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Fee Free Tafe

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Great news, this course is included in Fee-Free TAFE* for courses commencing in 2025.

To be eligible for a Fee-Free place you must be:

  • a resident of Tasmania or working in Tasmania
  • an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, an eligible VISA holder, and
  • of working age

*Fee-Free TAFE covers your tuition fee only. Other fees may apply. See Fee-Free TAFE Eligibility for more information.

Fee-Free* TAFE is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, providing tuition-free training places to eligible Tasmanians wanting to train, retrain or upskill. Places are limited and not guaranteed and applying early is recommended. The number of funded Fee Free* places on offer at TasTAFE are determined by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

Locations

  • Drysdale Launceston
  • Drysdale Hobart

Attendance options

  • Full-time
  • Part-time

Study type

  • Mixed Learning
$

2025 Tuition fees

Additional fees may apply. For more information, see Fees, payments and other costs.

Please note: The course overview is intended as a guide only. Not all courses are available at all locations or through all study types and attendance options. Please check Locations, Dates and Times below or enquire for further information.

Looking for a career that allows you to work outdoors? Whether you're interested in becoming a tour guide, leading bushwalking adventures, or organising hiking trips, this program will equip you with the skills and knowledge to share your passion for Tasmania with others.

This course has two distinct areas of focus – general tour guide or bushwalking tour guide. You have the option to choose to enrol in one of the following focus areas:

General Tour Guide

The course is designed to give people the knowledge and skills to work as a tour guide in Tasmania in the following contexts: bus tour guide; local cruise-boat guide; tourist attraction guide; city walking guide.

The course is comprised of thirteen units (subjects) that cover everything from good customer service; knowledge of some of Tasmania’s unique natural and cultural heritage; communication techniques to share these with tourists in an informative and entertaining way; managing risks and keeping people safe; and looking after groups of people on part-day and full-day tours.

The training and assessment will be a blend of on-campus, online and some off-campus at popular tourist destinations. Students will be given plenty of opportunities to practice their tour guiding skills at these locations.

On successful completion of this course you will have the skills you need to seek employment as a Tour guide and will receive nationally accredited SIT30322 Certificate III in Guiding.

Bushwalking Tour Guide

Delivered from Hobart, this course is designed to give people with recreational bushwalking experience the knowledge and skills to work as tour guides on multi-day bushwalking tours on Tasmania’s iconic walking tracks.

The course is comprised of thirteen units which give students the essential knowledge, skills and practice to work as a guide to a high standard, including:

Bushwalking clothing, equipment and techniques; personal organisation and time management; risk management, safety and responding to emergencies; leading and managing dependent groups of people in the bush; introduction to Tasmania’s native flora, fauna and landforms; cultural and historic heritage; caring for the natural and cultural environment; communication techniques for sharing and interpreting Tasmania’s natural and cultural heritage with visitors setting up and operating a campsite.

The training and assessment will be a blend of on-campus, online and off campus on tracks in a range of Tasmania’s national parks. Students will have the opportunity to practice their tour guiding skills on some of Tasmania’s well-known walking tracks.

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and have their own personal bushwalking clothing and some equipment.  TasTAFE can provide tents, backpacks, sleeping bags and waterproof coats. Applicants must have a very good level of physical fitness to enable them to participate in the practical training and assessment activities in the course.

On successful completion of this course graduates will receive a nationally recognised Certificate III in Guiding and be job ready to work as a tour guide.

Hear from a Bushwalking Tour Guide Graduate

“Since graduating from the TasTAFE Bushwalking Tour Guide course I have held positions with Freycinet Experience Walk, Maria Island Walk, Tasmanian Expeditions and King River Rafting. I also did a winter season working on the Arkaba Conservancy Walk in South Australia.

Here in Tasmania, we have a fabulous backyard. It is special to be able to share my respect and wonder for this place with travellers from interstate and overseas. TasTAFE taught me how to present information to a group of people in a way that is engaging as well as informative.

TasTAFE prepared me for all the different roles and hats that you wear as a guide. To be a professional guide is an important undertaking and you need a wide range of skills and knowledge. My teachers each had their strengths, delivering valuable knowledge of different aspects of Guiding work from communication skills to operations in the field, general knowledge of flora and fauna as well as historical stories and geology. I received lots of feedback and advice about how to improve and when I graduated, I felt excited to be joining this incredible industry. I felt ready .”

Willora Ulbrich

Locations, dates & times

CampusDateAttendance/DurationStudy typeApply/Enquire
North
Drysdale Launceston2 Jan 2025 -
1 Dec 2026
Part-time

Enrol at any time. This flexible course is for people currently working in the guiding industry. Training is a mix of on-the-job and online, with the support of qualified teachers

Mixed LearningApply now
Drysdale Launceston3 Feb 2025 -
4 Jul 2025
Full-time

This is a full-time course. Classes are timetabled 3 to 4 days per week between Monday and Friday, 9am to 4pm. Training is a combination of classroom, online and industry based.

Mixed LearningApply now
South
Drysdale Hobart1 Jan 2025 -
1 Dec 2026
Part-time

Enrol at any time. This flexible course is for people currently working in the guiding industry. Training is a mix of on-the-job and online, with the support of qualified teachers

Mixed LearningApply now
Drysdale Hobart13 Feb 2025 -
27 Jun 2025
Full-time

Attendance is 3 to 4 days per week across Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm. Training is a combination-on-campus, online & a range of outdoor venues with overnight stays. STRAVA test to be completed prior to application being progressed.

Mixed LearningApply now

Information Session

Career opportunities

  • Bus tour guide
  • Local cruise-boat guide
  • City walking guide
  • Tourism attraction guide (historic site, museum, brewery, etc.)
  • Bushwalking tour guide

Information Session

Career opportunities

  • Bus tour guide
  • Local cruise-boat guide
  • City walking guide
  • Tourism attraction guide (historic site, museum, brewery, etc.)
  • Bushwalking tour guide

We’re here to help…

At TasTAFE, we understand that everyone's journey is different and sometimes you might need some extra support to achieve your study or career goals.

Whether you are at the very start of your training, returning to study after a long break, or looking to upskill in a specific area, we're here to help you to be successful in your chosen field of study, apprenticeship or traineeship.

Our student support services are available for all students, and aim to provide the support you need to make your learning experience just that little bit easier.

Find out more about what support is available