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Scouting and COVID-19 Restrictions
QBSI 7.15 remains unchanged this week following the flurry of activity last week.
We are now required by the State Government to implement Check In Qld app | Queensland Government (covid19.qld.gov.au) and this should be implemented by each Formation as a “business”. Compliance with QBSI 7.15 remains important to enable us to continue delivering for the young people of Queensland.
Respect
A few months ago, I wrote about respect as a fundamental concept that if adhered to addresses the issue of males imposing themselves on females. I quoted Policy and Rules in that discussion. Our Code of Ethics includes wording that says “We will demonstrate respect by showing consideration to others, recognising each individual's uniqueness and diversity...”
Respect is demonstrated in the way in which we interact directly with or indirectly about, another person through face-to-face means or by telephone, via printed or social media such as email and posts.
Responding to emails and responding to telephone messages is another sign of respect. We all live within employment, family and Scouting environments and we juggle the amount of attention each environment demands from time to time – hopefully generally with success but sometimes without success. Providing a timely response, even if it is just an acknowledgement of the message, is a measure of respect.
Not providing a timely response could be an indication of the message not having been received (perhaps the email address was incorrect, or the email address is no longer used) or an indication of other environments or issues having a higher priority (we do say that the work and family environments are more important than Scouting but do we actually accept that happening?) or perhaps no response is intended to be provided. Consider an acknowledgement if you are unable to provide a response in a reasonable period of time. Intentionally not providing a response is a sign of disrespect.
A Weekend of Conferences
Over the weekend of 16-18 July, the triannual Region Commissioners Conference, the annual face-to-face District Commissioners Conference and the annual face-to-face Queensland Branch Rover Council were held at Baden-Powell Park.
Arrangements for these conferences changed rapidly over the days leading into them with the Queensland Government extending the heightened social distancing requirements in South East Queensland. Conference participants were given the opportunity to withdraw from face-to-face attendance and allocation of conference and dining space was juggled to provide 4 m2 per person.
There were three combined sessions of all conferences and 5 combined sessions of the RCs and DCs and the hybrid technology through MS Teams coped well with these arrangements.
Attendees had visibility whether at home or at Baden-Powell Park, providing the opportunity of participation in discussion irrespective of location and the sharing of presentations or papers on screen as well as in the shared MS Teams folders. These arrangements highlighted attributes that Scouting is well known for – being prepared, agility, resilience, technical skills, collaboration, compliance and inclusiveness. Well done all participants and those who supported us!
Simple Bushwalking and Simple Cycling
Amongst revisions to 20 or so QBSI documents considered at the Region Commissioners Conference last weekend, there were changes to both QBSI 11.27 – Terra Firma Bushwalking and QBSI 11.13 Cycling – On Road.
A significant outcome from these changes was to enable respectively, “Simple Bushwalking” and “Simple Cycling” under the direct supervision of a Leader who has a Certificate of Proficiency (or equivalent) and holds a Certificate of Adult Appointment for their current role. Simple Bushwalking is constrained to Class 1 or 2 or 3 tracks for day or evening walks.
Simple Cycling is constrained to paths dedicated to bicycles and pedestrians within a park environment or cycling on rail trails for a day ride between the hours of sunrise and sunset within a single park or park network and involving crossing roads only at designated lights or pedestrian crossings.
These are very practical arrangements to allow simple bushwalking and simple cycling to take place consistent with the Australian Adventure Activity Standard but not necessarily requiring Adventurous Activity qualifications. The full details will be in the new release of these QBSI documents.
Elijah and Crumpet
Elijah Lonsdale is a member of the Priestdale Scout Group having progressed through Joey Scouts, Cub Scouts and now the Scout Unit. Elijah gets a lot out of his Scouting involvement. There is nothing unusual about that or his progression. Elijah has Down Syndrome and his dad, Rob, is keen to tell Elijah’s story and to use that story to break down misconceptions about Down Syndrome.
Rob has written his first story book about the adventures of Elijah and his monkey (puppet) Crumpet, targeting Joey Scout and Cub Scout aged children. Rob is offering the proceeds of the first book “Motivate Man” to Scouting if we can help get the message out there. We are looking at piloting an approach through several Scout Groups so stay tuned! Congratulations Priestdale Scout Group on the way in which you have included and integrated Elijah into your Group family.
Office 365, Operoo and Xero
Despite the benefits of these systems, we still have stragglers not using them.
The participants within the Region Commissioners Conference have asked that we now embed the requirement to use these systems within QBSI and to set a date by which all adult members have activated and are using their Scout supplied Office 365 accounts and that Scout formations are actively using Operoo and Xero.
There is helpful information within the Support Hub accessible from the Scouts Queensland web page. Your line Leader can assist, or you can ask almost any Rover Scout to assist!
The target date to be using Office365 Email will be 30 November 2021, and 31 March 2022 for Operoo and Xero.
Daryl Scott
Chief Commissioner
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