SITTGDE301
Work as a guide

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work effectively as a guide. It covers key legal, ethical, safety, environmental and professional development issues that guides must consider in their daytoday work. When working in Queensland, all guides, regardless of their place of residence, are subject to the Queensland Tourism Services Act (2003).

Application

This unit applies to guides who may work across multiple industry sectors as employees or independent contractors. They could operate within a single site, or in a particular city, region or tourist precinct, but they often move across sites, cities and regions.

Guides apply discretion and judgement within established organisational procedures, and when on tour they take a lead role without supervision. Sometimes guides are the owner-operators of small tour operations.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Apply knowledge of the guiding sector.

1.1 Conduct guiding activities in a manner that takes account of the roles and responsibilities of different types of guides.

1.2 Identify key guide information sources and contacts.

1.3 Use industry knowledge and guide networks to enhance the quality of guiding services provided to customers.

2. Guide tours according to legal, ethical and safety requirements.

2.1 Conduct guiding activities according to legal requirements governing the industry.

2.2 Actively participate in risk assessment as an integral part of work activities.

2.3 Take account of ethical considerations for particular contexts.

2.4 Guide tours according to safety requirements.

2.5 Support sustainability in work practices.

3. Develop guiding skills and knowledge.

3.1 Identify and use opportunities to update knowledge and skills required by guides.

3.2 Maintain knowledge of technologies used by guides.

3.3 Identify and access sources of guide support when required.

3.4 Share knowledge with colleagues to enhance quality of service provided to customers.

4. Communicate with tourism industry operators in English.

4.1 Articulate information using industry acceptable language.

4.2 Achieve mutual understanding and agree on details relevant to guiding activities.

4.3 Provide accurate information and explanations about customer requirements and special requests.

4.4 Identify nature and key facts of operational problems and provide appropriate solutions by consulting with the tourism operator.

Required Skills

Required skills

communication skills to liaise with others on operational matters

critical thinking skills to:

evaluate legal, ethical, safety and sustainability issues and requirements for guides

make decisions on appropriate behaviours and actions

contribute to risk assessment processes

literacy skills to:

read and interpret industry codes of practice and regulations

learning and self-management skills to maintain and enhance professional skills and knowledge

technology skills to work with online information systems.

Required knowledge

tourism industry sectors and their interrelationship, in particular the 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

role of the guide in the risk management process

roles and services provided to guides by peak guiding bodies and industry associations

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 and the impacts of noncompliance

public liability and the guide’s duty of care

environmental laws

permit requirements for operating in protected areas

Queensland Tourism Services Act (2003) requirements for guides when working in Queensland

safety issues that affect guiding operations in particular contexts, particularly those related to customer safety in different environments

sustainability considerations for professional guides, including those related to:

host community interactions, including Indigenous contexts

minimal impact practices

own professional development.

Evidence Required

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

Overview of assessment

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

Evidence of the ability to:

provide guiding services that meet legal, ethical, safety and sustainability requirements

communicate with industry colleagues in English and achieve mutual understanding on daytoday operational requirements

demonstrate knowledge of roles and responsibilities of different types of guides

demonstrate knowledge of legal, ethical, safety and sustainability issues to be considered in specific guiding contexts.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure use of:

environments in which guiding activities take place, e.g. at visitor sites, on-board various forms of transportation

plain English documents that describe the legal requirements of the Queensland Tourism Services Act (2003), consumer laws and environmental management issues

industry association membership information and codes of conduct

other people to allow for oral communication in English on practical guiding matters.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

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

use of roleplays to assess the individual’s ability to communicate in English on practical guiding issues, and to guide a tour

written or oral questioning to assess knowledge of different guide roles, content of industry codes of conduct and relevant legal issues

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

Guidance information for assessment

The assessor should design integrated assessment activities to holistically assess this unit with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role, for example:

SITTGDE303 Lead tour groups

SITTGDE401 Coordinate and operate tours

SITTIND201 Source and use information on the tourism industry

SITTTSL303 Sell tourism products and services.


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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Risk assessment activity may involve:

dealing with inherent risks

identifying hazards as part of normal operations

making simple reports

identifying need for a full risk assessment

using risk assessment templates.

Ethical considerations may relate to:

compliance with industry codes of conduct

cultural considerations

dealings with local communities, including Indigenous communities

provision of services as promoted or confirmed

relationships with industry colleagues, customers and suppliers

unconscionable conduct.

Sustainability may be:

economic:

business profitability

environmental:

minimal impact

waste minimisation

social:

interactions with host communities.

Opportunitiesmay include:

familiarisation tours

industry seminars

participation in industry accreditation schemes

participation or membership in professional guide associations

research

social networking

training courses.

Technologies may include:

presentation technologies

RFID codes (for hand held devices)

social networking.

Tourism operator may be:

inbound tour operators

other guides

retail outlets, including:

factory outlets

opal or souvenir outlets

tax free stores

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

accommodation providers

airlines

attraction or theme parks

coach companies

food and beverage outlets

tour operators and cruise operators.


Sectors

Tourism


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

No occupational licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.