Frequently Asked Questions


Why submit a report?

Climbing is a sport with inherent risk. Accident reporting can help the climbing community to better understand this risk by identifying the frequency and cause of accidents, and thereby devise strategies to best mitigate harm. Just like paying climbing membership dues, carrying out others' forgotten rubbish or contributing to crag maintenance, submitting an accident report is another way to give something back to the climbing community.

Who can submit a report?

In a nutshell, anyone. Those directly involved in the incident are encouraged to submit reports, and these are given the most consideration. Bystanders, rescuers or any others who are indirectly involved may submit reports, and while these will naturally be limited in scope, they are useful for corroboration of information in order to form a more detailed picture.

What should be reported?

Any accident or near-miss which occurred within a recreational context and is not subject to the caveats stated below. The accident have occured during the practice of one of the following disciplines:

  • Indoor Climbing

  • Bouldering

  • Unroped Climbing (including scrambling and soloing)

  • Sport Climbing

  • Traditional Climbing

  • Big Wall/Aid Climbing

  • Ice/Mixed Climbing

  • Mountaineering

  • Abseiling/Rappelling

  • Canyoning

What should not be reported?

  • Any incident which is currently or likely to be the subject of a coronial inquest or other court proceeding. Reports may be filed after the closure of these cases, providing they do not conflict with legal requirements of said cases.

  • Any incident which occurred during a guided or outdoor educational context. For these incidents, please use the UPLOADS system.

  • Memorials or fundraising for deceased or injured climbers. Please contact your local climbing association for such publications.

  • Accidents which occur outside Australia, even if Australian climbers were involved. Please see our resources page for a list of international databases.

What if I can’t remember part/all of the event? What about incidents which occurred many years ago?

Avoid making assumptions. Instead, simply report on what you know and can remember. Better still, collaborate with the other member/s of your party to complete the report. It is better to be upfront about the unknowns of an event than to make guesses in order to fill in the blanks. This is particularly relevant for accidents which occurred in the past, and we encourage you to make post-dated reports unless you have already provided them to an incorporated database such as ACAD. We realise that not every report will be 100% complete or accurate, but the broad data trends which can be inferred from consistent incident reporting is extremely useful.

Where do I report an incident which occurred during a guided or outdoor education context?

ACAR is strictly and exclusively for reporting accidents which occurred in a recreational context. Professional organisations have different responsibilities are subject to stringent regulations. Incident reporting in a industry context is beyond the scope of ACAR and already well covered by the UPLOADS system.

Can I report an incident which occurred at a climbing gym or other indoor facility?

Yes, but please ensure the anonymity of the facility. ACAR moderators will attempt to de-identify any information which can lead to the identification of the facility (if not already publically identified), however it is best to avoid providing such information in the initial submission.

Why are the reports anonymous?

There is no real benefit in identification of the participants. Anonymity helps protect the privacy of the participants in the hope of removing some of the disincentives of reporting. The desired outcome of reporting is not the allocation of blame, but rather a dispassionate examination of the available information regarding behaviours, techniques and objective hazards within climbing.

What personal data do I need to provide and where is it stored?

You will be asked for your name, email, age and certain other identifying characteristics in the report submission. Providing this information is at your own discretion, and if provided, is stored and accessed in accordance with our Privacy Statement. Such data is used either for report verification, or in the context of broad data analysis in which individuals are not identified. Please consider if the information included in your report may correlate with other sources, online or otherwise, and such correlation may lead to identification.

Why are the reports moderated?

This vetting is in the interest of clarity, readability and reliability, as well as to prevent the inclusion of identifiable information and content which is obscene, discriminatory or libellous.

Who are the moderators and who has access to the database?

ACAR is current a provisional project under the management of a single editor. If you wish to get involved, please get in touch.

Are there negative aspects to submitting a report?

While reports are stripped of identifiable characteristics (and in some cases locations and dates) the Australian climbing community is small. It is possible that authors may be identifiable through other details in the submitted reports, social media posts and images, online climbing logbooks, information available through emergency services and media report, or simply via word of mouth. If such identification would prove problematic, please consider further limiting the content of your report or refraining from reporting entirely.

Additionally, it is possible that recalling details of an accident will be distressing to some people and will cause feelings of grief, anxiety or other emotional responses. If submitting a report causes you any mental or emotional distress, please seek assistance from the organisations listed on our resources page.

Could accident reporting jeopardise climbing access?

As with identifiable data, reports are stripped of information regarding the location of sensitive crags or commercial facilities. However, for the most part, location is included as part of the report, as this can give valuable insight into novel risks at unique locations. Accident reporting should not be viewed as an invitation to liability, but rather as good self-governance within the climbing community. Parallels can be found in bolt registers which are maintained at popular crags, the maintenance of which can improve access by demonstrating long-term commitment to safety and risk mitigation.

What if I want to amend or remove my report at a later date?

If you wish to request removal of information (in part or in entirety) please contact us, citing the date and location of the accident, your role, the relevant information for removal/amendment and the reason for your request.