A group of passionate Inverell locals will soon graduate from a unique TAFE NSW course focussed on showcasing and preserving Aboriginal culture.
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The Certificate III in Cultural Tourism enables students to collaborate with Aboriginal elders, communities and Aboriginal people to learn more about local culture and apply the hands-on skills to become a cultural tour guide.
TAFE NSW student and proud Gamilaraay man, Josh Williams has seen great success by studying the course and has already commenced On Country tours in the Inverell area.
"The course has given me an insight into Aboriginal history and now I am taking local school groups On Country and sharing my knowledge and Dreamtime stories," Mr Williams said.
"I'm really happy with the direction the course has taken me and the opportunities it has created for me to become a local tour guide."
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Local Elder and Gamilaraay man, Uncle Alex Munro is passionate about preserving culture and sharing his extensive knowledge.
"I studied the course to extend my knowledge of Aboriginal culture and be able to share this with others including visitors to the region," Mr Munro said.
"It's important to preserve our culture for other generations and bring back traditional practices such as using bush spices and native tucker in everyday life."
TAFE NSW Tourism and Events Teacher, Karen Bliss-Cook said the success of the course involved collaborating with the Local Aboriginal Lands Council, Armajun Aboriginal Health Service and local elders.
"Students learnt a range of practical skills mostly On Country, which was complemented by guest speakers from industry, community and most importantly local elders sharing stories on flora and fauna, culture and history," she said.
"It's inspiring to see the students equipped with the knowledge and hands-on skills to be in a career they are so passionate about and can take them in many directions from tour guides to museum attendants."
The students are expected to complete the Certificate III in Cultural Tourism later this month which is perfect timing for the new graduates as jobs for local tour guides continue to increase with the number of domestic tourism visitors surging by 9 per cent per year since 2013.
