Tour Guides Western Australia (TGWA)
This Association has been in existence since 1979 and has at various times conducted Tour Guide Training courses to provide the tourism industry with a pool of qualified and experienced guides in a wide range of fields including foreign language guiding, short and extended tours, site guiding and meeting and greeting. In the early eighties Perth TAFE was able to offer an annual course. When this was no longer possible, the Association again took on the role with experienced members volunteering their time and expertise to train new guides. In recent years since the Federal Government's requirement that all Vocational Training courses had to be nationally accredited, WA guides have graduated from CMC TAFE, West Coast TAFE, Perth Commercial College and a number of other independent Registered Training Providers. A number of graduates of all these courses are members of the Association which provides a contact point for industry operators.
Members bring a range of special skills in addition to the general guiding training. We are able to arrange foreign language speaking guides in many of both Asian and European tongues. We have expertise in flora and fauna while history especially of WA is a strong part of all guides' repertoire. Ancillary interests in music, sport, visual arts, theatre and other performing arts all contribute to members' ability to provide visitors with a memorable experience of their visit to our state.
The Association conducts a monthly meeting program mixing visits to new features (or to update development at the well known ones) with discussion time with guests or among ourselves to focus on issues. Non members are always welcome to all meetings.
We are well represented in the industry with our membership of Tourism Council WA as well as our Foundation membership status with Guiding Organisation Australia.
Contact Rob Johnston, Representative (and GOA Executive Committee Member) e-mail dotnrobj1@bigpond.com for more information.