Historic Australia (Ghost Tours Pty Ltd) is seeking to employ a local person in a casual role as TOUR GUIDE for tours and experiences. Successful applicants will be taking groups of locals and interstate and international visitors – including school students, seniors and those with accessibility needs - on guided walking tours and experiences. Places where Historic Australia operates guided tours and experiences include: Brisbane, Ipswich and Charters Towers in Queensland. We are seeking guides for these locations. The position of a TOUR GUIDE involves storytelling, confidently sharing information in an entertaining and interesting way. We require people with a genuine passion for Australian history, and a desire to share this with locals and visitors to promote Queensland's history.
Duties & Responsibilities
● Responsibility for undertaking guided historic tours through historic sites / places
● Responsibility for a high standard of performance
● Responsibility for ensuring safety of clients
● Responsibility for promoting local history and folklore
● Act as Historic Australia representative when required
● Represent Brisbane and / or Ipswich, South East QLD to locals and visitors
● Minimum of 2 hours, up to 3 hours each tour, depending on the tour(s) trained in. Each Tour has set hours specific to that tour
● Attend training as required
● Marketing and promotional activities – including taking tour group photographs, distributing flyers, gathering feedback
● Use our tour management system (currently Fareharbor) to record visitors attendance and other information as required.
● Texting Tour Coordinator upon arrival and after tour has finished when leaving the Tour Location safely
Applicants must:
● Able to memorise and recite from a written script, without variation, not improvisation. You cannot read from a script. Please detail your experience in cover letter / email.
● Confidence with Public Speaking and/or Live Theatre is an advantage, but not essential.
● Ability to tell stories in an entertaining manner.
● Have a strong, clear voice and ability to project it.
● Reliable / Punctual – availability to work during weekdays and Friday and Saturday nights between the hours of 7pm to 10pm. Tours operate within these times. Private tours may be booked outside these days / hours.
● An enthusiasm and interest in heritage and history.
● Able to commit to rosters for 12 months
● Able to work unsupervised
● Contactable references
● Be able to commence training in June/July 2024.
● Ability to safety lead a tour group through historic places including cemeteries at night. This requires an ability to negate uneven ground, grassed areas, narrow pathways, rocks and stones. Safety training will be provided.
● Own vehicle / transport preferred as guide may need to bring equipment with them.
Hourly Rate
The Employee is classified as a Tour Guide under B.4 as either Introductory, Grade 1 or 2 under the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2010.
A three-month probationary period will apply from commencement of the agreement. Upon completion of the three-month probationary period, the Employee will receive a $200 bonus. The $200 bonus is applicable to the completion of tours for a three-month period per each script/tour learned.
The first year is calculated as ending one year from the commencement date of this contract.
Some employees with demonstrated prior experience, and/ or have been employed with the company for many years may receive compensation negotiated between the parties based on that experience. This will be listed in an addendum.
Minimum hours employment – 2 hours.
Friday the 13ths, Halloween, Other anniversaries.
Employees are expected to be available for work on certain specific dates of the year, as well as dates prior to and after. For Ghost Tours these dates are:
• Friday the 13th's,
• Halloween (31/10 as well as nights before/ weekend prior to),
• and other relevant historic anniversaries
Employees will see their rostered tours on the tour management system. These dates are mandatory and guides must commit to them.
Expressions of interest – including a current resume and cover letter - should be submitted through the job listing on Seek, not directly to Historic Australia.