Careers in the Outdoors
Outdoor Education/Recreation/Leadership
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Do you love the outdoors? Have you considered studying outdoor education, outdoor leadership or outdoor recreation? There are a variety of pathways and study options into this career:
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Traineeship Options
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You can apply for a traineeship at outdoor education centres such as Camp Coolamatong, Victoria, and Outward Bound, NSW.
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TAFE Study Options
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Cert III or IV in Outdoor Recreation - these are very practical and short study options that can lead into work sooner than a university degree. Various TAFEs and private providers in Victoria and other states will offer these courses. Some examples in Victoria are listed below:
TIP: To search for more providers of Outdoor Recreation courses in Victoria, go to www.skills.vic.gov.au
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University Study Options
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Victoria University, Footscray Park: Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership
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La Trobe University, Bendigo: Bachelor of Outdoor Education, Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation Education, Bachelor of Physical, Health & Outdoor Education
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Australian Catholic University, Melbourne: Bachelor of Sport & Outdoor Education
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Federation University, Ballarat and Gippsland campuses: Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education
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Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga: Bachelor of Outdoor Education, Bachelor of Applied Science (Outdoor Recreation & Ecotourism)
For information on future job prospects for outdoor adventure guides, go to https://bit.ly/2x1meYP
Further employment options include: Freelance Outdoor Education Instructor and Outdoor and Environmental Studies Teacher.
For information on careers in outdoor education, outdoor recreation, bush adventure therapy, and nature tourism etc., in Victoria, check out the Outdoors Victoria website at https://outdoorsvictoria.org.au/
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Park Ranger/Conservation Officer
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Park rangers control, supervise and manage national parks, scenic areas, historic sites, nature reserves and other recreational areas.
There are several professional associations park rangers can be part of, and in Victoria it is Parks Victoria.
There are a number of courses in Victoria that prepare students for a career as a park ranger. Some of these include:
La Trobe University, Bendigo: Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation Education
Deakin University, Burwood: Bachelor of Environmental Science - Environmental Management & Sustainability
Bendigo TAFE: Diploma of Conservation & Land Management
RMIT: Diploma of Conservation & Land Management
For more courses, look up the keywords 'conservation', 'land' and 'environment' on VTAC course search.
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Other Careers in the Outdoors
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Below are some occupations and industries you can explore:
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Freelance Outdoor Education Instructor
Outdoor and Environmental Studies Teacher
Building & Construction industry
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What other industries or occupations can you think of?
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My Big Tomorrow is a great website to do some research: https://mybigtomorrow.com.au/careers/discover
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Explore industry areas and occupations on SkillsRoad: https://www.skillsroad.com.au/career-advice/explore-careers/browse
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Outward Bound has a range of great articles in their blog, including this one on how to land a job in the Outdoors.
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A fun activity to do is to search for jobs - this can allow you to see the variety of different areas you can go into. Try going searching "outdoor jobs" or "outdoor careers" on the internet.
