Tourism course helps Ellen to shine a light on Warrnambool’s hidden gems
She said there were so many hidden gems in and around the city and along the coast making it the perfect destination to grow her passion for tourism and help to shine a light on those gems.
Mrs Troitzsch studied a Certificate IV in Tourism and Travel with South West TAFE and is now completing her Diploma of Tourism.
Born in Germany, Mrs Troitzsch has been an Australian citizen since 2006 and loves to call Warrnambool her home.
She said she had worked in Australia, Europe and North America as a relocation specialist which led to using her knowledge for guided tours in Sydney, Chicago and Melbourne, but for that she had never held a formal qualification.
“I was working at Flagstaff Hill and the Visitor Information Centre and they approached me about doing the course - it was such a wonderful opportunity,” she said.
Mrs Troitzsch said she had a passion for tourism and great customer service and had been involved in many local projects. She said she was very interested in helping to integrate immigrants or new residents in regional areas and show them why this area was so special.
“We want everyone to know what Warrnambool is all about. There are great opportunities here paired with a feeling of having a holiday every day,” she said.
Mrs Troitzsch said she had loved learning from extremely experienced teachers, Katrina Barnes and Claudia Warne, both very dedicated and always very quick to respond should she need any assistance with online units.
“The campus classes and study groups also helped to keep you focused and having one-on-one time with the teachers was always an option too. I always felt supported in every way,” she said.
Mrs Troitzsch said the course had given her a deeper understanding of work she was already doing and had plans to continue to work towards helping the growth of Warrnambool.
The Certificate IV in Tourism and Travel was funded by the State Government’s Regional and Specialist Training Fund and South West TAFE Business, Design and Personal Services teaching manager Marcia McCarthy said the new training model had been a great success.
“We identified that trained and qualified staff were essential to support the current and future growth demand of the region’s extensive and renowned tourism industry that attracts 2.6 million visitors every year.
“We found that much of the current workforce in the region consisted of under-skilled and under-qualified staff.
“So we started a Certificate IV in Tourism and Travel delivered to people in their workplace via online learning and workshops,” she said.
She said the course focused on the use of social and digital marketing skills and cultural awareness to meet domestic and international customer needs.
“It has been a great success and the feedback we have received from both students and their employers has been fabulous,” Mrs McCarthy said.