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Contents
Why participate? 3
Benefits 3
What do I have to do? 4
Mentoring 5
The rules 6
Service Activities 8
Relationship Activities 9
Challenge Activities 10
Community Activities 11
How to I apply? 12
How is my application approved 13
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Why participate?
The St John Southern Cross Award (SCA) has been designed to provide a flexible framework of personal development and achievement for St John Ambulance Australia members aged 16 to 26. The activities are not pre- determined—you get to choose activities that are relevant to you. The SCA has been designed to encourage you to set your own goals, work within your own timeframes and make your own decisions in relation to identifying opportunities to help you achieve your goals.
It has also been designed to add to existing St John Awards such as the Grand Priors Award and the Sovereigns Award. For more information please see the Cadet Handbook or go to http://cadets.stjohn.org.au
The SCA does not replace either of the above mentioned awards, but is designed to compliment them where members are looking for further challenges in the area of personal development. It also provides the opportunity for young members of St John to participate in parts of the organisation that they may not have previously considered becoming involved in (for example becoming a Community Care volunteer).
Benefits
For you
Participating in the St John Southern Cross Award program can benefit you by:
giving you the opportunity to achieve self directed goals motivating and encouraging you to enjoy and continue volunteering with St John assisting in your personal development offering flexibility to young people with busy lives providing the opportunity to utilise and build on existing St John Ambulance qualifications (pathways of achievement) recognising your valuable contribution to St John and the community.
For St John:
The SCA benefits St John by providing an incentive for young members to stay within the organisation while allowing them to set their own personal development challenges. In turn, by completing various sections of the Award, St John members are able to actively contribute to their community. These are the important values that underpin all St John youth development programs. 3
What do I have to do?
The St John Southern Cross Award program is comprised of four different subject areas, based on the four arms of the Amalfi Cross. Each arm of the cross represents a different activity.
SERVICE
COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS
CHALLENGE
There are three levels to the St John Southern Cross Award:
Bronze Silver Gold
To complete each level of the Southern Cross Award one activity from each of the four arms of the Cross must be completed for each award level (four activities in total for each level of the award) with each level in the SCA more challenging than the last
Service Relationships Challenge Community Bronze Service Relationships Challenge Community silver Service Relationships Challenge Community gold
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Mentoring
OK, so I get to choose the activities I wish to complete. How will I work out what I want to do?
The St John Southern Cross Award is a self directed program and as a participant you will need to engage a mentor to assist you in working through your selected activities.
Your mentor is a person who will provide support, guidance and encouragement throughout the time it takes you to work through your selected activities. Your mentor can also help you decide what activities you would like to do in the first place. Your support person or mentor should act as a sounding board for you while you consider questions like: What am I passionate about? I have an idea, but how do I make it happen? How much time do I have to put into my chosen activity? I have come across a problem in my plans, how will I get past it?
For a comprehensive guide to mentoring, check out Mentoring Matters at: http://www.stjohn.org.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_downloa d&gid=127&Itemid
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The rules
To be eligible to participate in the St John Southern Cross Award you must be aged between 16 and 26 and be a member of St John Ambulance Australia. Members under the age of 16 may participate in the Award at the discretion of the panel. There is no specific length of time required to complete the program. The only stipulation is that the Award must be completed by your 26th birthday. You will be able to choose your own support people/mentors to assist and guide you through the Award program. You may choose one support person/mentor for the entire program, or a different person for each activity. The activities are self-directed. As a participant, you set your own goals and time-lines with guidance and support from your chosen mentors or support people. Your level of effort should increase with each level of the Award. For example, work at a silver level should be more challenging than at a bronze level, and work at a gold level more challenging than at a silver level. To gain all three levels of the St John Southern Cross Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold) you must complete a total of 12 elements or activities from the different areas represented by the four arms of the Amalfi Cross (four activities for each level of the award). You may create completely different activities for each level, or choose to build on a completed activity from a previous level of the Award. For example, you may have completed a fund raising activity for the bronze level of the Award and then for the silver level, organise a similar fundraising activity but aim to raise twice the amount of money. Activities should be commenced after your application has been approved by the panel. You must not be paid for your work other than reimbursement for reasonable expenses. If you wish, you can complete more than one activity, from the same level, at the same time. All members completing the St John Southern Cross Award are subject to the St John Ambulance Australia Code of Conduct which can be viewed in the Members Area of the Australian website at www.stjohn.org.au (see Member Essentials). After you complete each level of the award you will awarded a lapel pin and a badge to wear on your uniform (please see Uniform Handbook available at www.stjohn.org.au for position). If you are a non-uniformed member you will be able to wear a lapel pin badge.
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The following are examples of different activities
Remember these are only suggestions, YOU design your Award
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Service
This section of the Award is designed to help you find opportunities to spend time working within your community. Please note that these activities are not limited to service within St John.
You should try to design the Service activities with the expectation that you will improve or potentially improve the quality of life of members of your community.
If you need to complete any training in order to undertake a particular activity, you may count this towards your total service hours. However, you are expected to use the skills you have learnt in you chosen activity. For example, if you completed some type of facilitation training, you would be expected to facilitate a meeting or forum as part of the Service activity.
Below are some examples of how you may want to complete the Service activities . Remember, these activities are not limited to work within St John:
Fundraising—organise an event. Aim to achieve an agreed amount of money for St John Ambulance. This could be funds to purchase a stretcher, defibrillator, resuscitation manikins, etc. for the local division. First aid—agree to complete a certain number of duty hours over a specified period of time above and beyond what you currently undertake. Admin work—agree to take on the administrative role for a division over a specified period of time. State camps—volunteer to serve on a committee to help organise and run the State Cadet Camp. Divisional camps—organise and run a camp for a Division, this could be just a weekend camp, or an overnight stay somewhere. Other service organisations—volunteer your time at a Salvation Army second-hand clothes shop or help pick up furniture etc., help out at the Red Cross Blood Bank or help organise and run a Rotary sausage sizzle. Hospital volunteer—volunteer for an agreed amount of time at the local hospital. Youth Council—agree to complete a project with the state/territory Youth Council. Help the Community Care branch in one of their programs.
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Relationships
Learning to work together is an important life skill and while working with others, you will develop many different types of relationships. The ‘Relationship’ set of activities should be designed to give you the opportunity to develop your relationship skills. The aim is to assist you to develop your skills while working with others in a variety of different situations. Completing the relationship activities will also assist in developing your self confidence and leadership skills while enhancing your ability to work as a team member.
The way you relate to different people in your life will depend on who they are. The way you may relate to your peers is often different to the way you relate to your Divisional Superintendent, teacher, boss or lecturer. Relationships and how we relate to other people affects our whole life.
It is very important to be able to work as part of a team and you are challenged to think of new and different ways to do this.
Below are some examples of how you may want to complete the Relationship activities. Remember, the activities are not limited to work within St John
Become part of a ‘buddy system’ in a division—you may need to design, implement and monitor this. Program planning—plan and run a section of a division’s training nights for an agreed period of time. Leadership—complete a leadership course and apply the skills gained from the course in a division for an agreed period of time. Become a support person/mentor for someone else working through the St John Southern Cross Award. Training—assist with training in a division or region above and beyond what you would normally do as a divisional member. Supervising—supervise and/or teach Juniors in a division for an agreed period of time. Mentoring—be a mentor for new cadets in a division for an agreed period of time. Present to a youth group or school—explain what St John does within the community and encourage people to become volunteers. Assist at a local youth centre—talk to young people who are in need of assistance.
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Challenge
The Challenge activities should be designed by you to encourage personal growth and development. This exciting section of the Award could lead you achieve new qualifications (whether that be through St John or non St John training or study). Think about your personal ambitions—is there something you have always wanted to achieve? This section of the Award ‘Challenges’ you to make that ambition a reality! You could also decide to participate in a group challenge such as being part of a team sailing on the Young Endeavour.
Remember, this activity is not limited to your achievements within St John and should be in addition to your regular work and study. The activities should also aim to improve your own life and/or the lives of others.
Below are some examples of how you may want to complete the
Challenge activity. Remember, the activities are not limited to work within St John:
Duke of Edinburgh Award—complete the Silver Award. Complete the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or an Occupational Health and Safety certificate.
Undertake training to become a St John Trainer. Fundraising project—organise and run a fundraising event for St John members and their families. Compete in the State/Territory first aid competitions. Assist in the organisation of the State/Territory first aid competitions. Organise a youth consultation project or forum to canvas ideas on a particular issue. Organise a fund-raiser for the St John Ophthalmic or Community Care branches.
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Community
In order to be a productive member of the community, it is important that we develop an understanding of the community in which we live. By completing this group of activities, you will have the opportunity to become more aware of local, national and international community based issues. Choosing to undertake an activity on an aspect of society that is unfamiliar to you, could also help develop your understanding of the diverse nature of our society while directly benefiting those around you.
You should aim to create activities with a specific outcome. For example, your activity could contain a research and reporting element. You could research a local community issue, write a report based on your research and then present your findings to a local community action group. Ensure your activities are of real benefit to yourself or the community.
Below are some examples of how you may want to complete the Community activities. Remember, the activities are not limited to work within St John:
Community issues—see what is needed in the local community, e.g.
create a research project on homeless people in the area and produce a presentation or report for a specific audience. Or talk to the people at your local community centre and find out if there is something they feel that needs to be done to better the community and work with them to make it happen. Cross cultural awareness—organise a cultural awareness program for a group of your peers. Health promotion—research a relevant health issue and produce a presentation for a local Cadet Division or raise first aid awareness at a local school by organising first aid training. Religious beliefs—research different belief systems and present your findings to a Cadet Division. Environmental issues—set up a recycling project, implement and monitor its progress. Organise a group of people to participate in community program you have designed.
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How do I apply?
Download the electronic application form from the Southern Cross Award area of the St John member’s website www.stjohn.org.au (username: onestjohn password: member). Think carefully about the activities that you want to complete and write a detailed outline of what you are planning on doing. Be specific in what you aim to achieve. For each activity write a minimum of 200 words about what activity you are planning on completing. Select a support person or mentor who will provide support, guidance and encouragement while you work through each part of the St John Southern Cross Award. For more information about mentoring, see page @. Make your application through your Divisional Superintendent or Manager. Send your completed application to the St John Australian Office for approval via E-mail:
Post:
The National Youth Manager St John Ambulance Australia PO Box 3895 Manuka ACT 2603.
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How is my application approved? Once submitted, the St John Southern Cross Award panel will then consider your application for approval. The Award Panel may require additional information from you regarding your chosen activities. The Award panel is made up of o the Chair of the Australian Youth Council or their AYC nominee, o the Chief Cadet Officer or their nominee, o a member of the Australia Board of Directors o and an Australian Office staff member.
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