Intrepid Travel has announced its partnership with Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) to contribute its expert industry knowledge in the development of the Taungurung Cultural Tour Guide Program.
TLaWC is the voice of the Taungurung Nation – a people of the rivers and mountains of Central Victoria who share a strong sense of identity, self-determining in the management of Country and culture.
Intrepid Travel says the program will provide the skills and capacity for the Taungurung Tour Guides to confidently tell their story through immersive tourism experiences on Country.
The Taungurung-led training takes a unique approach that values foundational guiding skills combined with the cultural integrity and diverse life experiences that have shaped the Taungurung story.
In collaboration with Koorie Heritage Trust and Visit Victoria, Intrepid Travel will share their tour guiding expertise to help build the confidence of the Taungurung Cultural Tour Guides in delivering best practice guiding to a diversity of visitors.
“To me, the tour guide program is about getting our mob trained up so they can tell our ancestors’ stories. I want to see Taungurung culture shared and celebrated with more people,” says Taungurung Elder and Cultural Tour Guide Uncle Shane.
“This program is about supporting our mob to have the pride and confidence to share this knowledge and be proud of our Taungurung identity.”
“We are excited to contribute our expert guiding knowledge to ensure the Taungurung Cultural Tour Guides can confidently and safely share and celebrate their stories with a diversity of audiences.,” says Managing Director, Brett Mitchell.
“First Nations stories are imbedded in all the places we visit and it’s our mission to partner with First Nations communities so they can start telling these stories”.
15 participants from the Taungurung Nation, both Elders and youth, have joined the program and are proud to be taking the first step towards sharing the vitality of Taungurung culture and country with visitors.
For more information head to www.taungurung.com.au.