Guide to Avalanche Courses in Australia

This guide covers the avalanche courses available in Australia for both recreational backcountry users and those pursuing professional snow industry careers. Australia's alpine terrain, primarily in the NSW Main Range and the Victorian Alps, does produce avalanches, and the training options available have grown significantly in recent years.

Intro to Avalanche Education Levels

Recreational Avalanche Education

These courses are designed for backcountry skiers, splitboarders, snowshoers and ski tourers who want practical skills to travel more safely in avalanche terrain. They focus on terrain recognition, reading the avalanche forecast, buddy rescue, and group decision-making. They are the essential starting point for anyone venturing beyond the ski area boundary. The various names and levels can get a little confusing so we've tried to break it down and draw some comparisons to help you decide which course is right for you.

Professional Avalanche Education

Aimed at those working or seeking to work in ski patrol, snow safety, avalanche forecasting, guiding or search and rescue. These courses develop advanced technical snow science skills and hazard management competencies. Some Australian training providers use the Canadian Avalanche Association (CAA) training curriculum at this level. Australian providers will also recognise the NZ professional qualifications as well. Read this blog for a breakdown of those.

Recreational Avalanche Courses & Providers

1. Online Resources & Avalanche Forecasting

Before stepping into a classroom, it's worth familiarising yourself with the Australian avalanche forecast and basic terminology. Avalanche Australia issues daily forecasts during winter for the alpine regions of NSW and Victoria.

Jump onto the Know Before You Go avalanche safety online course. It contains a range of basic topics, with videos and self-tests that will start your learning journey. This is a great initiative that was started by the Utah Avalanche Centre. The format is a bit awkward but the content is very good and internationally relevant.

2. AVI 1 / AST 1 / Avalanche Awareness Training 1 — Introductory Courses (2 days)

This is where everyone should start. Known as the AVI 1 through Avalanche Australia, or AST 1 (Avalanche Safety Training) through Canadian Avalanche Association-accredited providers, this 1.5-2 day course covers:

• What avalanches are, how they form and when they're most likely

• How to identify avalanche terrain

• How to read and apply the local avalanche bulletin

• Victim rescue using transceiver, shovel and probe

• Basic snowpack testing

  
  

The AVI 1 is a prerequisite for all further Avalanche Australia training. It is worth noting that the content of these 2 courses is not strictly the same, however you can expect to cover the above points in both courses.

Buried in the snow

skiing

3. AVI 2 / AST 2 / Avalanche Awareness Training 2 / Backcountry Avalanche Avoidance — Intermediate Courses (4 days)

For those who have completed an AVI 1 or AST 1 and have spent a season applying those skills in the field. Course providers usually state that they expect you to have at least 20 days of touring experience and moderate fitness, meaning you can handle a 1000m+ day of ascent & descent.

This three to four-day course goes deeper on snowpack analysis, advanced rescue scenarios with multiple victims, and applying the regional danger rating to your own assessment when no forecast is available.

It covers:

• Advanced trip planning and snowpack assessment

• Applying and interpreting danger ratings independently

• More experience in victim rescue — multiple burial scenarios

• Additional snow stability testing techniques

When the course is listed as three days, there will be approximately 6 hours of online learning required prior to the field course, or a day of theory based learning in the classroom.

Again, It is worth noting that the content of these three courses is not strictly the same, however we have lumped them together as you can expect to cover the above points in all of these courses.

Blizzard Academy offers the only Avalanche Canada AST 2 accredited course in Australia,

You may want to consider taking an Avalanche Canada accredited course if you are looking to work or further your avalanche education internationally as it will be more widely recognised.

4. Advanced Rescue Training (ART) — 1 day add-on

This is a focused one-day module that dives deep into beacon technology so that you can hone in your avalanche search and rescue skills. The course presents how signals are sent and received, the different software types used by manufacturers, and strategies for managing multiple victim searches. The course will also cover multiple burial strategies, which can become quite complex situations. It is usually run as an add-on to an AVI 1 course.

Professional Avalanche Courses in Australia

1. ALPS 2 - Advanced Backcountry Ski Touring

Whilst not strictly only for professionals, this qualification is aimed at experienced outdoor professionals, instructors, patrollers or recreationalist who are pursuing a guiding certification. It is run through Avalanche Australia. It builds upon Level 1and 2 courses with more complex operational, terrain movement and forecasting skills. Candidates are expected to be working within an operation that involves avalanche terrain. It is a 2 day course that may meet some of the training requirements for some Instructor Certifications.

2. AVI 3 - Advanced Recreational / Entry Level Professional

This 'Cadet Program' is more of an experiential learning program which promotes mentorship from experienced forecasters and avalanche professionals in the field.

It is a step above the AVI 2 for experienced recreationalists and those moving toward professional opportunities. You can submit an expression of interest through Avalanche Australia's training page.

3. CAA AvSAR - Avalanche Search and Rescue Level 1

This Canadian Avalanche Association course is a pre-requisite for the Operations Level 1 training. It is an entry level course that covers essential avalanche search and rescue skills such as beacon use, searching techniques, effective digging, multiple burial scenarios and medical triage. It is a fast-paced course, covering many elements avalanche search & rescue.

4. CAA Operations Level 1

It is rare for these courses to be offered in Australia, but in 2026 Blizzard Academy will be offering this professional level 7 day course for those pursuing a professional career in the mountains. It is the equivalent of the NZ ARML5 course that we cover in our NZ based Avalanche Courses blog.

Where to Find These Courses

Recreational avalanche training in Australia is delivered by a number of qualified providers. Always check to make sure that your provider is accredited by a national or international Guiding or Instructor Association. The Mountain Safety Collective Australia maintains a list of recommended guiding and training companies. They are a good first stop when looking for a course near you, and checking backcountry condition reports whilst you are at it.

Look for these accreditations when you're browsing avalanche training courses in Australia:

Key providers currently offering courses (current for 2026):

• Blizzard Academy — AST 1 and Australia's only Canadian Avalanche Association AST 2, Operations Level 1 plus alpine navigation and ski mountaineering based in Victoria

  

  
  

  Snow Safety are an accredited provider for Avalanche Australia running AVI 1, AVI 2, AVI 3, ART, ALPS 1, ALPS 2, and ski touring courses. They are based in the Kosciuszko National Park.

  

• Avalanche Training Australia — Avalanche NZ accredited 2 and 4 day courses, based in Jindabyne and Falls Creek. Avalanche Training Australia is a partner company of Whiteroom.

  
  

• Alpine Access Australia — Avalanche Canada AST 1, operating in NSW Main Range and Victorian Alps

  

  
  

Make sure you're well equipped for your training course from our online store. A quality snow study kit and a compass are tools that you'll be needing for any Level 2 course and beyond. There are plenty of cheap and cheerful snow science tools out there that will break or malfunction just when you need them, don't skimp on safety.

We will leave you with this from KBYG. Make it full screen for the full effect.