Guide

[samh]

Hi,
I'm looking for a temporary job and wonder if there is anyone here on the forum who has done any guiding before, e.g. on the OLT or BayofFires walks.

[dee_legg]

I currently guide for Bay of Fires and there's a few on here that guide for Cradle Huts that i know of. There's also someone who has connections to Wilderness Expeditions but can't think who it is at the moment.
As it is now mid season for most guiding companies generally they will appreciate it if you emailed them a resume or applied online so they can call you if they need people for after uni students finish work.

[Erica]

Hi, I'm (on and off... currently off) a guide with Cradle Huts, and like Dee said i'm pretty sure most companies are looking for people about now. If you've got any more specific questions about guiding with CMH I'm more than happy to answer them.

Erica

[corvus]

G'day samh,
Send you resume to this company,they run a good business.
http://wildernessexpeditions.net.au/cgi ... wildexpS+1
corvus

[tomberli]

I currently work for Cradle Huts and Maria Island - have done some trips for Tasmanian Expeditions in the past. Happy to answer any questions - PM me if you want.

[Joel]

Might be in with a chance at Cradle Mountain Lodge. One of our guides just quit 2 months early. However you would need to have all the licenses already and be confident to take groups on interpretive walks and wildlife tours with little training.

[bushwalker zane]

For those that are guides, did any of you do the Polytechnic Eco Tourism Guiding course? I am currently doing it and just was thinking if anyone who is guides here have done it?

[Joel]

Well, for what it's worth I didn't. I fell into guiding when I was living in Freycinet I guess. I've worked at Cradle for about 4 years now and I think only 1 or 2 of the guides we have hired had that qualification. We get people with all sorts of weird backgrounds working here.

[Erica]

I didn't either, and like Joel said, Cradle Huts/BoF guides come from a very diverse range of backgrounds too. There are a few guides I know that have done some TAFE/Outdoor Rec things, and I'm sure it would help you to get a job in the area, but then guiding seems to very much come down to personality and people skills from what I've experienced.

[bushwalker zane]

I didn't either, and like Joel said, Cradle Huts/BoF guides come from a very diverse range of backgrounds too. There are a few guides I know that have done some TAFE/Outdoor Rec things, and I'm sure it would help you to get a job in the area, but then guiding seems to very much come down to personality and people skills from what I've experienced.

It sure does. There are about half of us that are really people persons and love talking to people. The other half aren't, therefore making them seem less suitable to be a guide. This TAFE course is great! I highly recommend it!

[Joel]

I think it will help a lot in getting a job. I applied for a government sponsored grant to do cert IV in guiding with EcoGuiding last year and got it. It was $6000. Then I broke my leg and couldn't do the course.Still bummed about it because it's always good to have that bit of paper.

[bushwalker zane]

Yeah? I've noticed there are a lot of places within the Federal Group that do that, particularly down at Freycinet.

[Joel]

Hey Zane, i don't really know what you mean. The guides at Frey are also from a bunch of weird backgrounds. Do you mean they hold the EcoGuiding assessments there or something? For the course I was applying for the assessments were at Strahan so I guess Federal have a connection maybe?

[bushwalker zane]

Ah, there are places that run tours under the Federal Group that offer the training. That's what I meant, I don't know what it's like though.

[DonQx]

I used to guide part-time 1982-95 and run bushskills & guiding training until ~2000.

Did work for many of the major operators in Tas.

Worked on trips including Overland (huts & tents), South Coast, Freycinet, Franklin River and "round the state multi activities" trips.

Methinks that most operators hire by personality & attitude combined with "ability to learn" first, then experience, then qualifications (unless they're essential, stipulated in licence conditions etc.).

Qualifications are a good thing, chances are you'll learn heaps in the process, also make good friends. They'll increase your chances of employment a lot.

But you have to be a people person with good personality & attitude in the first place. Some people with qualifications weren't / aren't and found it frustrating until they came to a realistic self-assessment.

Guiding is effectively a form of hospitality & entertainment industry. If you sit comfy with that you shouldn't have any problems picking up work sooner or later ... qualified or not.

[bushwalker zane]

Yeah, it does seem to be that way DonQx. I mean, who wants to go on a trip with a boring person! Let's hope people think I'm interesting enough

Either way, a good education still helps. If anything, I'v had a great time doing it!

[MichaelP]

I've been wanting to be a guide for a few years now. Had an few interviews last year but turns out that they're not allowed 17 year olds.
Might have to grow a beard if I apply again...

[Nuts]

Ive been doing it for a while Zane. Its a pretty diverse industry and with people with very diverse sets of skills.

The 'people person' part is a given, though it does take on a new meaning when you are with people for a week or so. Whilst good manners are expected, don't loose sight of the fact that they (the clients) are likely to be older and just as intelligent. They can just as much appreciate a no-bull approach, more sharing a week in each others life rather than being 'entertained' (if that makes sense). It can tend to be like a life of screenplays and easy to get burnt out if you don't find a way to keep it as a job like any other. Each time you will be expected to 'perform' and you need to find a way to keep it real for yourself as much as your clients. Keep learning from them (perhaps even eventually be in a position to 'teach'), make it what you want it to be...

There is an amazing range of companies that have sprung up since i started guiding. The chance to work in several different locations and perhaps make a career of it is something that never was, it was mostly just a uni break thing. Where 'guiding' as an industry goes is largely up to those that pay but what it means to 'be' a guide is up to you.

Ive had the opportunity to employ people as guides. The course you are doing forms a good basis (from all accounts) and would certainly get you into an interview. I'd suggest any opportunity to gain a bit of hands-on experience asap is a good move from there (ie while doing the course). With in mind that you'll probably start out 'assisting' rather than leading your first tours, its going to be the practical realities & skills that help the tour leader. Knowledge to pass on, relevant people skills, they will all come.... you need to master the scourer and chux first

[bushwalker zane]

Yes, this is what I have heard, but I'm prepared to put in the hard yards. I don't really care about the money, I just want job satisfaction, and sharing our beautiful state with others is perfect! We never stop learning, and I can't wait to learn more things from my clients as well, I'm sure they'll teach me a thing or two!

[juju]

Thanks for the interesting info in this topic all, my son is looking at this for a career choice.

[MichaelP]

Does anyone know what level of First Aid is normally required for most guiding positions in Tas? I'm considering doing Wilderness First Aid but it's quite expensive and I'd hate to spend all that money to find out I had to do another.

[Erica]

I know that Cradle Huts accept just a Senior First Aid Certificate, or at least that was the deal over the last few years, so you don't necessarily need a Wilderness. BUT, from experience in the field, and I haven't done Wilderness or Remote Area, I'm sure they'd be very useful. As anyone who's done the senior first aid course knows, most of the time they just tell you to call an ambulance (not so useful when you're in remote areas...). Again, something like that would put you a step above everyone else when applying for positions.

[Nuts]

Hi Michael, hope all is holding up ok for you.

Yes, Erica is right Senior (L2) first aid is all that is necessary (and being over 18)

Once you have this basic qualification though, i would suggest something else more immediately useful, public vehicle accreditation comes to mind but deciding where you want to work and what qualification would be most useful (to them) is a good idea. Outside of walking most other activities have their own set of qualifications, something to keep in mind, some companies offer walks as well as eg. rafting, kayaking basic climbing so on...

Apart from this (perhaps harder to package but very much desirable), experience on the ground is vital. Spend as much time as possible 'out there' especially in the area where you want to work.

There has been a move to suggestions that everyone should have 'accreditation', have completed the tech qualification. I hope this doesn't happen personally. Good guides are just as likely to be most 'useful' by bringing other knowledge apart from the obvious. For us, we can teach (more specifically) the part of that course component that applies to our business. It does show commitment though and this in itself is a good starting point (if no other options are available).

I came from a medical background and then went back to study ecology. Nothing was immediately useful but my background isn't unusual from what ive seen. While many guides might be on their way through uni or 'between' jobs, more people seem to be seeing it as a career or changing careers. I think this is great It really is a practical, 'hands on' job and courses only really set you up to start learning... its doing 'that little bit more' that will make things much easier.

edit... waffling on a bit here^. I do get pretty enthusiastic, with a negative carbon footprint, I imagine global warming wont be a problem if we can get everyone out camping

Hope this helps...

[weetbix456]

Does anyone know of any guiding positions available at the moment over winter?? I've just got back to Taz and NEED to be out and about working with people

[walk2wineries]

I know that Cradle Huts accept just a Senior First Aid Certificate, or at least that was the deal over the last few years, so you don't necessarily need a Wilderness. BUT, from experience in the field, and I haven't done Wilderness or Remote Area, I'm sure they'd be very useful. As anyone who's done the senior first aid course knows, most of the time they just tell you to call an ambulance (not so useful when you're in remote areas...). Again, something like that would put you a step above everyone else when applying for positions.

! Maria Island Walk - 4 punters, included a radiologist, infectious diseases physician and emergency physician
Last guided Cradle Mountain - Japanese surgeon, Australian Anaesthetist, AUs O&G, and emergency.

Qantas say that the odds are very high there will be a doc on every sizeable plane - but they seem to be out & about on the guided trips as well!

[walk2wineries]

I am an unabashed fan and enthusiastic participant for the supported walk.
Problem is that there are now several providers for the popular areas - Overland, Maria, RNP, Great Ocean, BOF. We need some more guided walks Really. ANd there's LOTS and LOTS of good options - I mean, places where the walk is a couple of days, is not a loop, and has campsites accessible by 4WD if camps are used. Because one-way walks require a lot of organisation for one person (or a couple with one car!) a guided walk providing transport has immediate value. There's a big untapped market - a lot of people like me don't have the expensive equipment we would want (because I'd need lightweight and idiot proof) and this cost can be offset against that of a guided walk. I go to conferences in Australia, every year on average. The bigger ones have optional activites arranged on the free afternoon or for before or after the meeting - mountainbiking, tours to the bluemountains if one is in Sydney, that sort of thing. NO WALKS! and there's a lot of us who aren't into mountainbiking, but really don't want to sit in a *&%$#! bus all day - and we might be travelling light because the suits and laptop take up space -- so I want a guided walk please. Actually I'm serious, did the BOF walk when I was in Tas for a conference.
What's my point? Well, I think that the providers need to expand a bit. Maybe guide the Qld Great Walks in Winter and the OVerland in Summer. For the would be's - consider asking your putative employer about tagging along, particularly while you are still studying, as an apprentice. We had one on the BOF, he was gold; he probably wasn't paid, we thought, so the punters had a whip-around at the end of the weekend so he netted a couple of hundred bucks. Not much, but still. ANd you get REAL references and experiences and maybe you'll be called if one of the regulars gets crook. AND - if they know you, you might consider researching a walk that is NOT in the regular offerings, - I mean, seriously look at suppliers, access, market - and asking the employers if they'd consider offering it to punters if you did the running around/organising. I suspect that because of insurance, permission from parks etc its probaby best done that way rather than independently.
My list at the moment - Well, Yuraygir probably top. Ideal for supported walk - one way, need to arrange boats across rivermouths (available but needs to be booked), drive-in EXCELLENT campsites, temperate climate (not subject to snow or flood, which cancelled my first booking for the 6-foot, took me YEARS to get on a trip!) and punters can fly to Grafton, Coffs or even GC or Brisbane for pickup. Then the Qld Great walks, ptrly MacKay and Gold Coast. Green Gully. Maybe NorthEast Tasmania. The 3-cape walk, or more of the Tasman Coastal trail in Tasmania. The GreatSouthWest Walk (tas). GreatNorthWalk North of Cowan. BenBoyd.
Sorry, I'm on a roll. My navigation sucks - I've been known to do 3/4 of a circle walk, sit down and walk back the opposite way. I want to walk with a DAY pack not a heavy pack, and I don't want to be cold or hungry at night. Guided, prefereably well supported walks, please. I will add - if one must to be self-sufficient there's not a lot of point in having a guide on the overland or the Great Ocean, or even Yuraygir or Tasman Peninsular Coast track, because one would need to be truly talented to get lost on those. Supported walks are certainly more expensive - but value-wise better value, and they make walking more accesible to punters like me. Think about it - Cradle huts isn't cheap, but what would it cost to stay in a hotel soewhere for that time, eating like that ? MOre, I reckon. Ditto Great Ocean even with the more expensive outfits.