Driver Training Unit
The Club holds regular
driver awareness courses, at Proficiency, Proficiency Plus and Advanced
standards. The course leaders are experienced and fully qualified four-wheel
drivers with Four Wheel Drive Victoria (FWDV - formerly VAFWDC) accreditation
and Australian Competency Standard accreditation. The moderate fee for these
courses includes a copy of the Pajero Four-Wheel Drive Club information
material, and upon successful completion, a FWDV certificate presented at the
monthly Club meeting.
Booking a Course
For Driver Training
Schedule Please Refer to Club Magazine or e-mail Driver Training Officer Ralph
Longley on:- DriverTraining@pajeroclub.com.au
A Message from the co-ordinator of the
Driver Training Unit
One of the most important
aspects of four-wheel driving is the difference between driving on bitumen and
the special skills required to use your vehicle in true off road conditions.
For members who are new
to the Pajero 4WD Club, the Driver Training Unit (DTU) aims to increase driver
awareness in all aspects of four-wheel driving. This ranges from care of the
environment, vehicle knowledge, four-wheel driving techniques, basic recovery
techniques and safety in the bush.
The DTU runs three sets
of courses –
Proficiency: Incorporates the Basics of Four
Wheel Driving. Our Driver Instructors are accredited by FWD Victoria to deliver
this course to our Club Members and Guests. This course includes 3.5 hours of
Theory, held during a weeknight and a full day of Practical Driving on the
following Saturday or Sunday. The Practical Day is held at the Melbourne 4x4 Proving Ground. This course gives members a basic understanding of
four-wheel driving and their vehicle, and will enable them to participate in
most club trips appearing in the Club magazine.
Proficiency
Plus: is a series
of course units for our Club Members only after they have completed the
Proficiency Course.
·
Proficiency
Plus - Driving Course:
is a full day of practical driving in true off-road conditions. This is for
Club Members that are looking to further their driving experience with help
from our experienced Driving Instructors. We focus on reading the tracks before
driving them, left foot breaking and other driver techniques.
·
Proficiency
Plus - Navigation Course: is a basic course on navigation skills. By understanding the basics
on map reading, plotting points and routes then students will gain skills and
knowledge that they can apply when navigating in off-road situations.
·
Proficiency
Plus - Trip Planning Course: will provide awareness on planning trips and conducting trips.
This course is presented by Experienced Trip Leaders and provides practical
advice and tips for our Club Members.
Advanced: includes a 3 hour Theory Night and a full weekend of
Practical enhancement of skills for our Club Members. This course concentrates
on areas such as reading and negotiating difficult terrain, advanced recovery
techniques, practical navigation exercise, tyre changing basics and chainsaw
safety. Prior to participating in the Advanced Course it is recommended that Club
members have a minimum of one year’s four-wheel driving experience after first
completing the Proficiency Course. They must also complete the Proficiency Plus
Driving Course and Navigation Course Units. This is a guide only, as previous
four-wheel driving experience is also taken into consideration.
To ensure that we deliver
the courses to their full benefit we highly recommend one student driver per
vehicle.
Other Courses:
·
Chainsaw
Operation & Maintenance – RTC 2304A
·
First Aid
If you have any questions
regarding any of the courses please contact the driver training co-ordinator.
A report
on a DTU Proficiency Course from one of the participants.
The
Course Schedule for 2013 is :
PROFICIENCY - $110
|
MONTH
|
THEORY
|
PRACTICAL
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
February 2013
|
Thursday 7th Feb
|
Sunday 10th Feb
|
Werribee
|
Vacancies
|
|
'LADIES' - March 2013
|
Thursday 14th Mar
|
Sunday 17th Mar
|
Werribee
|
Vacancies
|
|
May 2013
|
Thursday 9th May
|
Sunday 12th May
|
Werribee
|
Vacancies
|
|
August 2013
|
Thursday 15th Aug
|
Sunday 18th Aug
|
Werribee
|
Vacancies
|
|
November 2013
|
Thursday 14th Nov
|
Sunday 17th Nov
|
Werribee
|
Vacancies
|
## Theory
conducted at GWBC
PROFICIENY PLUS - DRIVING COURSE - $75
|
MONTH
|
PRACTICAL
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
April 2013
|
Sunday 14th April
|
Cobaw
|
Vacancies
|
|
June 2013
|
Sunday 16th Jun
|
Cobaw
|
Vacancies
|
|
September 2013
|
Sunday 8th Sep
|
Cobaw
|
Vacancies
|
PROFICIENY PLUS - NAVIGATION COURSE - $60
|
MONTH
|
THEORY
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
February 2013
|
Monday 18th Feb
|
GWBC
|
Vacancies
|
|
May 2013
|
Monday 27th May
|
GWBC
|
Vacancies
|
|
August 2013
|
Monday 5th Aug
|
GWBC
|
Vacancies
|
PROFICIENY PLUS - TRIP PLANNING COURSE -
$60
|
MONTH
|
THEORY
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
April 2013
|
Monday 22nd Apr
|
GWBC
|
Vacancies
|
|
August 2013
|
Monday 26th Aug
|
GWBC
|
Vacancies
|
ADVANCED DRIVER TRAINING - $250
|
MONTH
|
THEORY
|
PRACTICAL
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
October 2013
|
Thursday 10th Oct
|
Sat/Sun - 19th -20th April
|
Cobaw
|
Vacancies
|
##
Theory conducted at GWBC
FIRST AID – CERTIFICATE
2 – approx $150
|
MONTH
|
THEORY/PRACTICAL
|
VENUE
|
STATUS
|
|
March 2013
|
Saturday 16th March
|
4Wheel Drive
|
Full
|
|
July 2013
|
Saturday 6th July
|
Victoria
|
12 Vacancies
|
|
September 2013
|
Saturday 28th September
|
Balwyn North
|
12 Vacancies
|
Other
courses as advised – see magazine and eTrips
Venue
for Theory Nights
: Now held at the Glen Waverley Bowls Club – Club Meeting venue.