Congratulations on joining Bundoora Scout Group! If you haven’t yet joined, that’s ok. We hope the information on this page is helpful to you.
Your child is now part of a global organisation which today has more than 50 million members.
Over the past 110 years more than two billion young people have benefited from the Scouting program.
In Victoria there are Scout Groups like yours in 400 local communities.
Bundoora Scout Group is run by local families who help make Scouting the best possible experience for their children.
In this guide you’ll find some details about how Scouting works. In particular, there are some suggestions on how parents and caregivers can help their children get the most from their time in Scouting.
Welcome to Scouting! We wish your family lots of fun, friendship, adventure, and safe times ahead.
Information republished from Scouts Victoria’s Parent and Caregiver Guide with permission.
There are many lifelong advantages that young people get from their years enjoying Scouting with friends and family. Here are some of the opportunities your child will get:
Resilience
In 2018 the Resilient Youth Australia survey of our youth members highlighted some of the benefits of Scouting. The main benefit is above-average Resilience – the strength to deal with the challenges of modern life.
Mental Health
The 2016 UK Childhood Study found that former Scouts are 18% less likely to suffer mood or anxiety disorders than non-Scouts, even decades later, as adults. The study said programs like Scouting that support resilience, social mobility, ‘soft’ non-cognitive skills, self-reliance, collaboration, and activities in natural environments may help protect mental health in adulthood.
Leadership
Unlike school or sport, in Scouting every young person gets a chance at developing their skills in leadership. Scouting is literally developing Victoria’s leaders of the future.
Academic Outcomes
Scouting is linked with better school results, especially at upper secondary levels. The meta-research of Prof. John Hattie, of the University of Melbourne, shows that secondary students do better when they do an extra-curricular activity which is organised and structured, with regular programs, increasingly complex skill building, leadership by one or more competent adults, a social network, leadership opportunities, and age-appropriate goals and expectations. This sounds exactly like Scouting!
Scouting is a non-formal type of education.
Young people learn new skills and responsible independence through the Scout Method. Although our programs are continually updated to remain contemporary, the Scout Method has stood the test of time.
Elements of the Scout Method include:
Learning by doing
Learning in small teams
Learning outdoors
Community involvement
Personal progression
The Scout Promise and Law
Youth leading, and Adults supporting
A good program includes lots of different adventures, lots of time in the outdoors, and has significant input from the youth members themselves. A basic part of the program is the Award Scheme – the badges that Joey Scouts earn toward their Promise Challenge, Cub Scouts toward their Grey Wolf, Scouts toward their Australian Scout Medallion, Venturers toward their Queen’s Scout award, and Rovers toward their Baden-Powell Rover Scout award. Details of these are set out in handbooks and on websites. Or ask your child’s Leader for information.
And while many strive for these peak awards, they’re not for everyone. Some youth members are happy to enjoy camps, weeknight meetings and occasionally achieve badges. Scouts Australia is currently transitioning toward a new program, One Program for all Sections – Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers – where the skills learned in younger Sections are built on at each level.
The basic uniform is the shirt and scarf (which is usually held together by a woggle, often a piece of leather). The shirt is available from The Scout Shop for AU$36.95 (incl-GST) for Joeys to AU$51.95 (incl-GST) for Rovers. The scarf is usually supplied by Bundoora Scout Group. (Every Scout Group is proud of its own colours.)
Check with your Leader if you also need to order a woggle AU$3.95 (incl-GST) and belt AU$14.95 (incl-GST).
All prices are subject to change.
Every Scout Group charges an annual (or term-by-term) fee which covers the annual fee payable to Scouts Victoria, and a Group fee to cover costs such as rates, power, equipment, insurance, Leader training, and more. This varies from Group to Group depending on local factors such as how much fundraising the Group does, other financial pressures (eg hall maintenance).
Annual fees for Bundoora Scout Group is approximately AU$450 (inc-GST).
There is also the cost of activities such as camps. These are kept as low as possible because we usually use our own campsites and Leaders are unpaid volunteers. Major events held every few years (like Cuboree and Jamboree) cost more because of the scale of the program and entertainment, but most Groups work together to lower the individual cost, through fundraising. Financial issues should not be a barrier to any child being a Scout. If you have any concerns, please speak with your Group Leader to discuss payment options.
Scouting is a values-based organisation.
The Scout Promise and the Scout Law underpin this. Every member of Scouting in the world makes the Scout Promise when they first join Scouting, and at major milestones in their Scouting journey. This includes an undertaking to live by the Scout Law.
The Scout Law is a simple code for living.
The Scout Promise comes in two forms, and members choose which version they wish to make.
That is, the version which best aligns with their beliefs. Both versions include a pledge to ‘help other people’, as helping others is a fundamental value of Scouting.
BE RESPECTFUL
DO WHAT IS RIGHT
BELIEVE IN MYSELF
On my honour,
I promise to do my best,
To be true to my spiritual beliefs,
To contribute to my community and our world,
To help other people,
And to live by the Scout Law
OR
On my honour,
I promise to do my best,
To do my duty to my God,
And to the Queen of Australia,
To help other people,
And to live by the Scout Law
All uniformed members make the Scout Promise and strive to live up to the Scout Law.
It’s a code for life, and each of us tries to do our best.
But it also applies to how we treat each other.
And that’s the same for all of us - Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers; Leaders and Adult Helpers; office-bearers, Fellowship and other supporters; and parents.
We all have rights and we all have responsibilities. These include:
| RIGHTS | RESPONSIBILITIES |
|---|---|
| To be respected | We listen to each other, speak calmly, and consider all views. |
| To trust and be trusted | We are honest in our relationships and discussions. |
| To learn | We understand that mistakes are part of learning. We celebrate each other’s achievement. |
| To be supported | Everyone helps each other in Scouting. We are all responsible for ensuring that others are OK. |
| To have fun | We have fun in Scouting but that must not impact negatively on others. |
| To be safe | We don’t harass others, physically or verbally or online. Or let others do this. |
Scouts Victoria is a Child Safe organisation. We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of abuse or neglect. We also celebrate and value diversity amongst our members, regardless of their gender, sexuality, race, religion, or ability.
Scouts Victoria is dedicated to ensuring that we develop the appropriate culture and supportive environment to make Scouting a safe place for young people.
Here are some of the things that we do to make our organisation safe for children:
Every adult member (anyone registered as a member and over the age of 18) is required to hold a Working with Children Check (WWCC). This includes our volunteer Leaders, Adult Helpers, Rover Scouts and staff. Key office bearer roles with access to information are also required to hold a Working with Children Check.
In addition, all Leaders and Adult Helpers are required to undergo a National Police Records Check every three years, and, when applying for membership, must provide three referees, even if they are already a member of Scouting. Referees are asked about the applicant’s suitability for the role.
Our Adult Members must also uphold our Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and our Child Safe Scouting Commitment. Any breach of these codes can result in a termination of membership. Our adult members must review and reaffirm their commitment to these codes every 12 months.
All adult members are required to undertake training, including training in Child Safe practices, so they know what to do if a young person discloses abuse, harm or neglect, and how to adequately support the child or young person. Child Safe training has to be renewed every three years.
Other aspects of Child Safe Scouting include:
We empower our young people through Youth Leading and Adult Supporting. Youth members are active participants in decision-making in Scouting. This encourages them to have confidence that they will be heard.
Any reports of child abuse, harm or neglect are taken seriously and dealt with promptly, reported to relevant authorities, and corrective action undertaken.
The safety of our members is our highest priority. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure this.
Anyone can report any incident of unacceptable behaviour to our Child Safety Team immediately on 1800 870 772 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or email us at childsafe@scoutsvictoria.com.au.
The safety of our members is our highest priority. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure this.
To find out more about how we create a Child Safe organisation, visit Child Safe Scouting on the Scouts Victoria site.
It is important that the young people in our care are safe, and that they feel safe.
It is also important that adults are safe.
The following behaviours are unacceptable by Adults in Scouting.
Adults in Scouting also commit to our Code of Ethics.
Anyone can report any incident of unacceptable behaviour to our Child Safety Team immediately on 1800 870 772 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or email us at childsafe@scoutsvictoria.com.au.
This Code of Conduct is a personal commitment.
Its purpose is to protect all members of Scouting.
It applies to all members over the age of 18, regardless of location and role, when engaging with young people and adults in any form.
This includes face to face contact and using technology such as online formats.
Parents and guardians who wish to actively participate in Scouting activities must also follow this Code.
I will set an example that I would wish others to follow.
Therefore, I will:
There are many ways parents can help their children get the most from Scouting.
These include:
Your Bundoora Scout Group is like the local franchise of the worldwide Scout organisation.
Scouts Victoria provides:
Bundoora Scout Group provides:
Who is responsible for the local Scout Group? We are. The local community.
Now that your child has joined Scouting, you are a part of the broader Scouting family. Welcome! We encourage you to become involved in activities and programs. There are very few organisations where parents are able to participate fully in activities alongside their children, Scouting is one of them.
Parents and guardians sometimes wish to attend ongoing activity evenings (more than the occasional visit every couple of months) or an overnight activity. Just like our volunteer Leaders, to help us ensure young people’s safety, all adults need to get a Working With Children Check, with Scouts Victoria listed as the organisation you are working with.
Other ways that parents help their local Bundoora Scout Group include:
When parents help Bundoora Scout Group, the Leaders are free to focus on delivering great program to the Joeys, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers.
If you want Scouting to be a great experience for your children, please help your Group be a great Group.
It is important, for Leaders to give the best care for your child, that you inform them of any learning conditions or medical issues. If your child is on medication please also ensure that this is recorded in CareMonkey and is sent with your child to Scouts.
Scouting is a friendly and welcoming activity.
Parents are also very welcome to participate.
In fact, they are integral to the success of Bundoora Scout Group and your child’s Scouting experience.
Parents and Leaders, and others who lead Bundoora Scout Group, are on the same team.
But, while tempers might get heated on the sidelines of sport, this is never OK in Scouting.
We also want our interactions to set a good example for young people.
Sometimes parents and caregivers have questions or concerns.
The first point of contact is the Leader of your child’s Section - the Joey Scout Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Scout Leader or Venturer Leader.
Our volunteer Leaders are committed - like you - to your child enjoying and benefiting from their time in Scouting.
Please be aware that meeting nights are busy - sometimes it is difficult to have a detailed conversation during or immediately after the meeting. You may like to give them a call or even offer to catch up for a coffee!
Of course, if there is a safety issue, you should get the attention of your child’s Leader immediately, and let them know.
If you still need information or your child’s Section Leader is unable to help, the next contact is the Group Leader of Bundoora Scout Group.
Your Group Leader is the most senior local Scouting volunteer, responsible for all the youth members and Leaders in all Sections of Bundoora Scout Group.
If that doesn’t work out - or the Group Leader is unavailable – you are welcome to contact our State Office on 03 8543 9800 and we can put you in touch with your local District Commissioner, the senior Scouting volunteer who coordinates all the Scout Groups in your local area.
This process doesn’t apply if you believe there is a breach of Child Safety. Anyone can report any incident of unacceptable behaviour to our Child Safety Team immediately on 1800 870 772 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or email us at childsafe@scoutsvictoria.com.au.
Scouting has its own language! Here are some terms you may hear:
New members are welcome to attend on the relevant section meeting night with your first 3 nights free! Conditions apply.
Joeys (ages 5-7) – Thursday – 6.00pm to 7.00pm
Cubs (ages 8-10) – Monday – 7.00pm to 8.30pm
Scouts (ages 11-14) – Wednesday – 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Venturers (ages 15-17) – Wednesday – 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Handfield Rover Unit (ages 18-25) – Thursday – 7.30pm to 10.00pm
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