About GOA

Guiding Organisations Australia is the peak industry body for Australian tour guides, and was incorporated in January 2003. This was the culmination of a 2 year development phase which was supported by the Australian Standing Committee on Tourism (ASCOT) and the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. GOA is positioned as the central acknowledged authority on guiding issues, conveying verified information and endorsed by industry stakeholders.

As Australia's peak body for Tour Guides, GOA:

• represents Australian Tour Guides and works with other industry stakeholders for the benefit of tour guides.
• provides a national forum to develop best practice and promote a high degree of professionalism for Tour Guides
• raises private, public and government awareness, locally and nationally, of the importance of the Tour Guide's role
• maintains cooperative relationships with related national, international, State and Territory tourism industry organisations.

Mission Statement

The purpose of Guiding Organisations Australia (GOA) is to represent, promote and protect the common interests of Australian Tour Guides and continually improve the quality of their services by:

• Providing a national forum to develop best practice and promote a high degree of professionalism for Tour Guides.
• Raising private, public and government awareness, locally and nationally, of the importance of the Tour Guide's role.
• Maintaining cooperative relationships with related national, international, State and Territory tourism industry organisations.

GOA's Vision

Guiding Organisations Australia will develop a universal and cooperative Tour Guiding network and standard in Australia. They will be world's best practice.

GOA's Founding Members are major Tour Guide organisations:

• Professional Tour Guides Association of Australia (PTGAA)
• Institute of Australian Tourist Guides (IATG)
• Tour Guides Association of Western Australia (TGAWA)
• Tour Guides Association of Northern Territory (TGANT)
• Savannah Guides (SG)
• Interpretation Australia Association (IAA)
• Ecotourism Australia (EA)
• South Australian Tourist Guide Association(SATGA)

Guiding Organisations Australia is about

• Forming networks between Tour Guides, their employers and related industry and government organisations in Australia
• Promoting a high degree of professionalism amongst Australian Tour Guides
• Gaining professional recognition for Australian Tour Guides
• Keeping guides up to date with the latest industry news
• Providing tangible benefits for its members.

GOA provides:

• all stakeholder Members and Subscribers with improved information distribution possibilites.
• guides with news of current professional development opportunities and acknowledgement, including exchanges, new positions and contact with guides from diverse backgrounds.
• commercial benefits, including discount and famil offers as they accrue.
• government departments and tourism bodies with access to a valuable consultation and referral point for the guiding sector.
• goods and services providers with communication channels to reach a current, qualified database of guides (within privacy requirements).
• Tour Guiding Organisations with added value for their members. These organisations are at the centre of their industry's network, and involved in issues such as the development of Tour Guiding and Interpretation standards and training.
• promotion of member organisations' activities and encourages independent guides to join guiding organisations to participate in their professional development and accreditation processes.