Working & Training Resources

Working & Training Resources
General career information, planning and tools – careers and training, finding employment, apprenticeships and more

 

Training Opportunities

Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance eLearning Courses

Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance would like to acknowledge the Queensland Government’s support for volunteer training.  These courses are recognised Sport and Recreation Services’ Building Active Communities Workshops Program Training opportunities. For further information and to access free click here

Building Active Communities Workshops

The Queensland Government Building Active Communities Workshop program provides free workshops to increase the skills and knowledge of community sport and recreation volunteers such as committee members, coaches, team managers, officials and administrators.

Training for Volunteers and Volunteer Management

Volunteering Queensland
The state peak body solely dedicated to advancing volunteering for the economic, social, cultural & environmental well-being of Queensland. Includes links to qualifications

Nationally recognised qualifications

  • Certificate I in Active Volunteering (CHC14015)
  • Certificate II in Active Volunteering (CHC24015)
  • Certificate III in Active Volunteering (CHC34015)
  • Certificate IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs (CHC44015)

Online Training

A Guide to Training Volunteers (PartA)

A Guide to Training Volunteers (PartB)

 

 

Outdoor Occupations

An outdoor instructor teaches (instructs) individuals and groups in outdoor adventure activities such as bicycle touring, bushwalking, canoeing, caving, cross country skiing, horse trekking, rafting, rock climbing and sailing.

Instructors develop the skills of participants so that they can act independently or with minimal supervision and may be required to conduct assessments.

The outdoor instructors may work with special populations, young people or corporate groups. Work is often based in outdoor education camps, adventure tourism or eco-tourism locations, or in holiday camps.

Duties and Tasks

While specific duties and tasks may vary according to the specialisation, an outdoor instructor may perform the following tasks:

  • prepare for individual and group participation in outdoor activities.
  • demonstrate and teach basic body movements and skills.
  • supervise outdoor activity skill practice sessions.
  • assist in the supervision and control of individuals and groups involved in outdoor recreation journeys.
  • demonstrate the use of equipment required for participation.
  • provide advice on safety measures and risk minimisation strategies for outdoor adventure activities.
  • respond to emergencies during outdoor recreation activities by providing first aid assistance and organising means of evacuation.
  • provide advice on such matters as equipment selection and appropriateness of particular destinations or activities.
  • plan and prepare the activities for both individual and group participation.
  • demonstrate the relevant body movements and skills required.
  • supervise and maintain control of the individuals and groups involved.
  • demonstrate the use of and maintain equipment required for the activities
  • provide advice on safety measures and risk avoidance strategies.
  • respond to emergencies by providing first aid assistance and take appropriate further action if required.
  • develop skills development programs.
  • develop training programs.
  • critique technique, apply a variety of appropriate instructional strategies and assess participant’s skill acquisition at the end of a program or session.

Work Conditions

Outdoor instructors spend most of their working time outdoors. They are required to work in all weather conditions and in all types of terrain. Locations may include national parks, rivers, mountains, forests, at sea or underwater.

Personal Requirements

  • high level of skill in one or more outdoor activities
  • good planning and organisational skills
  • good communication and interpersonal skills
  • instructional skills
  • able to motivate and supervise other people
  • leadership skills
  • good negotiation skills
  • physically fit
  • patience and tact

Employment and career opportunities

Outdoor instructors often work irregular hours that include nights and weekends. Due to the industry having seasonal fluctuations, there may be periods of low demand and jobs may be difficult to find.

However, employment opportunities for outdoor instructors are steadily increasing with the growth in the numbers of international and domestic tourists taking outdoor adventure holidays in Australia.

Education & Training

The Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation provides the learner with the opportunity to acquire skills to independently participate in several outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities or to complement activity skills with a specialisation chosen from several non-activity areas.

The Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation (Multiple Activities) provides the learner with the opportunity to acquire skills to independently participate in multiple outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities.

The Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation provides the learner with the opportunity to enhance skills to independently participate in outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities. Alternatively, this qualification enables the learner to enhance their skills in non-activity areas.

The Diploma of Outdoor Recreation: Likely functions within the Outdoor Recreation Industry for those who have this level of competency include those working as Operations Managers and Program Managers and/or those working in challenging locations and/or in situations (such as with difficult or challenging client groups).

To work as an outdoor recreation guide, a first aid certificate is essential. You may also need your Bronze Medallion before guiding certain outdoor adventure tours. The ability to handle a 4WD and have a bus driver’s licence is useful.

As safety is very important in this industry, training and formal qualifications in safety related areas are becoming vital for securing employment.

An outdoor guide instructs and guides individuals and groups in outdoor recreation activities such as bicycle touring, bushwalking, canoeing, caving, cross country skiing, horse trekking, rafting, rock climbing and sailing.

They lead or guide clients so that they can take part in a particular outdoor recreation activity, but there is no intention of imparting skills or knowledge to clients beyond that which is necessary to enable their safe participation in the activity. At the end of a session or program with a guide, the intent is not for the client to have acquired the skills to independently participate in the activity.

The outdoor recreation sector may work with tourists, special populations, young people or corporate groups. Work is often based on adventure tourism or eco tourism, in holiday camps, or in outdoor activities such as abseiling, bushwalking or canoeing.

Duties and Tasks

While specific duties and tasks may vary according to the specialisation, an outdoor recreation guide may perform the following tasks:

  • prepare for individual and group participation in outdoor adventure experiences
  • demonstrate and teach basic body movements and skills used
  • supervise basic outdoor activity skill practice sessions
  • assist in the supervision and control of individuals and groups involved in basic outdoor adventure journeys
  • demonstrate the use of equipment required for participation
  • provide advice on safety measures and risk minimisation strategies for outdoor adventure activities
  • respond to emergencies during adventure activities by providing first aid assistance and organising means of evacuation
  • provide advice on such matters as equipment selection and appropriateness of particular destinations or activities
  • plan and prepare the activities for both individual and group participation
  • demonstrate the relevant body movements and skills required
  • supervise and maintain control of the individuals and groups involved
  • demonstrate the use of and maintain equipment required for the activities
  • provide advice on safety measures and risk avoidance strategies
  • respond to emergencies by providing first aid assistance and take appropriate further action if required
  • provide advice on such matters as equipment selection and appropriateness of particular destinations or activities

Work Conditions

Outdoor guides spend most of their working time outdoors. They are required to work in all weather conditions and in all types of terrain. Locations may include national parks, rivers, mountains, forests, at sea or underwater.

Personal Requirements

  • enjoy outdoor activities
  • good communication skills
  • good negotiation skills
  • good organisational skills
  • able to motivate and supervise other people
  • ability in sport and expertise in a specific area such as swimming or outdoor recreation

Employment and career opportunities

Outdoor guides often work irregular hours that include nights and weekends. Due to the industry having seasonal fluctuations, there may be periods of low demand and jobs may be difficult to find.

However, employment opportunities for outdoor recreation guides are steadily increasing with the growth in the numbers of international and domestic tourists taking outdoor adventure holidays in Australia.

Education & Training

The Certificate II in Outdoor Recreation provides the learner with the opportunity to acquire skills to independently participate in several outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities or to complement activity skills with a specialisation chosen from several non-activity areas.

The Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation (Multiple Activities) provides the learner with the opportunity to acquire skills to independently participate in multiple outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities.

The Certificate IV in Outdoor Recreation provides the learner with the opportunity to enhance skills to independently participate in outdoor recreation activities and to guide or instruct those activities. Alternatively, this qualification enables the learner to enhance their skills in non-activity areas.

The Diploma of Outdoor Recreation: Likely functions within the Outdoor Recreation Industry for those who have this level of competency include those working as Operations Managers and Program Managers and/or those working in challenging locations and/or in situations (such as with difficult or challenging client groups).

To work as an outdoor recreation guide, a first aid certificate is essential. You may also need your Bronze Medallion before guiding certain outdoor adventure tours. The ability to handle a 4WD and have a bus driver’s licence is useful.

As safety is very important in this industry, training and formal qualifications in safety related areas are becoming vital for securing employment.

  • Outdoor Educator
  • Outdoor Activity Instructor
  • Adventure Therapist
  • Team Building Facilitator
  • Recreation Officer
  • Horse Riding Coach or Instructor
  • Climbing Instructor
  • Fishing Guide
  • White-water Rafting Guide
  • Trekking Guide
  • Bungy Jump Master
  • Hunting Guide
  • Mountain or Glacier Guide
  • Swimming Teacher
  • Recreational Therapist
  • First Aid Officer
  • Lifeguard
  • Bushwalking Guide
  • Sea Kayaking Guide
  • Raft Guide
  • Ropes Course / Zipline Operator
  • Caving Guide
  • Canoeing Guide (and SUP)
  • Mountain Bike Guide
  • 4WD Guide
  • Rock Climbing / Abseiling Guide
  • Canyon Guide
  • Campground Manager (and other staff?)
  • Cycle Tour Guide
  • Surfing Instructor
  • Photography Tour Guide
  • Sailing Instructor
  • First Aid Providers / Trainers

Finding a Job

COOEEads

A job information and advertising service for people looking for work in the outdoors:

  • Outdoor Recreation / Education
  • Environmental Communication
  • Conservation & Parks

COOEEads’ is a weekly email listing jobs, consultancies, tenders, scholarships and grants in the fields of outdoor / environmental education, interpretive communication and park management in Australia (and New Zealand).

Coefficient Industry Resources

Coefficient acts as a bridge between outdoor program providers and freelance staff who are searching for work. The big advantage in working for Coefficient is that we can weave together work from different providers into a work program that fits your needs. Whether you are looking for one day a week or as much work as possible no single outdoor centre can provide the quantity or variety of work that Coefficient can.

AdventurePro

Australia and New Zealand outdoor and adventure employment resource including adventure jobs, outdoor education jobs, outdoor recreation jobs, adventure travel guide job listings and much more…

Jora

au.jora.com is an Australia-based search engine for jobs. Unlike traditional job boards, users can search through thousands of career opportunities, all sourced from many job sites from around Australia. We understand that finding a job can be quite frustrating, so we aim to make the website as simple and as intuitive as possible.

Jobs Finder Queensland

Queenslanders whose employment has been impacted by COVID-19 and are now looking for work, can register their details, location and skills to be matched with suitable job opportunities by professional recruitment agencies.

NRMJobs – job vacancies and other opportunities in the environment, water and natural resource management field in Australia and New Zealand.

QLD Government – Employment and Jobs

Job Search–  tool to help finding a position in a government department

 

Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing (NPRSR) – a career with National Parks

JobSearch – funded by the Australian Government as a free service to help job seekers find jobs and employers find staff

Careerone: – online jobs database of the News Limited newspapers that  includes employment /careers news and resources

http://www.careerone.com.au/

mycareer.com.au: – online jobs database of the Fairfax newspapers that  includes employment /careers news and resources

seek.com.au – online jobs database that  includes employment /careers news and resources

 

www.careerjet.com.au – Careerjet is an employment search engine.

SEEK’s free career planning template

In the wise words of Albert Einstein: “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not people or things.” We couldn’t agree more. If you want to achieve career satisfaction, you need to know what you’re striving towards.

myfuture – Australia career and information service

Job Active – information on finding a job or advertising for a new employee (Australian Government)

The Job I Love: Outdoor Recreation

A resource from Service Skills Australia

Applying for a Job

The benefits of creating a career development plan

One of the first things you should do when you get into a management position is come up with a clear route forward for you and your workforce.

See also:
Creating an employee career development plan
Creating your own career development plan
Useful Resources

Source
Michael Morris
University of York

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A curriculum vitae includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, affiliations, and other details.

When applying for a job, it is vital that you have prepared a professional CV that conveys your academic qualifications, employment background and key skills to your potential employer…

Resume

A resume is a brief one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education.

Your resume is your most important tool when applying for a job. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are, or how much experience you have – if your resume is poorly presented or badly written, you’re going to have trouble getting the job you want – or even an interview.

We’ve all heard, time and again, the rules of crafting a résumé: Focus on results, keep it short, have a clear structure, and so on. But one basic pointer precedes all others: Tailor your résumé to the target role. This may sound time-consuming, but it showcases your suitability and boosts your chances of landing an interview.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  • Research thoroughly: Browse the company’s website, blogs and social media profiles to get a feel of its goals and work culture.
  • Go through the job posting and jot down the specific requirements.
  • Check off the points that link to your skills and past experiences.
  • Prioritise: Your résumé should make it clear within 30 seconds that you are a good fit. Start with hard skills and industry knowledge.
  • Remove bits irrelevant to the role.

Dipti Jain, Editor LinkedIn
One tip to nail your resume

Personal Statements

A personal statement, sometimes called a professional profile or career summary, is sort of like your elevator pitch. It should describe your best attributes and accomplishments in a few lines, and basically give the hiring manager a quick look at why your resume is worth their time

How to Write a Personal Statement (Open Colleges)

 

Cover Letters

A cover letter is like the introduction to your resume; it gives you a chance to show some personality and demonstrate to an employer that you’ve researched their company and understand exactly what they’re looking for.

 

Interviews

Developing your interviewing skills before heading out to an interview – proper interview etiquette, answering common questions, tips and advice on how to prepare, how to behave when attending an interview, suggestions about questions you might get asked and sample thank-you letters to follow up.

Prepare for a Remote Interview

Remote work is here to stay … which means so is remote hiring. To ace this relatively new process, you need to be prepared for the quirks of interviewing from home. Here are five ways to set yourself apart.

  • Take time to set up your space. Have a clean, uncluttered background, and check your lighting so it’s falling on you, not behind you.
  • Make sure to do an internet-speed test so technical lags don’t break the flow of your conversation.
  • Prepare for the unexpected. Master the platform you’ll be using for your interview, and keep notes handy so that you don’t forget to make an important point.
  • Rehearse before you go live. Monitor your pace so it’s easy for your audience to follow, use hand gestures, and sit with an upright and open posture.
  • Spark interesting conversations. Go beyond the usual small talk and ask questions about the team and the culture. Do a little research beforehand to see if you have any common interests or experiences with your interviewer.

This tip is adapted from “4 Tips to Nail a Virtual Job Interview” by Ben Laker et al.

Management Tip of the Day

Industry Information

Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance

Active Queenslanders Industry Alliance, previously Queensland Fitness Sport and Recreation Skills Alliance, is about supporting our industry’s workforce (both paid and unpaid) through the provision of information and resources to ensure the success of their organisation or club, their skills and training needs, welfare and career development.

          

Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER):QLD – is a national professional association representing people who work in the areas of Health Education, Physical Education, Recreation, Sport, Dance, Community Fitness or Movement Sciences.

Skills IQ

SkillsIQ

Skills IQ is a new not-for-profit organisation which will work to support a range of training packages including:

  • Sport, Fitness and Recreation
  • Tourism, Travel and Hospitality
  • Health
  • Community Services

The Outdoor Council of Australia – a  not-for-profit association of outdoor industry professionals in Australia that endeavours to represent organisations and individuals that use outdoor adventure activities for the purpose of:

  • Recreation
  • Education
  • Tourism
  • Personal development
  • Corporate development

Training Queensland – Queensland Government information portal on training and apprenticeships

Training Queensland – section on apprenticeships and trainees

Wages & Employment Conditions

Fairwork Australia – Fair Work Australia is the national workplace relations tribunal with the power to carry out a range of functions relating to:

  • the safety net of minimum wages and employment conditions
  • enterprise bargaining
  • industrial action & dispute resolution
  • termination of employment
  • other workplace matters.

Fairwork Ombudsman – Information and advice about Australia’s workplace rights and rules

ACTU Worksite: – your rights at work for students. Information for students on the world of work, including employment conditions, finding a union, assignment help and a range of fact sheets on employment issues.

Employment Awards for the Outdoor Recreation Sector

There are four awards that are likely to cover employees in outdoor recreation. Click each award name to view on the Fair Work Commission website.

Guides (from HMT Consulting) for:

Please Note:

The Outdoor Leaders Award (2005) was terminated on July 29, 2011.

Award Coverage in the Outdoor Recreation Sector – an overview

Flexible & Remote Working Arrangements

Other Resources

Working from Home

Tips and Tricks to get the best out of working from home. Read More

What Job Seekers, Employees and Employers Need to Know About Social Media

Social media is a pervasive force for employees and employers. It is part of everyday interaction in the workplace, and people must be mindful about what they post. Employers have to consider social media’s role when it comes to employees and the company’s brand. Responsible social media use requires awareness by both parties.

University of Dayton law professor Thaddeus Hoffmeister, said the key is to think about privacy and family: Is your social media presence potentially embarrassing to relatives?  Read More

Source: University of Dayton

“Employers have got to be watchful for their employees,  employees have got to be watchful for themselves because it’s easy to slip up.” (Hoffmeister)

Job Hunting in the Age of Remote Work

More people are working from home than ever before, and job hunters are asking employers for the flexibility to choose their own workspace. But remote work means remote interviews.

Here’s everything you need to know about virtual interviews and starting a new job online: Job Hunting in the Age of Remote Work

Source
s1Jobs.com

Careers

Getting your dream job is a multi-stage process and often the most challenging part occurs after you’ve completed your studies. Many candidates may have achieved all the relevant qualifications required and even gained appropriate job-related experience in order to hone their skills, but these don’t always result in obtaining a suitable post … read more

Source
training.com.au

20 Skills You Learn Volunteering To Help You Get a Job

You knew that your volunteer experience looks great on college and scholarship applications, but did you know that it can also help you land a summer job?

Here are 20 skills you learn when volunteering with Youth Volunteer Corps that will help you get your first job and be successful in that position:

1. Timeliness

Volunteer projects start at a defined time. If you’re not there at the beginning, you’re letting your team down. Same thing in the workplace, with even more at stake!

2. Ability to work with a variety of managers

Did you notice that some Team Leaders ran projects a little differently than others? It might have been that they had different management styles. You’ll find that you need to be comfortable working with a variety of management styles in the workplace.

3. Time-Management

At a thrift store project, your Team Leader instructs you that you need to help customers when they need help, sort new shoe donations and sweep the back room. You prioritize and figure out the best way to accomplish those tasks within the project time. We bet you’ve had a situation like that on a YVC project!

4. Leadership

Did you ever rise above and help lead a group of youth on a project? What about just showing others how to do a certain part of the task? Those are your leadership skills at work!

5. Communication skills when talking to people of all ages

Did you work with children at YVC? What about seniors? If so, we hope you’re more comfortable interacting with people of other ages than you might have been before YVC.

6. Professionalism

When you serve on a YVC project, you represent YVC to the community, requiring you to be professional and courteous.

7. Teamwork

Every YVC project involves working as a team in some size, so after a few YVC projects, you’ll have developed your skills in working with all kinds of teams.

8. Ability to work with people different from you

Did you meet people from another part of town? Did you work with youth with different interests from you?

9. Work Ethic

You knew this would be part of this list, right? If you can spend an afternoon spreading bark mulch on a 100-degree day, that shows a lot about your dedication and work ethic!

10. Customer Service

Did you interact with people coming through to get a meal at the soup kitchen? Did you interact with customers at a thrift store? What about greeting hello to hikers on a nature trail you were mulching? Every time you were in a situation like this, you were representing both the agency you were serving and YVC. This is great customer service experience!

11. Confidence

Did you have to step outside your comfort zone on a YVC project? It might have been scary at the time, but in the process you became more confident.

12. Public relations

Did you ever have to explain what YVC was to agency staff, other volunteers at the agency or even your friends? You were representing YVC and being a public relations expert for us!

13. Teachability

Did you learn a new skill on a YVC project—anything from how to plant onions to how to remove a nail from a board? Someone probably taught you this skill, and you were receptive to what they were telling you, an important ability in the workforce.

14. Organization

All kinds of YVC projects involve organizing, from sorting cans at a food pantry to reorganizing a supply closet in the animal shelter.

15. Following Instructions

At the beginning of the project, your Team Leader and the agency contact give you instructions on your responsibilities. Staying on track and following their guidance is an important thing to learn.

16. Flexibility

Not everything goes according to planned on YVC projects. You need to adapt and be prepared for whatever might come your way on any given project.

17. Problem-Solving

Sometimes it seems like there’s no way you’ll be able to accomplish a project from start to finish. Then you think it over some more, talk with your team and just start tackling the project. Before you know it, you’re done.

18. Planning

Not only did you have to plan ahead when you signed up for your YVC project, but you also probably had to plan your tasks for the day to ensure that the entire project was successful.

19. Creativity

YVC projects offer all kinds of ways to think creatively, from helping kids with an art project to acting out a play at a retirement home.

20. Training

Did you ever teach other youth how to do certain aspects of a project? You were training them on the task, just like you might one day train another employee.

Source
Youth Volunteer Corps

Self-Employed Resources

Explore our articles, videos, and case studies. It’s the ultimate guide to being your own boss.

Learn more about self-employed resources and how it affects your success.

Source: intuit quickbooks

 

 

Entering the job market?

jobmarket
The seven clusters of employment

If you’re a young person about to enter the job market, the skills you have already may give you more job mobility than you think — as long as you’re in the right “job cluster”.

If you work with children & young people you may need a Blue Card …

The Blue Card System:

  • is a key prevention and monitoring system of people working with children and young people in Queensland
  • aims to minimise the risks of harm to children and young people by contributing to the creation of safe and supportive environments, and
  • is founded on the principle that all children have a fundamental right to be protected from harm.

Read More

Employee Assistance Program

EapAssist provides employees with confidential phone counselling support 24/7 in Australia & Overseas. Research indicates that the most crucial aspect of effective assistance is for it to be provided as quickly as possible with employees prefer telephone counselling above all other mediums.

The aim of our counselling is to resolve both work and personal problems before they impact adversely on work performance and general well-being.

Related Articles

12 Tips for Taking a Restorative Mental Health Day

An article by Brianna Graham from ZocDoc in the UK with some actionable tips to help you make the most of a mental health day. Not surprisingly perhaps, but we particularly like Number 10!

Read Here

How To Increase Happiness and Productivity in the Workplace

A recent poll concluded that  a mere 15% of global workers actually like their job. The vast majority positively dislike their workplaces, perceiving them as something to be endured rather than enjoyed.

But what would it mean if people turned up to work in a place they felt great about, and where they felt supported and inspired?

Whether you’re looking at it through the lens of neuroscience, psychology, or management studies,, happier employees perform better on all fronts, significantly boosting the productivity of the organisation as a whole. Happy employees also demonstrate more loyalty, resilience, and better health.
Read More

Source
Company Debt UK

7 Awesome Outdoor Jobs for an Adventure Career

Love the outdoors but wasting away in an office? Check out these you-beaut outdoor jobs that’ll have you chasing fresh air instead of paper clips.

Source: We are Explorers

How to Educate Yourself For the Future

The job landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace, and the best way to keep up is to get ahead. In your own education, or as you educate others, push yourself to imagine how things could evolve.

Source: Open Colleges