall hear all complaints and claims which are lodged within 24 hours after the completion of Navshield.

   7. A decision will be made on all complaints and claims that are lodged within the allotted time, and prior to publishing the final team scores.

   8. Decisions made by the rules committee shall be considered final.

6. Conduct and Behaviour

All teams, and those attending Navshield in a support capacity, are expected to behave in a responsible manner at all times whilst at Navshield. Please show respect and courtesy towards others at all times, and remember that you are representing your organisation. Volunteers, NPWS and State Forests staff, local property owners, and members of the public, may be present at Navshield and should also be treated with respect.

There is an opportunity for your team to socialise on both the Friday night and Saturday night during Navshield. You are welcome to enjoy yourself at base whilst you are not participating in the event. The organisers of the event would like to encourage you to network with people from other organisations during Navshield.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages is permitted during these times whilst you are not participating in the event. All alcohol must be BYO. However, the organisers of the event will not tolerate you drinking to excess, and putting yourself, your team members, and the community at risk.

Please keep noise to a minimum after 10pm.

The organisers may prohibit your participation in the event if you are:

• drunk and disorderly 
• quarrelsome
• intoxicated 
• violent
• using, or in possession of, prohibited drugs.

Please try to answer your registration questions by reading through the above sections carefully. However, if you have any questions which are not answered in the registration information then please contact us at navshield@ses.nsw.gov.au