Tourism NT is providing funding to assist with building a capable tour guide workforce in the Northern Territory (NT). Up to $5,000 excluding GST is available for NT-based tour operators (applicants) who conduct tours in the Northern Territory to train new or upskill existing tour guides (entrants) where the applicant can demonstrate the need to do so. The support is designed to streamline training for entrants and offers flexibility.

1. HLTAID011: Provide First Aid
2. HLTAID005: Provide First Aid in Remote Situations*
3. Heavy vehicle training and license (Light Rigid, Medium Rigid or Heavy Rigid)*
4. MAR20321: Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)* and MARC043 Transmit and receive information by maritime radio*
5. MARSS00008: Shipboard Safety Skill Set*
6. TLIC0023: Operate a four-wheel drive vehicle (including defensive driving and 4WD training recovery)
7. Becoming a Tour Guide (Savannah Guides)
8. Micro-Credentials Tour Guide Course (Tour Guides Australia)
9. EcoGuide Certification (Savannah Guides)*
10. Other: provide a strong business case as to why an alternative training component that is not listed above is required for your business.*

Supporting Documents

Use the Guide Budget Template to outline your requested training components that are specific to each tour guide. Upload the completed document when prompted prior to submitting your application. 

Tour Guide Training Support Budget Template.xlsx

Further Information

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for the program, businesses must:

• be legally constituted
• be an Australian registered business and a Territory enterprise
• have a permanent presence in the Northern Territory and employ Territory based guides
• have a touring product or products that require tour guides
• have a current Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing
• have an online booking system, be in the process of implementing one, or provide a strong business case as to why a booking system is not required for your business
• be a member of a peak industry body
• tour guide organisations are encouraged to apply for components 1, 7 and 8 to support tour guides who live in the Northern Territory.

Terms and conditions:

• Successful completion of the Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides and/or Uluru and Kata Tjuta Knowledge for Tour Guides is compulsory for entrants into the program who are employed by an applicant that conducts tours in either the Uluru-Kata Tjuta or Kakadu National Parks.
• All training components must be undertaken by a registered training provider that is based in the Northern Territory.
• All training components must be paid for upfront by the entrant or applicant to the training provider unless otherwise specified.
• Applicants must provide proof of payment and proof of successful completion of all approved training components for each entrant to receive reimbursement.
• Entrants who have been approved for the Micro-Credentials Tour Guide Course (training component 8) by a tour guide organisation applicant must be an NT resident and have delivered a minimum of 5 (five) tours by 30 April 2025.
• Applicants who apply for training component 10 must submit, in writing, a strong business case as to why an alternative training component that is not listed is required for the business. It is at the absolute discretion of Tourism NT if the alternative training component will be supported under the program.
• Compulsory administrative costs associated with tour guiding are not eligible for reimbursement. These include but are not limited to a National Police Check, Ochre Card (Working with Children), H Endorsement, licence transfer fees, Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate, wages or travel costs.
• It is up to the applicant to determine if their entrant/s are eligible for the training components.
• Entrants must be employed by the applicant at the time of grant acquittal.
• Applicants must acquit a minimum of $1,000 excluding GST to be eligible for a reimbursement under the program.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to decide how they will retain their workforce throughout the season.
• Applications under the program will be considered with reference to other NT Government funding which you may have accessed or that you may qualify for.

Contact Details

Name: Tourism NT

Role: Department

Phone: 0889518158

Email: strategy.tourism@nt.gov.au