To meet the objective of delivering enjoyable education programs for our participants during their travel, Odyssey Travel deploys a number of strategies.  A significant step in this process is the appointment of a leader for the group.  That leader should possess the personal skills to competently accompany a group performing a caring role thus ensuring safety and personal comforts, to ensure that the local lecturers, guides and presenters complied with the programmed events, to employ appropriate group dynamics to enhance enjoyable travel and to ensure that during the program travel and accommodation arrangements met expectations.

Program Leaders should also have a level of expertise or local knowledge so as to be able to involve themselves in the delivery of the educational content of the program and to generate an environment where that could satisfactorily occur.  Delivery of the educational content of the program still rests primarily with local experts, guides and lecturers as per the program itinerary but the leader should have the skills to be able to enlarge upon that and to provide linkages throughout the entire program.  There is a requirement to provide ongoing review of program experiences and the development of a ‘big-picture’ model which would enhance/assist/promote the educational inputs of the program as it progresses. These are needs beyond the normal expectations of clear communication and accuracy of information delivered at a level appropriate to meet the program objectives, which we would expect from our presenters.  The leader accompanying the group is best placed to assist participants review the program content and that this person, because of their intimate involvement with the program, is also best placed to help participants relate their experiences to a wider setting.

We endeavour, where possible, to select leaders who have prior knowledge of the settings to be experienced during the program either through their own educational pursuits or their own life experiences with the ability to employ this to advantage during the program.  Our ideal then is to appoint as Program Leader for our programs a person capable of delivering the pastoral care aspect of the role whilst adding education qualities to the program as outlined above.

Many Odyssey Travel programs visit countries where English is not the first language and several current programs traverse several language borders during the itinerary. To maintain a high quality of interpretation for our participants we have endeavoured to appoint appropriately qualified Program Leaders capable of interpreting and translating in the language of the country.  Our French-, Italian- and Spanish-based programs exemplify this latter case and we have been able to appoint suitably qualified Program Leaders with a working knowledge of the country they are visiting.

In other situations, particularly in programs that cross language borders, we ensure that English-speaking National Guides accompany the group within countries traversed, rather than sourcing a multilingual Program Leader from Australia or New Zealand.  In this latter case our participants are accompanied by a highly experienced Odyssey Program Leader who is able to add value by leading discussion group activities and bring together the main themes of the program.

In addition to the above, Program Leaders must have the following:

Criteria for Odyssey Program Leaders

Must possess:

* tertiary qualifications appropriately related to the program theme and/or a set of life experiences which will enable the leader to enhance the learning experiences of the participants.

* effective communication skills in the language of the main country visited particularly for programs to France, Italy and Spain.

* a comprehensive knowledge of the geography, history, heritage and Government of the overseas country(ies) they are visiting.

* the skills and knowledge base to prepare the Preparatory Material for the program according to the template provided by Odyssey Travel

* must have successfully attended Odyssey Travel Program Leader training.

* effective communication skills in the language of the country(ies) to be visited.

* current first aid certification.

* a comprehensive knowledge of the geography, history, heritage and government of New Zealand/Australia.

* a comprehensive knowledge of the geography, history, heritage and government of the overseas country(ies) they are visiting.

* the skills and knowledge base to critically read the Preparatory Material for the program, and to suggest amendments as appropriate.

* stamina and a level of physical fitness to enable completion of a program without undue stress

Nice to have:

* been satisfactorily involved in a similar program

* a knowledge of other Odyssey Travel programs

* testimonies from past travellers highlighting your success as a Leader.

* a sound knowledge of world geography and to be familiar with current global affairs.

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