The Bilingual Coastal Tour Guides Course is a great opportunity for enthusiastic people of diverse backgrounds who love the outdoors to become guides. They will play an important role in introducing others from their community to the beauty of Victoria's marine and coastal environment. Through this course, new migrants and refugees will learn more about the local environment of their adopted homeland in their first language.

Nurcihan Ozturk a Bilingual Park Tour Guide graduate says "As a result of the training I was able to organise a group of 20 Turkish women to go on a bush camp just outside of Melbourne. This exciting weekend was to learn more about their local parks, including flora and fauna of the local area and to help reduce isolation. I have organised many other similar activities for the women whereby they are appreciating and valuing their local open spaces and Australian flora and fauna."

An Open Day will be held at Ricketts Point, Beaumaris Saturday, 14 November from 10.30am to 2.30pm. Come and speak with rangers and bilingual guides and find more about the course. Meet at the life saving club (Melway 86 C9), parking available.

There are 17 places available and the course has been funded by the Australian Government and Parks Victoria. You can download an application form here. Applications must be submitted by Friday, 20 November.

Who

• Enthusiastic people whose first language is Chinese, Vietnamese, African, Maltese, Italian, Greek or Macedonian.
• People who have an interest in sharing knowledge about our coasts and oceans and their benefits.
• People who are able to travel to Williamstown (Melway 56 E9).

When
2 March to 4 May 2010. Tuesday evenings 6pm to 9pm.

For further information contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or email: info@parks.vic.gov.au