Institute of Australian Tour Guides upcoming events

e-FORUM: Meet with Barbara, WFTGA (08 Sep 2026)

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Meet Barbara Dimas from WFTGA

Following Barbara Dimas’ presentation at last week's AGM, we’re pleased to invite IATG members to a special online follow-up session with Barbara, WFTGA Area Representative for our region.

When: Tuesday 8 September, via Zoom
Time: 5.30–6.15pm

This informal session is an opportunity to continue the conversation and learn more about how IATG members can make the most of our connection with WFTGA.

Barbara will help us explore the resources, programs and opportunities available through WFTGA, how guides can engage with the wider international guiding community, and where to find information that may support your own professional development.

There will also be time to ask questions and talk directly with Barbara.

If you missed Barbara’s AGM presentation, or would like a refresher before the session, you can watch the recording/presentation here:

Come along, meet Barbara and discover more about what your connection to WFTGA can offer.

RSVP Sunday 6 September 26

Event host: Sofi (M) 0430 622 777

IATG Workshop: Guiding with Confidence: Research, Story & Delivery (10 Sep 2026)

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 23:00:00 GMT

IATG invites you to our Workshop

Guiding with Confidence:

Research, Story & Delivery

Thursday 10 September

Great tours are built on more than facts, they are built on stories that help visitors connect with people, places and events.

This practical, hands-on workshop is designed to help guides strengthen their research skills and transform information into engaging, memorable tour commentary. Using Sydney's historic Macquarie Street as a case study, participants will explore how experienced guides research a topic, uncover compelling stories, evaluate sources, and interpret information from different perspectives.

Working with a range of resources, participants will learn how to move beyond simple facts and create commentary that is informative, engaging and relevant to their audience. Along the way, they will discover techniques for bringing research to life through storytelling, multiple viewpoints, images, historical accounts, role-play and other interpretive tools.

In the afternoon, participants will apply their learning by developing and delivering a short commentary segment, receiving feedback and practical tips in a supportive environment.

Participants will learn how to:

Research effectively using a variety of sources
Find stories, themes and connections within historical information
Evaluate and interpret information from different perspectives
Structure commentary for clarity, engagement and impact
Adapt content for different audiences and tour styles
Deliver commentary with greater confidence and authenticity

Included Bonus Opportunity

One week after the workshop (Thursday 17 September, 1-3.30pm), participants are invited to join an Macquarie Street Walking Tour (optional) where they can test-drive their commentary in a real guiding environment. Deliver a short commentary segment, receive feedback, and build confidence alongside fellow guides and experienced mentors.

Who This Workshop Is For

New and aspiring tour guides
Volunteers looking to build their confidence
Guides who want to refresh their delivery and engagement skills

Cost: The workshop fee includes morning tea and lunch. $85 for members, $155 for non members [No refunds available].

Any non-member attending will receive a 25% discount on an Affiliate membership, offer valid until 30 September 26.

RSVP Wednesday 2 September 26

Walk & Support: Macquarie Street Commentary Practice (17 Sep 2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 03:30:00 GMT

Walk & Support

Macquarie Street Commentary Practice

Experience-Building Tours for Guides

Following our Guiding with Confidence: Research, Story & Delivery workshop (10 September), we invite IATG professional, alumni and ambassador members to join us for a special Macquarie Street Walking Tour and help support the new guides.

Workshop participants will have spent the time researching, crafting and refining their commentary. This follow-up walking tour gives them the opportunity to put their learning into practice by delivering a short commentary segment at a relevant location along Macquarie Street.

As an IATG member, you are invited to attend as a tour participant, mentor and supporter. Your presence will help create a welcoming and encouraging environment where developing guides can build confidence and gain experience delivering commentary to a live audience.

Along the way, you'll also enjoy a fresh perspective on one of Sydney's most fascinating historic streets, hearing a variety of stories, themes and interpretations developed by workshop participants.

What to Expect

A guided walk along Macquarie Street
Short commentary presentations by workshop participants
Opportunities to provide encouragement and constructive feedback
Networking with fellow guides
A relaxed and supportive learning environment

Date: Thursday 17 September

Time: Meet at the statue of Queen Victoria in Queen's Square, adjacent St James Church and the Greenway Wing of the Supreme Court of NSW for a 1.5-2 hour walking tour

Cost: Free

Audience: IATG members who’d love to support and encourage our new guides

RSVP by 15 September

Event host: Jo Henwood, Ann Lorenz and James Maccallum

Ann's contact M: 0414 458 358 E: anngee30@ozemail.com.au

0414 458 358 E: anngee30@ozemail.com.au

FAMIL: Blue Mountains Experience, Build your destination knowledge (23 Sep 2026)

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Blue Mountains Experience

FAMIL Build your destination knowledge

Building on our May Blue Mountains Workshop, More Than a View, join IATG for a full-day Blue Mountains experience designed to take you out of guide mode and put you in the shoes of a visitor.

Come along as a tourist for the day, experience some of the region’s key visitor attractions and hear directly from a range of local tourism experts. Along the way, you’ll gather practical information, updates and ideas that you can use when planning and delivering your own future Blue Mountains tours.

Our day will include:

Scenic World: meet Trade Sales Manager Libby McFadden, who will explain the process of bringing tour groups to Scenic World and the experiences available to visitors.
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus – hop aboard at Katoomba and experience the route as a visitor while enjoying the sights and mountain views.
Blue Mountains Visitor Information Centre – meet Lara Bohdanowicz for an update on the BMCC Ecotourism Licence.
National Parks and Wildlife Service - hear from a NPWS representative, with an update and Q&A on the NPWS Eco Pass.
Echo Point Guided Walk – finish the day by experiencing the Visitor Information Centre’s newly introduced guided walk at Echo Point.

This is an opportunity to experience, ask questions, make connections and build your destination knowledge, while enjoying a day in the Blue Mountains from the other side of the tour.

When: Wednesday 23 September 2026, 10am - 3.30pm

Cost: $15 Professional /$20 Affiliates, Students and Volunteers

If not filled, open to non-Members one week before, at $30 Non-members

[No refunds available]

RSVP Sunday 20 September 26

Event host: Gaille (M) 0414 885 619

(E) gailledargan@gmail.com

FAMIL: South Eveleigh Heritage Tour (01 Oct 2026)

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:00:00 GMT

South Eveleigh Heritage Tour

Join us to discover the rich history of South Eveleigh with a guided walking tour. Created with Harbour City Tours, the Heritage Tours offer an immersive journey through the stories, people and trades that shaped the precinct. From the people who worked the yards to the craft that powered them, it’s a chance to reconnect with a version of Sydney that still lingers beneath the surface.

Explore the heritage-listed workshop precinct and uncover stories of engineers, blacksmiths and apprentices while viewing original machinery, cranes, forges and industrial artefacts that survive from the steam era.

Stay on for social lunch at The Brewdog, for epic craft beer, legendary eats and good vibes - right in the heart of the old Locomotive Workshop (at own expense)

When: Thursday 1 October 2026, 12pm - 1pm

Cost: $10 Professional /$15 Affiliates, Students and Volunteers

If not filled, open to non-Members one week before, at $25 Non-members

[No refunds available]

RSVP Sunday 27 September 26

Event host: Gaille (M) 0414 885 619

(E) gailledargan@gmail.com

IATG New Tour Guides Forum (01 Dec 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 07:00:00 GMT

Are you new to tour guiding or looking to expand your skills and knowledge?

Join us for the New Guides Forum, hosted by the IATG Committee – a panel of experienced guides ready to share their stories, advice, and practical tips to help you grow in your career.

Our panel brings together seasoned guides with diverse backgrounds, including walking tours, overland expeditions, cruise ship excursions, and more. This is your chance to hear firsthand about the real-world experiences that make tour guiding such a dynamic profession.

When: Tuesday 1 December, arrive for a 6pm start

Where: City Extra Restaurant upstairs, Circular Quay

Topics Include:

Different types of guiding work and what they entail
Key advice for those just starting out
How to find work as a guide
Preparing for a tour in a new location or on a new topic
Maintaining your voice and energy on long days
Balancing engaging storytelling with solid facts
Managing time and pacing during tours

Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your approach, this session is designed to inspire, inform, and connect you with others in the guiding community.

RSVP by 29 November. Get your first drink for FREE and some nibbles