Scouts Victoria Info Book 2020 Chief Commissioner A word from Rod My priorities It is an honour to be chosen 1. Growth to serve as the next Chief We will maintain Victoria’s growth agenda – to bring the Commissioner of Scouts benefits of Scouting to more young people, to build better Victoria. communities and a better future. I want to begin by recognising This is mission critical. the outstanding efforts of those who have led us for the 2. Program past six years. As you know, we are moving to a new program. Change management is my professional life, and I am keen that we As State Commissioner for transition effectively without losing energy for good Scouting. Venturers, I have observed We need to avoid change fatigue. Scouting globally and nationally – and Victoria is a 3. Best selves standout success. How we feel about ourselves, our health, our stresses, our Chief Commissioner Brendan attitudes, all impact on how we deal with young people and Watson, Deputy Chief other adults in Scouting. Commissioner Jon Willis, and We need to understand ourselves as others see us. We need to the entire State Leadership Team have created something very bring our best selves to Scouting. special in Victoria. This includes wellness but also much more. We are in a strong position, thanks to Brendan and his team, and this will our springboard for future success. And we need to remember that youth members often bring their own issues to the Scout hall. We need to understand We will continue to grow and evolve, and sometimes to face what’s going on for them. challenges and tough decisions. I’m not planning a reformation of Scouts Victoria – but to value-add to our present position. 4. Last but not least … The new State Leadership Team We need to do our best in the business of Scouting Over the past six years, Scouts Victoria has been led by a • compliance elements like training, safe Scouting, talented and passionate team. mandatory reporting • financial diligence – at every level of Scouting I am fortunate to be building on the success of the previous team, and some of them will continue on the SLT. • looking after those for whom Scouting has not been a positive experience I am also keen to bring in some new and emerging talent, Let us work together to build on the success of the past six people with capability and attitude, and to have diversity, so years. that we continue to look at Scouting in new and exciting ways. Most of all, let’s enjoy our Scouting! As State Commissioner for Venturers I have benefited from listening to a youth perspective and being challenged by them, such as Aly Harris, who is also a Leader – the State Leader for Venturers. She makes me look at things differently. I write this piece for the Info Book just days after my appointment as Chief Commissioner-designate so my full team Rod Byrnes – and their portfolios – is still evolving. Chief Commissioner-designate But I can confirm some members: Alan Harding, Matty Scouts Victoria McKernan, Lisa Picking, Diana Swift, Daniella Taglieri, and Michael Thomas. Stand by for further updates. I will have two Deputy Chief Commissioners and one of them will be aged under 30. 2 Scouts Victoria Info Book 2020 PROGRAM Scouts Victoria Info Book 2020 3 Contents Digital Info Book A digital version of our Info Book is available to download from the Forms and Tools page of our website. It is also available on the Scouts Victoria App. The digital version will be updated regularly, please send any updates through to infobook@ scoutsvictoria.com.au. 4 Scouts Victoria Info Book 2020 Child Safe Scouting Scouts Victoria is a child safe organisation with zero-tolerance It is important that the young people in our care are safe, and for any harm, abuse or neglect. We value the diversity of our that they feel safe. It is also important that adults are safe. The members, including gender, sexuality, race, religion and ability. following behaviours are unacceptable by Adults in Scouting. Scouting has been proactive on child protection since the • Any form of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, 1930s, when local areas were warned to be vigilant and cultural, racial or religious abuse. show no mercy in denying membership to unsuitable people. • Entering an area where children are changing or In the 1940s local areas were advised that any inappropriate showering, or entering youth members’ tents or sleeping behaviour must be reported to the police. Police checks for areas on camp when young people are in bed (without a aspiring Scout Leaders began in the 1960s – nearly 50 years valid reason, such as an emergency). before the Working With Children Check. • Transporting an individual youth member alone (unless Today, Scouts Victoria has an extensive Child Safety their own child, or in an emergency). Framework, which includes: • Communicating one-on-one with youth members outside • Our Child Protection Policy, which outlines our of Scouts through text messaging or via social media. expectations for supervision and Leader ratios – including • Developing special relationships, including one-on-one ‘Two Deep’ leadership requirements to protect youth. catch up sessions for missed Scouting activities. • Mandatory training and renewal of training. • Distributing inappropriate materials via any channel. • Training materials and support for youth members. • Engaging in discussions with young people that are not • Reporting practices. age-appropriate. • Capability and process to respond to Child Safety • Encouraging the use or consumption of alcohol, smoking, Incidents. or use of illicit substances by youth members. • Information and fact sheets. • Being under the influence of alcohol or illicit substances • Participation in the National Redress Scheme. while undertaking duties as an Adult in Scouting. • Participant in the Victorian Reportable Conduct Scheme • Behaving towards a youth member in a manner that as administered by the Commission for Children and makes them uncomfortable. Young People. • Breaching the Scouts Australia Code of Conduct. Adults in In the future, a number of eLearning modules will be available Scouting also commit to our Code of Ethics. for youth members explaining our Child Safety practices, strategies for youth members to keep themselves safe and how Anyone can report any incident of unacceptable behaviour to access support services. to our Child Safety Team as per the “Child Safety Reporting” section Conduct Conduct of any adult in Scouts Victoria is subject to the Scouts Training Australia Code of Conduct. It applies to all members over the All Adult Members and Supporters of Scouts Victoria must age of 18, regardless of location and role, when engaging with complete the Child Safety and Workplace Health and Safety young people and adults in any form. This includes face-to-face Training within three months of commencing their membership contact and using technology such as online platforms. Parents as of 2020. This is a condition of membership or holding a and guardians who wish to actively participate in Scouting support role with Scouts Victoria and you can access our activities must also follow this code. eLearning System at www.training.scouts.com.au. Scouts Australia Code of Conduct Two Deep Leadership I will set an example that I would wish others to follow. Scouts Victoria requires all of our Adult Members to operate Therefore, I will: under the Two Deep Leadership requirements at all times, • Respect the dignity of myself and others. unless expressly permitted under the Child Protection Policy. • Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility. This requirement is not negotiable unless there is a genuine life • Recognise at all times that my words and actions are an threatening emergency and must be recorded. example to other members of the movement. As outlined in the Child Protection Policy, Two Deep leadership • Act at all times in accordance with the Promise and Law, is defined as: Code of Ethics and this Code of Conduct, thereby setting a suitable example for all. Two Adults present: This is our standard when adults are • Not use the movement to promote my own beliefs, supervising and conducting Scouting activities involving behaviours and practices where these are not compatible children. At least two adults must be present, except in with Scouting principles. unforeseen circumstances (such as an emergency). While • Adhere to the Scouts Australia Child Protection Policy the minimum ratio of adults to children will vary from activity and provide a safe environment for youth members to activity, a minimum of two adults is always the preferred participating in the Scout program, their parents or minimum required – this is known as a Two Deep procedural guardians and visitors. requirement. The failure to achieve this standard should not • Report any conduct seen or heard that does not comply preclude the Scout activity from occurring but the situation with this Code of Conduct to the appropriate Scouting and details of all attendees are to be recorded by the Leader in person. Charge. Scouts Victoria Info Book 2020 5 Child Safe Scouting Travel: On certain occasions (for example transporting a child What about abuse by non-Scouting members? from venue to venue) it is likely that only one adult will be Adult Members are often the only trusted person for some supervising. In these circumstances, prior informed consent (this of our youth members. Observations by you may make all may be verbal) is to be obtained from the parents or guardians the difference to a child who is being abused. If you receive of the children concerned. In this situation, care should be taken a disclosure of abuse (or observe injuries or behaviour that the adult is not alone with only one child (that is, the child is symptomatic of abuse) of a youth member we require you to in the company of another child).