New Adventure Activity Standards

[Phil Box]

In relation to commercial 'adventure activities' it may make a positive contribution to 'tour guide' being a more professional occupation? However to implement such measures through regulation demonstrates a lack of understanding of the 'industry'. As one involved in recruiting people for this type of work several factors come to mind:

* There is a small enough 'pool' of suitable candidates from the general population nevermind narrowing it down any further..
* The most desirable attributes are not learnt in a course. They are as likely already held going into one as they ever will be..
* The industry is already very highly regulated through standards for compliance with the various agencies in gaining commercial concessions..

This has been coming for a while, I have many other opposing thoughts on the matter and am worried it will see an end of the 'traditional' stepping stone that guiding work has provided or a narrowing of a skills base far wider than that afforded by Any 'course'. Nothing taken away from those involved (in Tassie). The existing courses are a good source for people with an interest in this type of work. I dont believe this should be at the expense or detriment to the industry, of not accessing those with a different background. Perhaps the instigators should be held to 'demonstrate' examples of how this will make the experience (or industry) better? Overwhelmingly, all I ever hear is praise for the various operators and their guides...? And the 'softener' to introduce these regulations will be 'recognition of prior learning', made easy or just another obstacle with its own set of forms and processors?

The author (at least) shows understanding of the implications.

My son (15) is keen on a career in this area. Do you have any advice for him? How have others obtained employment in the industry? What sort of qualifications are helpful/necessary? Thanks, Julie.

The first thing that I tell young people when they ask me how they can get a job like mine (I am in the outdoor ed industry) is that first they should go out and have a lot of adventures. This gets them experience. After a few years then they should do their cert iv or diploma in outdoor ed.

Finding out what they actually like to specialise in is also helpful. For instance I looooove climbing so I have spent a lot of time finding out as much as I can about climbing and ropes etc. Others loooove canoeing, yet others looove bushwalking. There are many ways to build up ones experience level. Just going to a TAFE at 15 years old to gain a qualification is not a path that I think is one that any young person wanting to be in the industry should pursue. I've seen them come through the system and aren't that impressed with their skill levels. Much better they find a passion for the outdoors first and then head to academia or do an RPL process to gain ones skills qualifications.

During your sons time in the outdoors he should do some individual courses and also hunt down mentors to guide him through the gaining of experience.

Not an easy answer I am afraid but it is one that will stand him in good stead for the long term. I would rather employ someone with vast amounts of experience but no quals than someone with all the quals and zero experience. Unfortunately the vogons are making that choice almost impossible.

[juju]

Thanks so much Phil for your reply.
My son is a mountain goat who loooooves climbing too! (can hardly keep him on the ground) and caves.
We joined a caving club this year (he needed a parent - it's a challenge for me but exciting) and attended a training day where we learned some wonderful knots (I have a new love), abseiled down a makeshift pallet cliff and climbed a rope using prusik loops and other gear.
It was the best thing I ever did for him.
The next morning he was off! Using his new skills and knots he fashioned his own emergency harness from ex seat belts, rigged a rope up his favourite tree, made his own prusik loops and went up and down and up and down - etc etc etc.
I've had a look online at courses, which seem expensive considering there isn't a lot of practical in them. I thought that joining the ses when he's sixteen might be a way of gaining some experience in the meantime, while finishing school time.
It was good to read your reply, he really has a passion and now it doesn't seem a ridiculous idea to hope to gain employment in the industry.

[Liamy77]

SES and volunteer Ambulance wouldn't "hurt"

[juju]

shouldn't - but I've had doctors cause me 'slight discomfort' in the past...

[Liamy77]

"this might sting a bit" uh huh!!!! AAAAAaaarrrgh!

[johnw]

I can relate to this. My now 25 y.o. youngest son recently left full time employment after about 7 years and is currently studying Outdoor Rec at TAFE full time for about 12 months. He's still a bit unsure if that's the field he wants to be in but loves outdoor activities/work etc. Has been bushwalking for many years and an SES volunteer for the past 3 or 4. He learnt abseiling and various rope techniques through the SES and sometimes goes on social abseiling days with them. With SES he's also done various training activities and events involving bush navigation, land searches, swift water rescue, flood boat operation etc. Last week his TAFE class spent 3 days at Mt York doing nothing but abseiling and apparently they're going back for more next week. Eventually I think they move on to rockclimbing and various other disciplines. They did an overnight walk the first week of the course. Now doing advanced first aid all this week. He's really enjoying the course as it contains everything he likes to do, so I hope something eventuates from it career-wise. It was a big leap of faith to go down this path, but fortunately he's pretty level-headed financially and can sustain himself until the end of the year. I know I haven't seen him happier in a long time.

[juju]

That's a great outcome. I wonder - what career has he left? It's always exciting to hear of someone changing their future that way and doing what they love. Congrats to you both, you for encouraging him and him for having courage. Thanks for sharing the story. Julie

[pancake]

Quick question, why aren't all these 22 and 25yos posting first hand? Have they got their own top secret little operation running on myspace/twitter/facebook? Or is this place just not cool enough?

[Lizzy]

The next morning he was off! Using his new skills and knots he fashioned his own emergency harness from ex seat belts, rigged a rope up his favourite tree, made his own prusik loops and went up and down and up and down - etc etc etc.
I've had a look online at courses, which seem expensive considering there isn't a lot of practical in them. I thought that joining the ses when he's sixteen might be a way of gaining some experience in the meantime, while finishing school time.
It was good to read your reply, he really has a passion and now it doesn't seem a ridiculous idea to hope to gain employment in the industry.

Hey Juju
This sounds just like me at that age.... I got involved in camping/abseiling/bushwalking through Army Cadets at high school. Perhaps you lads school or area has some sort of cadets/ Duke of Ed/ or Rovers program. These clubs can bbe a great source of skills. I remember after learning to prussick going down to the playground and putting a rope up on the highest bit of equipment to practice prussicking. At one stage I dropped my prussick loops and was hanging around until my Dad discovered me!!!
Anyway all this set me up well for organising my own trips which I roped my cousin into & we set off on many bushwalking and also a few canyoning/abseiling adventures. I initially didn't do this a s a career- went off to uni, did a degree, but after a bit of travel I was keen for a change & went off & did an Outward Bound internship (Cert IV in Outdoor Ed) for a year. This was 10 years ago so info may have changed- You pay for the course but also get paid (minimally). We did certificates in Leaders Wilderness First Aid, River Rescue, Ropes, Bronze Medallion etc etc. Also some 4WD training, rockclimbing, abseiling, caving, canoeing. Finally you end up instructing groups of high school kids on multi-adventure wilderness trips of say 8-10 days. Its definitely not for everyone but is an option to consider. I would also recommend that your son get as much experience in the areas he enjoys first as this type of training can only do so much.... much better to already be good at say rockclimbing. For example I could set up & run a top-rope climb but am not a lead-climber- but I would feel much more comfortable if I was!
Goodluck
Lizzy

[juju]

Thanks Lizzy, I was looking at outward bound as a source and you've confirmed it might be worth looking into more. Julie