Scouting and COVID-19 Restrictions 

The COVID-19 situation in the southeast Queensland 11 local government areas (LGAs) has changed rapidly since the last Chief’s Newsletter. What started as an issue at Indooroopilly State High School on Friday morning has rapidly escalated into an initial three-day hard lockdown, now extended to a hard eight-day lockdown and likely to be extended further. One of the worrying aspects of this lockdown is that school-age children are being identified with COVID-19 which is likely to change the thinking around mask-wearing being confined to persons 12 years and older. 

QBSI 7.15 has had two changes reflecting the escalation situation and there must not be any face-to-face Scouting taking place within the 11 LGAs until the lockdown ends. Scouting@Home material is still available from the resources tab on the Scouts Queensland web page. A new weekly activity sheet has also been created which recognises work done in Tyakunda and Capricorn districts. Please consider keeping the Scout spirit burning with these resources. 

For Scouting within the remainder of Queensland, enjoy the freedom! 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'. Check in using the App is not required for Youth Members. 

Compliance with QBSI 7.15 remains important to enable us to continue delivering for the young people of Queensland. 

Impact of hard COVID-19 lockdown on Scout events over the next few months: 

The uncertainty associated with both the effectiveness of the hard lockdown and compliance of the community with the lockdown conditions makes planning for forthcoming Scout events difficult. 

This is the known status of forthcoming events: 

Announcement of Adult Recognition Awards 

Many adult volunteers in Scouting participate because of the incredible impact that the Scouting program has on the development of young people. We recognise years of service, and I am in awe of those adults who have 30+ years of service and those who wear 55-year, 60-year, 65 year, and 70-year service knots on their left sleeve. 

Many of those adult volunteers put in an effort beyond the role that they are appointed to and that service is recognised through the Adult Recognition Awards. Each award level has criteria that must be met. Nominations can be submitted by anyone but those adult volunteers who are Leader of Adults have a responsibility to make sure that the adult volunteers within their formation are appropriately recognised. 

This year we were able to award: 

• 3 Rover Scout Service Awards

• 10 Special Service Awards

• 58 Meritorious Service Awards

• 6 Outstanding Services Awards

• 22 Silver Wattles

• 19 Silver Koalas

• 2 Silver Emus

• 3 Silver Kangaroos. 

Recipients have been advised by email of their awards. The list of recipients has already been published on the Scouts Queensland website, through social media and is listed within this newsletter and I sincerely thank each recipient for what you are doing towards the development of the young people in Scouting. Thanks, is also extended to those who nominated these people. I look forward to being involved in the presentation of your award to you. BRAVO! 

World Scout Day 

World Scout Day was on Sunday 1 August and we traditionally ask members and supporters to wear their scarves at school or at their workplace. The Sunday and southeast Queensland’s hard lockdown did not help our cause. My poor effort was limited to photos of various maintenance activities at home proudly wearing my Queensland scarf posted on Facebook. What did you do to promote World Scout Day? 

One major indicator of a successful program is having all Scouts actively involved in their Unit program. Each weekly program needs to be planned with a good mix of the challenge areas being covered. Through these activities and games, youth members develop leadership skills that provide Scouts the opportunity to assist and lead building on their level of experience. All Scouts should be actively participating, assisting and leading with their program to the best of their ability.

Participate-Assist-Lead or PAL- provides the opportunity for Scouts (with the assistance of adult leaders in our younger sections) to be engaged and involved in creating their program that is Adventurous, Fun, Challenging and Inclusive and based on the Scout’s own interests and ideas. By encouraging each scout to be involved through a number of Participate-Assist-Lead activities and games, their leadership development, personal progression and confidence grow. It is quite deliberate that the number of Participate-Assist-Leads contributes to each Scout’s Milestone achievements.

We must remember that this occurs with adult support and should be appropriate to the needs and ages of each scout. For younger sections the activities will be linked to games and short activities while for Scout and older sections it could be larger activities, incidents, projects, and camps.

Remember a great way to create transitions between your Units is to encourage PAL activities happening with other sections. These are always popular, especially with the younger sections. These can be in the group or in other Units at district and region events. Special thanks to Parkwood Heights where Venturer Scouts are demonstrating their Leadership skills through working with Joey Scouts on a very engaging activity. Great work team as this reinforces the One Program and one great journey of Scouting as well as the transitioning process through scouts - (ok used to be linking)! More information about PAL is available here.

Great Scouting,
Youth Program Team

As mentioned in the Chief's Newsletter on 8 July, the 2021 Annual Property Return is currently being sent out.

The Property Return is used to confirm the value of formation assets, and directly impacts the insurance recharge amount invoiced in April of each year.

Given the current Public Health Directives affecting South East Queensland, the due date for Property Returns will be extended to 19 September 2021.

This is acknowledging that many leaders are unable to attend Scout facilities during lock-down periods.
Any queries please refer to the Scouts Queensland Knowledgebase or email  facilities@scoutsqld.com.au.
For more information related to the Scouts Queensland Insurance program please see QBSI 5.6 Insurance

Facilities Team

To access the Learning and Assessment Plans (click below):

Learning Plan - Youth Program Leaders. 
Learning Plan - Program Support Leaders

Click here to access the current Adult Development Training Calendar.