Proudly supported by:

Tourism Western Australia
WA Hospitality & Tourism Industry Training Council
Pilbara TAFE
Tourism Program at Murdoch University

Thanks to a grant from Tourism WA to the WA Hospitality & Tourism Industry Training Council (WAHTITC), Global Gypsies is proud to present the country's first nationally recognised introductory weekend training course for Tour Guides.

WAHTITC appointed Global Gypsies to develop and facilitate this exciting new course with input from the State's top Tour Guides. Successful participants receive a statement of Attainment from the Pilbara TAFE in the Unit of Competency THTFTG05B Lead Tour Groups.

The basic introductory two-day course is designed for urban, regional and remote area Tour Guides, whether they are permanent, casual, freelance or volunteers.

The course takes place over two consecutive days on selected weekends and combines both theoretical and practical tuition. We take a maximum of 12 participants at each session.

The course comprises one half-day of lectures at Murdoch University's South Street Campus (Perth, Western Australia) followed by a 1 1/2 day safari to a bush camp for practical demonstrations, role-playing, discussion and hands-on learning activities. Also included is transportation to the bush camp, camping equipment, camping fees, workbook and meals.

Over the weekend participants will be assessed for competency by Certificate IV qualified trainers. You will also need to complete a written assignment and submit it within four weeks of attending the session.

On successful completion of the weekend course and the written assignment, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement from Global Gypsies, a Statement of Attainment from Pilbara TAFE and a numbered bronze lapel pin which we hope you will wear with pride.

Course Content

The content covers such generic guiding skills as interpretive presentation, customer service, duty of care, basic driving, safety, risk management, dealing with emergencies, leadership, cultural considerations, environmental responsibility, conflict resolution and more.

There will be separate streams on Day Two focusing on Interpretation and Narrative, or on Practical Tips on Starting a Small Tour Business.

There are also separate streams covering such topics as storytelling, the types of jobs available, starting your own small tourism business and remote area guiding. Participants can choose in advance which particular sessions they wish to attend.

The course has been developed and will be facilitated by Jeremy Perks and Jan Barrie of Global Gypsies with input from some of Perth's top Tour Guides including Cherie Toovey and Chris Wirrell.

Jeremy Perks, the founder and director of Global Gypsies, was 2004 West Australian Tour Guide of the Year (Winner of the FACET Golden Guide Award). He is a professional Safari Guide with experience in Australia and Africa, a qualified mechanic (petrol & diesel); experienced four-wheel-driver, holds HC, R and F class licenses; is knowledgeable about flora and fauna; has a certificate in remote area first aid; is nationally accredited by Guiding Organisations Australia & EcoTourism Australia; attended the Aussie Host Customer Care program and is a hobby photographer.

Jeremy is a Board Member of Tour Guides WA; an Honorary Ranger with the Department of Environment and Conservation, a Board Member of FACET (Forum Advocating Cultural & Eco Tourism); is the only commercial tour operator who was invited to participate in the State Government's Adventure Tourism Review Panel; is a member of the Desert Research Council CRC and is assisting Outdoors WA to develop accreditation standards for Tour Guides.

Formerly an officer in the South African Defence Force where he served in the equivalent to the SAS, for ten years Jeremy was Managing Director of a large communications and marketing company in South and East Africa. He left the corporate world to become Manager and Principle Tour Guide of the exclusive and award-winning Crater Lodge Tented Safari Camp in Kenya's Rift Valley.

When he immigrated to Australia in 1997, Jeremy established Global Gypsies with his partner and co-Director, Jan Barrie. Jan has extensive experience in tourism marketing, public relations and travel writing.

Today, Global Gypsies operates quality, nature-based, soft-adventure 4WD "tag-along-tours" throughout the western half of Australia, runs escorted overseas tours to destinations such as Kenya, China & Borneo and provides 4WD, towing and tour guide training and tourism consulting services.

Licensed to operate by the Department of Conservation & Environment and the Department of Transport, Global Gypsies was the first "tag-along" company in WA to introduce five-star African-style safaris to the market and one of the first to gain national accreditation, to adopt an environmental management policy and to help offset its carbon footprint through a partnership with Carbon Neutral.

Cherie is a former winner of the prestigious FACET Golden Guide Award and is President of Tour Guides Western Australia. She is an active, working guide in WA and her assignments include site tours of Parliament House, Driver/ Guide for tours of the Swan Valley and Rottnest Island and regular guiding work for inbound groups as well as adventure tours (this has involved cooking for up to 50 people whilst camping in the Pilbara!). She has been involved with Global Gypsies for several years through Safari Guide Workshops and 4WD tours. Her passion for great Tour Guides sees her involved with guide training at Central TAFE, as well as workplace traineeships and on-site staff training with different tourism groups. Cherie is excited to be a part of this new practical training program and is an integral part of its development, facilitation and assessment.

Jan is a Director and co-founder of Global Gypsies. She has a background in management, public relations, marketing, advertising, journalism, hospitality, customer service, tourism and travel writing. Jan has traveled extensively and worked in the USA, UK, Australia and East Africa. She has been integral in developing the overall short-course concept and will be coordinating, administering and marketing the program.

Global Gypsies has been committed to Tour Guide training since the company's inception. Australia is one of the few countries in the world which does not require its Tour Guides to be accredited.

Jeremy & Jan's goal is to have as many WA Tour Guides trained as possible and, ideally, accredited in some way to improve the quality of Tour Guiding in Western Australia and deliver a better - and safer - visitor experience. They also want to give the profession the status, respect and esteem it deserves and already enjoys in many other parts of the world.

Excellent courses of a longer duration are available at a number of learning institutions throughout Australia. However, believing that an inexpensive short course was the key to wide scale Tour Guide training, five years ago in conjunction with Murdoch University and Tourism Council WA, Global Gypsies developed Safari Guide Workshops - Australia's first basic, weekend introductory course for Tour Guides operating in remote areas (see photos below of previous graduates of this program).

The new course builds on this foundation but the grant has made it possible to expand the content to appeal to Tour Guides working in diverse locations, to incorporate recognition from a highly respected learning institution and to subsidise the attendance fee in order to attract wide participation.

GRADUATES

"Inaugural Course - May 2002"	Broome - August 2002
Margaret River - October 2002	Graduates of the November 2-3. 2002 session
Graduates of the November 16-17. 2002 session	November 2003

Graduates of the March 2004 session

Graduates of the November 2004 session

Graduates of the December 2007 session

Participants in December 2008 session

Graduates of the January 2009 session

Graduates in May 2009 session

Graduates of the December 2009 session

Feb 13 - 14
April 17 - 18
October 30 - 31
December 11 - 12

Cost:

$425 per person.

Places strictly limited. Confirm your booking now by downloading the PDF information leaflet & enrolment form.

The comprehensive Student Workbooks & Facilitator's Notes which have been developed for this innovative Tour Guide Training Program are the property of Global Gypsies Pty Ltd and are protected by copyright. However, these documents & other background materials can be made available to qualified individuals or organisations under license. If you would like to deliver the course in your State, please contact us for more information.