Practicum in Cultural Tourism
The range of industry placements within the Bachelor of Cultural Tourism degree reads a lot like a socialite's diary. However these placements are important as they provide an opportunity for students to get hands on experience in the arts, cultural tourism and tourism industries across Australia. In addition, it is experience and involvement that is appreciated by both industry and the students participating in the placements.
Students complete a four to six week placement at the completion of both their first and second year of study. Industry placements in the past have included National, State and Regional Tourism authorities, local and state government, regional developments, history and heritage interpretation, festivals and events, museums and tour operators. For more information or course details please contact the school office.
The following is just a sample of the fantastic experiences students had.
Festivals - Womadelaide 2003, Bundaleer Forest Concert, Tunarama Festival, Kernewek Lowender
Whilst these festivals and events vary in size, they are all
a celebration of culture. The Tunarama Festival (Pt Lincoln),
Bundaleer
Forest Concert (Jamestown) and Kernewek Lowender (Kadina, Moonta
and Wallaroo) in particular allow students to experience country
life, living away from the familiar and being involved in the
complete process of event organizing.
The students displayed initiative and resourcefulness, which
has seen the organisations wanting them to return in the future.
Tour Operators – Renmark River Cruises, Adventure Charters K.I., Wayoutback Desert Safaris
Tour Operators are great for students who want to experience
the management and conduct of tours, with guiding and interpretation
of the people and place a crucial base. The students who
went to
the above operators cleaned boats and buses, did bookings,
sought provisions, went on tours, researched tour guiding
content (especially
from a cultural aspect) and one produced a risk management
plan. They did special projects as well as experienced the
every day
operations of the company involved. All are welcome back,
with one offered a paid position (which she declined in order
to
finish her degree).
Regional and Local Government and Tourism Authorities
Students worked for the Australian Tourist Commission in
London, the South Australian Tourism Commission (producing
a report
on Spiritual Tourism), Tourism Eyre Peninsula (report
on Aquaculture Trail), Fleurieu Peninsula Tourism (excellent
brochure produced
on surfing in the region and website development).
Local Government included Naracoorte/Lucindale (Conference
submission) and Marion City Council (Living Kaurna Cultural
Centre)
National Parks in Flinders Ranges, Kangaroo Island and
New South Wales
Cultural Tourism has an important role to play in the
National Park context and students received many and
varied cultural
interpretation experiences throughout Australia. Whether
they were surviving
the drought in the Flinders Ranges, the bushfires in
Nowra or the Qantas
television commercial on Kangaroo Island, they all came
back with enthusiasm and many stories to tell.
This shows
just a section of some of the excellent learning experiences
which are valued by providers and students alike.
Womadelaide 98
WOMADELAIDE 98 festival was a celebration of the diversity of the world's people and their music. It was a weekend of "discovery, of pleasure in being reminded of the power of music as the common language of the world."
Lee Cumberlidge undertook a work placement at Arts Projects Australia, specifically to learn more about event management for Womadelaide. His Supervisor, Annette Tripodi, wrote the following about his placement:
"During the extremely hectic 3-day festival period, Lee proved
that he was willing to help anyone with anything, if he had the
time…Given the opportunity, I would employ (Lee) full-time. I could
not have got through the recent busy period without his help and
my colleagues made a point of telling me that his temperament, level-headedness,
initiative and self motivation were exceptional. The Artistic Director
of Womadelaide, Rob Brookman, described Lee as "the secondment
from heaven".
Cultural Olympiad Lighthouse Concert
The Cultural Olympiad Lighthouse Concert in Port Adelaide was part of an Australia wide event. These Olympiad concerts were held in coastal towns across Australia as part of the lead up for the Sydney Olympics and Cultural Tourism first and second year students were there to help with the South Australian event.
Flinders University Cultural Tourism students received Certificates of Appreciation from the City of Port Adelaide and Enfield Council for their work in preparing for the Cultural Olympiad Lighthouse Concert at Port Adelaide. The students assisted in many areas including; creating a Dolphin Treasure Trail; holding stalls; catering; marshalling; marketing; backstage crew work; developing a Heritage Pub Trail and being Parking Monitors on the day.
Roz Becker, Special Events Coordinator, City of Port Adelaide-Enfield
said, "The assistance received (from students) added to the
success of the event and allowed the students to be involved in
an historical occasion. I hope we have another opportunity to work
together in the future".
Norwood Food, Wine and Music Festival 99
The Norwood Food, Wine and Music Festival seems to grow larger every year and with it the number of cultural tourism students who assist on the day. Over $6 000 was raised by Rotary International for community projects as a result of this year's Festival-through the 12,500 glasses and 3,500 raffle tickets sold on the day.
The Project Coordinator, Euan Miller, had special praise for the
students' work "We were very pleased with the students' performance,
most of whom had very high standards in customer service skills
already The work of all of them helped immeasurably with the success
of the event."
The Botanic Gardens
'Get About In The Gardens' was a new initiative undertaken by the Botanic Gardens and Cultural Tourism student Kellie Wheatcroft, undertook a work placement there to assist in its development and implementation. She writes, "Fairybells, invisible gates and an adventure to the kingdom of trees. This was all part of a day's work as the fairy queen in the Adelaide Botanic Garden".
Kellie also comments on the experience that, "I helped prepare-and
participate in-a diverse program of activities for children during
the school holidays." In fact Kellie's time there was so well
regarded that she has now been offered additional work as a trainee.
Commenting on the work placement, Chris Steel-Scott, Marketing Manager
said "Kellie's creativity was strengthened by her communication
skills and her background in dance and drama. For someone with limited
experience of the workforce, Kellie was excellent!"
Encounter Coast Discovery Centre
Dani Griffin spent her time at the Encounter Coast Discovery Centre working on a Marketing Survey and Visitor Analysis. Speaking about the experience of taking on Dani, Centre spokesperson, Rae Parker said "All of our volunteers enjoyed working with Dani, and gained as much from working with her as she gained from being with us!
National Trust of Australia: Burra Branch
Again Matthew Brown comments on his placement at the National Trust of Australia - Burra Branch, "My industry placement was undertaken at the Burra Visitor Information Centre. My role at the Visitor Centre was to gather research to eventually help the centre in devising a new marketing plan. I was to gather research using an exit survey and collate data from past research, creating statistics and graphs from the research collected. Not all of my work was carried out behind the scenes in the office. I was also given the opportunity to act as the assistant to the Manager and to accompany tour guides on guided tours around the area. My research gave me the opportunity to interact with locals, local businesses and tourists both behind the scenes and out in the field."
Students complete a four to six week placement at the completion
of both their first and second year of study. Industry placements
in the past have included Regional and State Tourism authorities,
local and state government, regional developments, history and heritage
interpretation, festivals and events, museums and tour operators.
For more information or course details please contact the school
office.