Age ranges for Scouting in and how we will implement the changes in South Australia

It is recommended that you read the details of the section either side so that you have a greater understanding of the age ranges. What National Policy and Rules say…. How we interpret and implement the change in SA… Joey Scout Section The biggest change for the Joey Scout section is to the start age. This has been modified to R5.3 Membership those who have had their fifth birthday and be eligible for school. We are interpreting 1. Boys and girls become Joey by an investiture ceremony during which the Joey Scout Promise is school as pre-primary school. made and accepted. This change will not be immediate. We have made the decision in South Australia that this 2. Before becoming Joey Scouts, children should learn the Promise, Law and Theme for Joey Scouts. change will be implemented with the role out of the new Youth Program. In 2018 this will 3. The young person must have had their fifth birthday and be eligible for school prior to commencing in this be with the Pioneer Groups. Section. 4. Youth are able to commence their progression to the Cub Scout Section at any time after their eighth This is the same approach being taken in Western Australia and Tasmania. birthday, and will have completed their progression by their ninth birthday. 5. It is recognised some young people with special or cultural needs may require additional considerations This means that unless you are a ‘Pioneer Group’ for the new Program, then youth will start regarding age and their developmental levels. As these cases will be highly individual, each Branch should in the Joey Section when they are six years old. In exceptional circumstances youth might establish mechanisms to enable such accommodations to be considered. This should occur in start in the Joey Section before they turn six but meet the new eligibility criteria. This might consultation with the youth member’s parents/guardians, the Group Council, and the youth member be because the member has moved from one Branch to another, from a Pioneer Group to where possible. non-Pioneer Group, or special permission has been granted by the Branch Commissioner Joey Scouts. This should however be the exception and not the norm. Transitioning to the Cub Scout Section should commence soon after the Joey Scout has had their eighth birthday and should be completed by their ninth birthday. It is recommended that this should occur closer to the eighth birthday rather than their ninth birthday, taking into account point 5. Cub Scout Section Members transitioning from the Joey Scout Section or beginning their Scouting journey R6.3 Membership must have had their eighth birthday prior to commencing in this section. 1. Boys and girls become by an investiture ceremony during which the Cub Scout Promise is Transitioning to the Scout Section should commence soon after the Cub Scout has had their made. eleventh birthday and should be completed by their twelfth birthday. It is recommended 2. Before their investiture as Cub Scouts, children must know and understand the meaning of the Promise that this should occur closer to the eleventh birthday rather than their twelfth birthday, and Law for Cub Scouts, in keeping with their age. taking into account point 6. 3. A Joey Scout who has earned the Link Badge may be invested without further training. 4. The young person must have had their eighth birthday prior to commencing in this Section. This change should occur naturally over the next 18 months, so as not to disadvantage 5. Youth are able to commence their progression to the Scout Section at any time after their eleventh youth members from experiencing the benefits of the program and allowing them to finish birthday, and will have completed their progression by their twelfth birthday. their peak award if they desire. 6. It is recognised some young people with special or cultural needs may require additional considerations regarding age and their developmental levels. As these cases will be highly individual, each Branch should establish mechanisms to enable such accommodations to be considered. This should occur in consultation with the youth member’s parents/guardians, the Group Council, and the youth member where possible. Scout Section Members transitioning from the Cub Scout Section or beginning their Scouting journey R7.3 Membership must have had their eleventh birthday prior to commencing in this section. 1. Boys and girls become Scouts by an investiture ceremony during which the Scout Promise is made. Transitioning to the Venturer Section can commence any time after the youth member has 2. Before their investiture as Scouts, young people must know and understand the meaning of the Promise had their fourteenth birthday and should be completed by their fifteenth birthday. and Law for Scouts, in accordance with their age. 3. A Cub Scout who has earned the Link Badge may be invested without further training. This change from the previous age ranges should occur naturally over the next 12 months, 4. The young person must have had their eleventh birthday prior to commencing in this Section. so as not to disadvantage youth members from experiencing the benefits of the program 5. Youth are able to commence and complete their progression to the Venturer Scout Section in the lead up and allowing them to finish their peak award if they desire. to their fifteenth birthday. 6. It is recognised some young people with special or cultural needs may require additional considerations regarding age and their developmental levels. As these cases will be highly individual, each Branch should establish mechanisms to enable such accommodations to be considered. This should occur in consultation with the youth member’s parents/guardians, the Group Council, and the youth member where possible. Venturer Scout Section Members transitioning from the Scout Section or beginning their Scouting journey must R8.3 Membership have had their fourteenth birthday prior to commencing in this section. 1. Young people become Venturer Scouts by an investiture ceremony during which the Scout Promise is Special note around point 5. At its last meeting the National Youth Program Team made or reaffirmed. (consisting of all the Deputy Chief Commissioner Youth Program or equivalent from around 2. Before their investiture as Venturer Scouts, young people must know and understand the meaning of the the country) agreed that the wording of this point is not correct and actions will be taken Promise and Law in keeping with their age. shortly to correct this. 3. A Scout who has earned the Venturer Scout Link Badge may be invested without further training. 4. The young person must have had their fourteenth birthday prior to commencing in this section. It is believed that Venturers should begin their transition to the Rover Scout section a few 5. Young adults are able to commence their progression to the Rover Scout Section at any time after their months before their eighteenth birthday, attending appropriate activities only, so that eighteenth birthday, and will have completed their progression by their nineteenth birthday. when they turn eighteen they can commence in the Rover Section. 6. In circumstances where a young adult has not yet completed their final year of secondary school, and has had their eighteenth birthday, they may elect not to commence their progression to the Rover Scout Venturer Scouts may however, remain in the section past their eighteenth birthday if they Section until the beginning of the year following completion of secondary school. are still engaged in their final year of secondary school. The transition to should 6.1. Venturer Scouts who intend to delay progression to the Rover Scout Section until the beginning of then take place in January the following year. the year following completion of secondary school, and who will turn 18 in that time, must act in Venturers who are eighteen and elect to stay in the Venturer Section must complete an A1 accordance with their Branch regulations with regard to Youth and Adult membership. This may form which will include signing the Adult Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics and require terminating Youth membership status and applying for Adult membership. This may also undertake a National Police Check. Venturers over the age of eighteen should also require: complete the eLearning modules on ChildSafe Scouting and Workplace Health and Safety.  a re-commitment to the Scout Promise & Law  signing of the Adult Code of Conduct and Code of Ethics Further information and advice will be provided to Group Leaders and Venturers in due  provision of authority to make enquiries as to the suitability of Adult membership as per P5.3.6 course.  issuance of a Certificate of Adult Membership This change should occur naturally over the next 18 months, so as not to disadvantage  any other requirements of Adult Membership defined by the policies of the relevant Branch. youth members from experiencing the benefits of the program and allowing them to finish 7. It is recognised some young people with special or cultural needs may require additional considerations their peak award if they desire. regarding age and their developmental levels. As these cases will be highly individual, each Branch should establish mechanisms to enable such accommodations to be considered. This should occur in consultation with the youth member’s parents/guardians, the Group Council, and the youth member where possible. Rover Scout Section Members transitioning from the Venturer Scout Section or beginning their Scouting journey R9.3 Membership must have had their eighteenth birthday prior to commencing in this section. 1. Young adults become Rover Scouts by an investiture ceremony during which the Scout Promise is made or reaffirmed. Members reach the end of the Scout Youth Program, and will leave the Section, no later 2. Before investiture as a Rover Scout a young adult must undertake to comply with the Scout Promise, the than their twenty-sixth birthday. Aim and Principles of the Movement, and membership requirements of the Branch Rover Council. 3. Young adults must have had their eighteenth birthday prior to commencing in this section. Members reach the end of the Scout Youth Program, and will leave the Section, no later than their twenty-sixth birthday. 4. A Venturer Scout who has earned the Rover Scout Link Badge may be invested as a Rover Squire without further training.