What qualifications do you need to lead a walking group?

[nickerr]

Was looking at setting up a weekend job taking people out walking and cant really find anything that says you need qualifications other then a First Aid. Anyone know anything different?

[Nuts]

To be a guide (for someone else) you may only need first aid cert (though there has been talk of needing skills cert 3/4) ask a local operator?
To 'set up' a weekend job is more complicated. Permits would be administered by the park service or forestry, local council etc (depending on location), accreditation by Tourism Australia... I'd suggest contacting the NSW park service concessions manager to start.

[Miyata610]

One of the biggest issues is insurance.

Insurance companies assess your ability (and qualifications) along with your plans, usually in the form of an Operations Manual that covers all your procedures and risk management issues. You might find that without some sort of qualification the cost of insurance will be prohibitive.

The accepted industry qualification is Outdoor Recreation. Along with the units that match your plans, i.e. Bushwalking Guide. It comes in various levels.... Generally it works out that cert 2 is participant (pointless), cert 3 is guide, cert 4 is instructor and Diploma is business operator. You may want more than just basic first aid, depending on your plans, the Wilderness First Aid qualification may be more relavent. If you are cooking for your clients or handling food then a food handling and hygene qualification may also be relavent. Finally, a sport trainer qualification that will help you manage sports injuries and apply strapping is also a good idea, these are run by Sports Medicine Australia.

But of course none of this is currently required.

You may also need to purchase some extra gear not often used by a bushwalker, like comms equipment (radios, satphones, epirbs etc), group shelter (tarps, bovies), group cooking equipment, extensive first aid kits etc etc etc. your duty of care requirement may also mean you need to have on hand gear for unprepared clients like thermals and wet weather gear.

[Moondog55]

Not so far mentioned ( all the others are very relevant) is a gregarious and diplomatic personality along with a VERY high level of personal fitness and a higher than average strength and endurance; sooner or later you are going to have to carry some-ones bag or excess gear for them.
Do you REALLY like people?
Also if this becomes your job what will you do for recreation??
Duty of care becomes very important here so you will ALWAYS need to be aware of other peoples needs/medical & physical condition/morale/and fatigue levels.
I lead a couple of walks back when I was in a club and it is hard work when done properly.

[davidm]

If you're saying weekend job as in a business to make some extra cash, I would think you're gonna struggle.
There are so many free (or very cheap) bush walking groups I don't see how there would be any money in it.

[ninjapuppet]

you can do a cert III in outdoor education like my mate did at Tafe in the blue mountains. you can do it on weekends over 6 months or a more intensive full time course, but last I heard they were considering closing it donw in future due to low student numbers. And yes, first aid is a compulsory part of that course too.

My mate is now guiding japanese tourists around on the main attractions in the blue mountains on weekends, but it certainly took him a very long time to land that job even with cert 4 in various outdoor activities. Its a very competitive industry to get your foot into have regular work. As Davidm pointed out, locals will tend to use clubs more than pay money so you're having to really need the tourists.

[Nuts]

One of the biggest issues is insurance.

Insurance companies assess your ability (and qualifications) along with your plans, usually in the form of an Operations Manual that covers all your procedures and risk management issues. You might find that without some sort of qualification the cost of insurance will be prohibitive.

The accepted industry qualification is Outdoor Recreation. Along with the units that match your plans, i.e. Bushwalking Guide. It comes in various levels.... Generally it works out that cert 2 is participant (pointless), cert 3 is guide, cert 4 is instructor and Diploma is business operator. You may want more than just basic first aid, depending on your plans, the Wilderness First Aid qualification may be more relavent. If you are cooking for your clients or handling food then a food handling and hygene qualification may also be relavent. Finally, a sport trainer qualification that will help you manage sports injuries and apply strapping is also a good idea, these are run by Sports Medicine Australia.

But of course none of this is currently required.

You may also need to purchase some extra gear not often used by a bushwalker, like comms equipment (radios, satphones, epirbs etc), group shelter (tarps, bovies), group cooking equipment, extensive first aid kits etc etc etc. your duty of care requirement may also mean you need to have on hand gear for unprepared clients like thermals and wet weather gear.

Sorry Phil, I know you do a great job and are sincere about wanting to cover all bases but (and perhaps not of interest to the OP) there is a point here that i'll make given any chance

There is no 'accepted industry standard' (here). There is a standard that education providers hope to achieve, especially as they now have a vested interest. It's easy to be given an idea that things 'work a certain way' but it's so far (thankfully) been kept at bay (hopefully) by common sense- The parts of their course relevant to us can be taught in a very short time (whether the guide can take things on board isn't effected by qualification). I have and will continue to oppose imposed qualification, it effectively limits the guide pool to those who can manage a short course rather than those best for the job.

Saying so is not to discredit the efforts to have a more professional set of standards, or those that have them. Just that I believe it is an unrealistic expectation on the scale of the local industry and lacks much insight into what actually works (rather than sounds good). I can't speak for other operators, if they staff directly from courses then it's an advantage to them to support others needing too.. If a case was put to me that sufficient skills can't be taught on the job, that would be a sad day given that some of the best guides iv'e worked with have arrived with little more than empathy in spades (and good knees). Next on the list would be a passion for some aspect of wilderness or bushwalking, neither demonstrated by completing a course.

[22F]

Agreed Nuts.
The process of insurance, business model, etc, etc is good for the business side of the house.
Not necessarily the best for the guiding side of the house.

I've seen people who are great operators, yet make poor instructors. The opposite is true as well.

From my very limited experience of setting up my own business, and having worked as a consultant for my real job, it all depends on what the goal is.

[nickerr]

Will definantly be getting a Wilderness First Aid Certificate though. At the moment I've contacted the National Parks and Im just waiting to see exactly how much access I can get for the parks. Waiting for a quote for insurance cover ($10m Liability Insurance). I'm a little lucky in the equipment department as I worked doing this in the UK for a while so have most of it stashed away.
At the moment I dont really see a problem with getting people involved. I live in Byron Bay, NSW so there are plenty of tourists around and no public transport to get you anywhere decent but plenty of people wanting to get involved. It looks like it is turning into a more full time thing just depending on the National Parks limitations there are a few grants available around as well for promoting tourism and one company has already offered to pay a quarter of my insurance for the first year.
I definantly agree with not having enforced qualifications I have some Kayaking and Canoeing qualifications which look great on paper I wouldn't have any problem getting some work from these but in reality my skill level isn't high enough to be able to look after a group if everything went to *&%$#!.
Thanks to everyone for replying so quick. Definantly picked up a few more things I've got to look into.

[Gusto]

I and others have answered a question similar to this before. See here http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7691

If your interested in doing weekend adventure day trips then you are going to find more work doing rock climbing or paddling trips (kayaking/ white water rafting).

Also and due to insurance you should work for someone. Don't be your own boss unless you want to work more than just on weekends.


Hope that helps.

[Nuts]

Yes, it wont be easy (as per my rant in that thread), guiding can be great fun, managing never is and caveat allucinator as I guess they say. Especially so for bushwalking and just w/ends i'd agree. Let us know how things go Nick though, good luck with it.

[Mark F]

I live in Byron Bay, NSW so there are plenty of tourists around and no public transport to get you anywhere decent but plenty of people wanting to get involved.

If you are providing transport then there is whole new area of regulation to overcome. You cannot bung a few people in a car or van and cart them to a trailhead if you are being paid. Public vehicle license, driver needs additional licencing, vehicle needs regular inspections etc.