An innovative training program for aspiring Safari Guides proudly presented by GLOBAL GYPSIES

Proudly supported by:
Tourism Program at Murdoch University
Tourism Council Western Australia

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Safari Guide Workshops

The course is designed for adventurous people who want to learn how to put their 4WD knowledge to work, learn basic safari guide skills, become a 4WD or towing instructor or gain a competitive edge in the tourism industry.

This unique training opportunity will be facilitated by Jeremy Perks & Jan Barrie, Directors of Global Gypsies. Jeremy is a former Tour Guide of the Year, an honorary DEC Ranger, an experienced Safari Guide and four-wheel driver who has worked in both Australia and Africa and who holds a Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment while Jan is an experienced tourism marketer, business administrator andtravel writer.

Western Australia is the home of adventure travel and the ideal destination for guided safaris to remote areas. Each year thousands of visitors make their way to outback WA led by highly experienced guides. However, additional training could raise professional standards and provide visitors with an even better safari experience in our great State.

WA offers some excellent training programs for "Tour Guides." However, up to now, there has been no recognised training program for Safari Guides. These individuals operate 'in the bush' under challenging conditions and usually 'solo'. They need special skills such as group leadership, basic mechanics, first aid, cooking, four-wheel-driving, bush skills, knowledge of flora, fauna, history, culture, and much more. Such a training program is now available and it is welcomed and recognised by leading safari operators throughout the State.

Safari Guide Workshops have been developed by Perth-based safari operator Global Gypsies. The program has the support of the Tourism Program at Murdoch University and Tourism Council Western Australia.

Who Runs the Workshops?

The workshops are run by Jeremy Perks, 2004 West Australian Tour Guide of the Year (Winner of the FACET Golden Guide Award) and the founder and director of Global Gypsies. Jeremy is a professional Safari Guide with experience in Australia and Africa. He is a qualified mechanic (petrol & diesel); experienced four-wheel-driver, holds C, HR, F endorsement and L licenses; is knowledgeable about flora and fauna; has a certificate in remote area first aid; is nationally accredited by Guiding Organisations 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 and as a Travel Writer had her own weekly page in Kenya's daily newspaper focusing on the country's many exciting tourist attractions.

Today, Global Gypsies operates quality, nature-based, soft-adventure 4WD "tag-along-tours" throughout the western half of Australia and provides 4WD, towing and tour guide training and tourism consulting services to individuals and both private and public sector organisations.

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 and to adopt an environmental management policy.

Course Overview

There is a maximum of 14 participants at each session. The workshops take place over two days on selected weekends and will combine both theoretical and practical tuition.

They include one half-day of lectures at Murdoch University's South Street Campus followed by a 1 1/2 day safari to a southern bush environment for practical demonstrations, role-playing, discussion and hands-on learning activities. Also included is 4WD transportation to the bush camp, camping equipment, camping fees, workbook and meals. A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to each participant at the successful conclusion of the course.

Course Content

Through a combination of theoretical and practical tuition, the course will cover the following topics: -

• Requirements of a Safari Guide
• Requirements of a 4WD Instructor
• Basic mechanical information
• Basic bush survival skills
• Starting yuor own tourism or training business
• Maintenance of equipment
• Basic 4WD skills (lecture & passenger experience only)
• Conduct & appearance
• Interpersonal skills
• Safety Issues
• Interpretative skills
• Preparing for safaris
• Cultural issues
• Remote area communications
• Administration "on the road"
• Dealing with emergencies
• Basic cooking & hygiene
• Setting up a bush camp
• Time management
• Duty of care
• Leadership & team building
• Environmental awareness
• Customer care
• Dealing with international clients
• Value of tourism
• Pride in the profession
• Recommended courses/reading
• Customer role plays and more!

What the Tour Operators Said When the Course was Introduced:

"Jeremy is an excellent Guide and teacher. This course will give aspiring Safari Guides a real competitive edge."
- Steve Woodland, West Coast Explorer

"These Safari Guide Workshops will be a real plus for the tourism industry."
- Brian Anderson, Managing Director, WesternTravel Bug

"We would definitely give priority to anyone applying for a Safari Guide position with us who had attended this course."
- Geoff Longworth, Managing Director, All Terrain Safaris

"This course provides an excellent introduction to the special skills required by Safari Guides."
- Kim Dennis, Australian Adventure Travel

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

WHEN/WHERE ARE THE NEXT WORKSHOPS?

Dates: Dec 6 - 7, 2008

Venue will be Murdoch University and a southern bush camp.

Please express your interest by completing and submitting the Enrolment Form and we will be in touch with you soon. Or why not purchase a Gift Voucher for someone you care about to attend Safari Guide Workshops?

WA STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDS ACCREDITED TOUR GUIDE TRAINING PROGRAM

Thanks to a State Government Grant from Tourism WA in May 2008, Global Gypsies and the WA Hospitality & Tourism Industry Training Council are currently developing an exciting new accredited training course for Tour Guides which will be the first of its kind in Australia.

The grant will provide funding for the development of a basic introductory course for Guides operating in both urban and remote areas. The program will be trialed in the metropolitan area and once it is up and running there are plans to expand it to regional areas.

The weekend training course will cover such subjects as interpretive presentation, driving skills, customer service, duty of care, safety, risk management, dealing with emergencies, leadership, cultural & environmental awareness, conflict resolution & more. The first session will be run in November 2008 with other courses scheduled for December, January and February 2009.

WA’s top Tour Guides will develop the curriculum and facilitate the sessions. In addition to the expertise of Global Gypsies and WAHTITC, such organisations as Murdoch University and Wrightway Driver Training will also be involved in the program.

Global Gypsies has been committed to Tour Guide training since the company’s inception over a decade ago. Say Directors Jan Barrie & Jeremy Perks, “Our dream is to have as many WA guides trained as possible and, ideally, accredited in some way, so as to improve the quality of Tour Guiding in our State and deliver a better - and safer - visitor experience. We also want to give the profession the status, respect and esteem it deserves and already enjoys in many other parts of the world.”

The company believes that the new accredited and broader-based basic introductory training program will appeal to all WA Tour Guides whether they are operating in urban or rural areas. The grant will also enable the attendance fee to be subsidised in order to attract wider participation.

Anthea Kilminster, Executive Officer of the WA Hospitality and Tourism Industry Training Council says, “We believe this new course will be invaluable to WA Tour Guides and will be a tremendous asset to the State’s tourism industry.”

Although the new Tour Guide Training Course is still in the developmental phase bookings are already pouring in. More information can be obtained by contacting Global Gypsies by phone (08 9341 6727) or email.

CORPORATE TOUR GUIDE TRAINING & TOURISM CONSULTING SERVICES

Global Gypsies is building a reputation as one of Western Australia's leading tourism training organisations, particularly for clients operating in remote areas. Professional training programs cover such activities as four-wheel-driving, towing, first aid, tour guide training and safari guide training.

We consult to clients involved in tourism-related industries in both the private and the public sector. For example, we were recently appointed by the prestigious new multi-million dollar Karijini Eco Retreat to create and manage a high profile Tours & Activities Program. The program will be intrinsic to the long-term success of the retreat and needed to be developed with cultural sensitivity, understanding of the local history, flora and fauna, consideration for the environment and appreciation of the target market.

Our brief involved researching and designing a broad range of tours and activities to appeal to various age groups and fitness levels, then recruiting and appointing the Tour Guides and managing the program on an ongoing basis. To view the results of this highly successful program, please visit http://www.karijiniecoretreat.com.au/index.site.recreation.6075.html

With the safari camp and tour guiding experience the Directors gained in East Africa and outback Western Australia (see details below), they are well placed to deliver expert consultation services to a range of tourism-related businesses operating in challenging environments. In addition to the training programs listed above, our backgrounds enable us to also offer professional advice on safari camp establishment/management and tourism promotion.

To find out how we can assist your tourism organisation achieve its objectives, please contact us today for a confidential discussion.