A good time for an outdoor recreation career

Right now is a great time! The Australian Industry and Skills Committee predicts employment opportunities for outdoor adventure guides will increase by 28% over the next five years, so there is no better time for you to check out a career you’ll love.

What the course work is like

Simon (pictured) says he enjoyed studying and learning from the teachers at TAFE NSW because they have so much experience having working in the outdoor recreation industry. They're experts. 

“I learned about how to manage people and group dynamics, as well as teaching hands-on activities such as canoeing, bushwalking, and challenge high ropes,” says Simon.

Course to career

Taking full advantage of opportunities in the industry, Simon is turning his love for exploring the outdoors into a rewarding career path. After studying outdoor recreation, he has become a group leader at Somerset Outdoor Learning - a company that provides schools with exciting outdoor experiences.

What happens in Simon’s dream job

Simon's typical work day involves a lot of things that many people would normally do for fun on their weekends or holidays. (That's Simon climbing that cliff!) 

“I take school groups on three or four day camps and Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions ranging from one to six days, which involves facilitating activities and supervising their experiences in the outdoors."

Education linked to employers

All TAFE NSW courses are linked to industry trends, and to what employers are looking for. In this case, Simon studied at TAFE NSW Lithgow, who partners with a number of leading organisations (such as Outward Bound Australia, The Outdoor Education Group, Southbound Adventures, and Boomerang Adventures), to provide great traineeships to TAFE NSW students.

Trainees will be able to assist with the activities on school camps, building up their skills and their confidence, to become capable of managing camps.

Discover your career