If you're a new parent or are considering joining Scouts, please download our Welcome Pack. 

It outlines what's involved and has a lot of basic information about Scouting and answers many of the common questions that you may have.

Joining Scouts
Scouts Australia NSW offers a diverse range of activities for boys and girls across a wide range of ages.

Joey Scouts (age 6 – 8) are introduced to the world of friendship, problem solving and adventure through stories, games and activities.

Cubs Scouts (age 7.5 – 10.5) learn new skills while spending time participating in a variety of learning activities and outings. They collect special badges to demonstrate their skills and achievements.

Scouts (age 10.5 – 14.5) develop confidence and learn to work as part of a team. They learn essential outdoor safety skills as well as participate in a variety of physical and intellectual challenges.

Venturers Scouts (age 14.5 – 17.5) have the opportunity to create their own Venturer Unit and be involved in adventurous outdoor activities, and performing community service initiatives.

Rovers (age 17.5 – 26) operate Crews that plan and run their own programs, allowing them to develop their personal abilities while also making lifelong friends. A key focus is service to others and their community.

Leaders (age 18+) are dedicated volunteers who care about the guidance, development and safety of the young people in their Section as well as the community in which they live.

Parents of Scout Members are encouraged to get involved as helpers, supporters or Leaders.

We support the integration of young people with physical and mental disabilities into regular Scout Groups so there are many Groups with additional support, infrastructure and training for these young people. There are also three Special Needs Groups where the support ration is one adult to three youth members.

Benefits
Scouting is a dynamic and enjoyable self-development, educational program that can involve the whole family. It offers a variety of challenging adventures based on personal achievement, teamwork and leadership.

Self-development and Educational Outcomes
Children will learn life skills such as independent thinking, leadership and problem solving skills, social interaction and responsibility.

They will experience weekly physically and intellectually challenging activities in the Scout hall, outdoor activities such as bushwalking and water sports, and large-scale events such as Jamborees, where Scouts from around Australia and the World come together.

If you have been involved with Scouts in the past, you will find that some activities have changed and are more modern. However, the essence of Scouting remains on having fun, outdoor adventure and a strong sense of community.

For the whole family
Scouting is an ideal activity for the whole family. Sons and daughters can be involved and parents are encouraged to join in with activities and become helpers, supporters or Leaders.

Scouting can be an amazing experience for parents. Join your child’s Scout Group on outdoor activities, family camps and outings - and learn new skills like abseiling and canoeing.

Local community
Scouting can help you gain a strong sense of belonging to your local community, and through your active involvement, you make a direct and worthwhile contribution.

Also, you will enjoy a wider social life and an established peer network with other parents, carers and adults involved with Scouting in your area.  It creates an extended family.

Parent responsibilities
Being a Scout parent comes with important responsibilities too.

• Show your interest and encourage your child’s Scouting participation.
• Provide transport for meetings and outdoor activities.
• Help to raise money for your child’s Scout Group.
• Give your time to participate in Scouting activities and events.

Leadership training
Many parents participate in leadership training that widens their personal and professional opportunities

Getting Involved
It’s great to find activities where the whole family can get involved. Scouting involves boys and girls – and their siblings and parents too.

There are a number of ways in which parents of youth members can get involved:

• Be a parent helper, volunteering for duties such as Scout hall set up or clean up.
• Raise funds for the Scout Group, through fundraising events and activities or grant seeking.
• Become an active member of the Group Committee, which assists the Group Leader and Group Council and promotes the aims and principles of Scouting in conjunction with the Group.
• Serve as an office bearer on the Group Committee (Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee).
• Serve on a sub-committee to undertake duties defined by the Group Leader or Group Committee.
• Become a trained Leader.

Children with Special Needs
Where possible, we support the integration of young people with physical and mental disabilities into regular Scout groups.

Leader training
A special needs training conference is available to all Leaders, which is designed to:

• teach Leader strategies that can be used when working with young people with special needs.
• outline the implications of including young people with a disability into a group.
• suggest modifications that can be made to the Scout program
• explain the responsibility Leaders have to the whole group.

Joining a group
Before attending a Cub,Joey or Scout meeting, parents should arrange to meet with the Group Leader and Section Leader. This provides time to discuss the child’s needs and medical issues. It also gives the Leader confidence to answer questions from other members of the group.

Leaders who have youth with a special need in their group prepare their programs, taking care to include suitable activities and games. It may be necessary to modify some activities to include youth with special needs but there may also be some times where the youth with the special need has to withdraw from an activity or game. In some games the special needs youth can participate in a role such as time keeper or referee.

Achievement in the Scouting program is assessed on a “best of my ability” basis. In some cases, alternate challenges may have to be found, e.g. a youth who is paraplegic is not able to do a bush walk but may be able to do a canoe trip or a wheelchair hike.

Please note, however, that:

• Scouting cannot cater for all situations. In some cases a request to join may be denied.
• Not all Leaders are confident to look after a youth with a special need.
• Not all Groups or Sections have sufficient Leaders to provide extra attention to a youth with a special need.
• Not all Scout halls have suitable facilities to cater for specific special needs.
  Specialised groups

There are a number of Special Needs Scout Groups in NSW, including 1st Cooks Hill in Newcastle, Bangor Kangaroos in Sutherland Shire, and 1st Cromehurst in Ku-ring-gai. These groups are generally for older youth with a mental disability.

Agoonoree
"Agoonoree" is an extension of “Agoon”, a term originally coined by Scouts from The Netherlands and derived from the Greek word, “agon”, which means a struggle or special effort to work for something special. The first Agoon was held in The Netherlands in 1949 and the second Agoon was held in the United Kingdom in 1958.

The Agoonoree provides an opportunity for Special Needs Scouts to gather and work hard for a successful purpose.

The NSW Agoonoree is held every three years at Cataract Scout Park for Scouts and Guides from around Australia and overseas. It provides the opportunity to make new friends and undertake a wide range of activities, including abseiling and flying fox (both available to those in wheelchairs), swimming, ball games, arts and crafts. Agoonorees are also held overseas, including the Asia-Pacific Region, and are open to Special Needs Scouts from Australia.

Parent’s responsibilities

• It is important for parents of a child with special needs to communicate openly with the Leader and to encourage their child to be involved as much as possible.
• Parents may be requested to provide additional assistance when required.
• Our Leaders are all volunteers; they need your support in order to make Scouting fun for all young people in their groups.

Child Safety
All parents are concerned about the safety of their children - and we are too. Safety and security have a very high priority at Scouts Australia NSW.

Adult Leaders

• Background ‘Police’ checks are conducted on all prospective Leaders.
• References are sought and checked
• All adult Leaders receive comprehensive and ongoing training in dealing with children.
• Our desire is to have at least two Leaders present during all activities.

Medical safety
For all Scouting activities, we cater for medical, physical and dietary requirements by obtaining all the necessary information to allow Leaders and other helpers to take appropriate action.
At least one person trained in first aid attends all major events.  

Child Protection
The Scouts Child Protection System is considered by authorities, to be amongst the best.  In a recent message The Commissioner’s for The Commission for Children Young People in NSW said...

“I encourage all organisations that work with kids to take steps to become child-safe and child-friendly. Kids are safer from abuse and harm when organisations adopt good risk management practices and build a culture that respects, values and includes children and young people.

“I commend Scouts Australia NSW for making a positive contribution to making child-safe, child-friendly organisations a reality.”

For over 50 years, when there were no legal screening requirements for youth Leaders, Scouts insisted all Leaders have referees and submit to a full police criminal record check, prior to completing their training.

We have a special team which oversees child protection issues and supports our Members. This team, under the leadership of an Assistant Chief Commissioner, is made up of individuals whose special qualifications are allied to the task.

Any complaints are acted upon swiftly and decisively.  Depending on the matter, Scouts Australia NSW always refer to the authorities those matters that fall within their respective jurisdiction, such as the Police and the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS). Other matters are dealt with in accordance to set procedures under the team's supervision.