Shaping Tourism, the Gunaikurnai Way

9am-3.30pm Wed 24th & Thurs 25th June

Are you a Gunaikurnai community member interested in getting involved in the tourism industry?

Join us for a hands-on workshop to yarn, learn and lead cultural tourism on Country.

What is it?
This free 2-day workshop is an opportunity to connect, learn and take steps toward tourism, business or tour-guiding in a way that reflects Gunaikurnai values and culture.

📅 24–25 June
🕘 9am–3.30pm
📍 27 Scriveners Road, Kalimna West

Location: GLaWAC at Forestec
We begin the journey with connection and conversation.

  • A Welcome to Country at the Wangun Amphitheatre at GLaWAC sets the tone, grounding us in shared values and purpose.
  • A guided tour of the GLaWAC offices and grounds will offer insight into current and future tourism work being led by Gunaikurnai.
  • A panel yarn with Gunaikurnai tour guides, Cultural Hub staff and Rangers will share lived experiences of working in tourism and on Country.
  • The group will then explore cultural safety and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property — critical foundations for respectful tourism practice.
  • Finally, we’ll dive into the role of a tour guide, exploring who can step into this work and what pathways exist into guiding and tourism-related business.

Location: Raymond Island, Bairnsdale & Forestec
Day two takes us out on Country for a practical and inspiring look at what cultural tourism can be.

  • We’ll travel by minivan from Forestec to Paynesville, where we’ll be welcomed by the Paynesville Neighbourhood Centre and introduced to the Raymond Island Cultural Tour.
  • We’ll walk the Gragin Koala Trail, a chance to learn about interpretation, local ecology and sharing stories in place.
  • In Bairnsdale, we’ll visit and tour the Keeping Place, offering a powerful space to reflect on cultural heritage and storytelling.
  • We return to Forestec for a final session focused on future planning and opportunities — how to take what you’ve learned and turn it into meaningful next steps in cultural tourism.

*we strongly suggest participants bring a hat, water bottle, mozzie spray and walking shoes as this will be an active day with plenty of walking and yarning.

Interested? Send Heather a text on 0447 199 574 to let her know you’re coming along.