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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Apply knowledge of the guiding sector.
  2. Guide tours according to safety, ethical and legal requirements.
  3. Develop guiding skills and knowledge.
  4. Communicate with tourism industry operators in English.

Required Skills

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit

ability to access appropriate risk assessment templates

critical thinking skills to facilitate rational and logical analysis of ethical and environmental issues and the making of decisions on appropriate behaviours and actions

speaking and listening skills to carry out predictable and creative communication in English involving daily transactions and interactions of a nonroutine and varied nature

The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit

general knowledge of the tourism industry and in particular tour operations and wholesaling sectors and the way that guiding fits into the tourism industry

roles responsibilities and career paths for different types of guides including tour guides tour managers site guides adventure guides meet and greet guides city hosts and driver guides

roles and services provided to guides by peak body Guiding Organisations of Australia GOA and industry associations

broad and working knowledge of industry and legal compliance requirements that affect guiding operations including

consumer protection laws

occupational licensing and industry accreditation

contents of various guiding codes of conduct or practice eg GOA and Ecotourism Association of Australia and the impacts of compliance and noncompliance

public liability and the guides duty of care

environmental laws

permit requirements for operating within regulated land managed areas

Queensland Tourism Services Act associated requirements for guides when working in Queensland the code of conduct imposed on inbound tour operators ITOs and impacts on guides when engaged by an ITO to work in Queensland

safety issues that specifically affect guiding operations in particular contexts

broad and working knowledge of risk management systems

format and use of appropriate risk assessment templates

the key features of environmental impact and minimal impact practices to be considered when guiding in environmentally sensitive areas

key factors to consider in minimising negative impacts on the social and natural environments in which tours take place

social cultural and business conventions applicable to working as a guide

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this TrainingPackage

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential

provision of guiding services in a safe ethical and legally compliant manner

broad knowledge of roles and responsibilities of different types of guides

knowledge of safety ethical environmental protection and legal issues to be considered in specific guiding contexts

speaking and listening skills to communicate with industry colleagues in English and achieve mutual understanding on daytoday operational requirements

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure

working safely ethically and legally within commercially realistic guiding environments eg at a tourist site on a coach tour in a national park or on a walking tour

access to plain English documents that describe the legal requirements of the Queensland Tourism Services Act consumer laws and environmental management issues

access to industry association membership information and codes of conduct

interaction with others to ensure communication in English on practical guiding matters

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess the practical skills and knowledge required to work safely ethically and legally as a guide The following examples are appropriate for this unit

case studies and problemsolving to assess application of knowledge to different guiding situations and contexts including analysis of ethical issues

review of reports of guiding activities undertaken as part of industry placement and training with an industry operator

roleplays to assess the candidates ability to communicate in English on practical guiding issues

written and oral questioning or interview to test knowledge of different guide roles the content of industry codes of conduct and the content and impact of the Queensland Tourism Services Act and other legal issues

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

SITTINDB Develop and update tourism industry knowledge

SITTIND001B Develop and update tourism industry knowledge

SITTGDEA Coordinate and operate a tour

SITTGDE003A Coordinate and operate a tour

SITTGDEA Lead tour groups

SITTGDE004A Lead tour groups

SITTTSLA Sell tourism products and services

SITTTSL005A Sell tourism products and services.

Assessing employability skills

Employability skills are integral to effective performance in the workplace and are broadly consistent across industry sectors How these skills are applied varies between occupations and qualifications due to the different work functions and contexts

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

Participation in risk assessments may involve:

identifying hazards and conducting risk assessments individually or with others

reporting hazards and identifying a need for a risk assessment

using hazard identification and risk assessment template documents

making simple reports using template-reporting documents.

General ethics of guiding and specific ethical considerations may include:

truth and honesty regarding all information given to customers

provision of services as promoted or confirmed

ethical dealings with local communities

compliance with specific requirements of industry codes of conduct or ethics

relationships with industry colleagues, customers and suppliers

cultural considerations

environmental considerations and sustainable practice.

Minimising any negative impact on the social or natural environment may involve:

environmental sustainability of tourism destinations

using minimal impact practices to protect and sustain the natural and cultural integrity

guiding within the guidelines set by land management and protection authorities

Opportunities to update knowledge and skills and key guide information sources may include:

industry seminars

training courses

familiarisation tours

participation or membership in professional guide associations

participation in industry accreditation schemes

use of industry codes of conduct or ethics

formal and informal research

internet research.

Social, cultural and business requirements may relate to:

body language

cultural customs and mores.

Tourism operators may be:

suppliers of any tourism product or service that is a component of the touring itinerary, including:

coach company

tour operators and cruise operators

airlines

accommodation providers

food and beverage outlets

attraction or theme parks

inbound tour operators

retail outlets, including:

opal or souvenir outlets

tax free stores

factory outlets

other guides.