Girl Guides Australia is the peak organisation for girls and young women in Australia. Girl Guides Australia’s mission is to empower girls and young women to discover their potential as leaders of their world.

We provide girls with opportunities to grow, learn and have fun in relevant and meaningful ways. We provide a foundation for girls and young women to be the best that they can be and harness their individual potential to make a difference. We foster personal character based on our values of respect and collaboration to engender leadership qualities.

Girl Guides Australia is building on a 100 year tradition of helping develop a brighter and better world… Guiding is about friendship, fun and adventure.
We instill in our members a desire to take action on issues they care about and contribute to the communities around them as a key part of their personal growth.

To find out more information about Girl Guides Australia please visit our website.

As our core capability and the activity that all policies and systems must support, the Girl Guide Method is defined as by the World Association of Girl Guide and Girl Scouts as (Verhoeven, 2014)

• Learning in small groups to support each other, negotiate, make democratic decisions, assert our needs, solve problems together, take the lead
• At the pace and through a pathway that is determined by the girl to respect individuals, make our own choices, learn in the best way for us, value our achievements, collaborate not compete, be confident
• Learning by doing to take on challenges, learn through experience, take risks, make mistakes, get involved, pay attention
• Connecting with others to value others, appreciate diversity, listen, connect, make a difference, develop empathy, communicate
• Connecting with the world to be active citizens, get our hands dirty, enjoy the outdoors, get involved in our community, speak out for change, pay attention to the wider world

Learning is experiential and connected to others with a goal of making the world a better place.

Leaders

Leaders in Girl Guides Australia are women aged 18 and over working directly with youth members (Unit Leaders, Assistant Unit Leaders, Outdoors Leaders). They are committed to the principles of Guiding and are prepared to complete the relevant Leadership Qualification in the Australian Learning and Qualification Program of Girl Guides Australia.

Managers

Managers in Girl Guides Australia are women aged 18 and over working primarily with adult members (District, Region, State or National Managers). They are committed to the principles of Guiding and are prepared to complete the relevant Management Qualification in the Australian Learning and Qualification Program of Girl Guides Australia.

Units

A Unit is the general name given to a group of Guides with their Leader(s).

Unit Administration

A Unit must be approved by the District Manager and registered with the State Girl Guide Organisation. Refer to States for information on starting a Unit.

Leaders of the Unit are appointed by the District Manager.

The Unit is self-governing and adheres to the principles and policies of Girl Guides Australia.

The name of the Unit is chosen by the Guides and includes location, name and ‘Guides’.

Proper accounts are kept and are available for inspection by all members. The District Manager arranges an annual audit (refer 2.3.5 in this chapter).

The ages of the members in the Unit may be flexible depending on the community in which the girls live.

A religious group, school, club or other community group may have an attached Unit. At the time of registration agreement is made as to whether it will be confined to girls of the group or open to others. Leaders must be acceptable to the particular authority and approved by the District Manager and must meet the same expectations as those of other units.

Girls may belong to only one Unit but may be attached temporarily to another.

It is the responsibility of the District Manager to put a Unit into recess or disband it (if necessary). State guidelines should be adhered to in these circumstances.

Unit Membership

Girls may join a Unit from age of five years. Girls are youth members until their 18th birthday. Members aged 18 years and older are adult members.

Supervision Requirements

Adult ratio varies according to the ages of the girls. See Ratios At A Glance.

Special Needs

Guiding provides opportunities for girls and women with special needs.   Special needs may include a physical, intellectual or social disability or mental health issue.

Youth members with special needs are eligible to access the Australian Guide Program through inclusion in regular units or in special needs unit. Adult members with special needs are eligible to access the Australian Learning and Qualification Program suitable to their role.

Supervision ratios for activities, including camping and other such activities, must be adjusted depending on the level of demonstrated need to ensure that all participants receive an adequate level of supervision in all circumstances.

For high level needs a carer must be present.

For moderate and low needs to use of a buddy system is recommended. The Leader in Charge should ensure that the buddy has the required skills and maturity to work with the member who has special needs and that the buddy has the opportunity to participate in some activities in her own right.

To ensure adequate planning and preparation, the Leader of the Unit with a girl with a special need, or appropriate adult mentor for an adult with special needs, is to provide information regarding her needs in advance to the organiser of an event.

Support Group and District Support Team

A District is managed by the District Manager with the assistance of a Support Group or District Support Team. Both methods of management are approved by Girl Guides Australia. The decision on the method of management of a District is made by the members of the District. Guidelines are available within each State which fully detail each method of management.

Support Group

A Guide Support Group is a vital body of non-uniformed volunteers within a District or local area who wish to support Guiding.

Membership and badge

The District Manager is responsible for, and is an ex officio member of, the Support Group, its executive committee and any ad hoc committee it may form.

Women who have made the Guide Promise as members of the Support Group may wear the Promise badge.

Purpose

The purpose of the Support Group is to:

• assist the District Manager to promote Guiding and its values in the area;
• assist the District Manager in relationships with local authorities, educational bodies, parents and the general public;
• provide moral, practical and financial support for Guiding in the District;
• assist the District Manager to keep in touch with other Organisations and services for young people in the local area;
• recommend to the District Manager the names of those people suitable for leadership and other positions as required; and
• recommend to the District Manager the names of suitable persons for appointment as auditors.

The Support Group has no responsibility for the running of Units or the appointment of Leaders, nor does it have a call on Unit funds.

District Support Team

A District Support Team comprises Leaders and non-uniformed volunteers within a District or local area who wish to support Guiding.

Membership and badge

The District Manager is responsible for, and is a member of, the District Support Team and is an ex-officio member of any ad hoc committee it may form. All adults with the District, including Leaders, are eligible for membership of the District Support Team.

Women who have made the Guide Promise as members of the District Support Team may wear the Promise badge.

Purpose

The purpose of the District Support Team is to:

• assist the District Manager to promote Guiding and its values in the area;
• assist the District Manager in relationships with local authorities, educational bodies, parents and the general public;
• provide moral, practical and financial support for Guiding in the District;
• assist the District Manager to keep in touch with other organisations and services for young people in the local area;
• recommend to the District Manager the names of those people suitable for leadership and other positions are required; and
• recommend to the District Manager the names of suitable persons for appointment as auditors.

The District Support Team has no responsibility for the running of Units or the appointments of Leaders, nor does it have a call on Unit funds.

Finance

The District Support Team is financially self-supporting.

Accounts are audited and presented at the Annual General Meeting of the District.

Property is vested in the Guide Organisation of the State or Territory in which the property is situated.

Procedures

All members of the District Support Team are eligible for election as office-bearers. There must be a minimum of two non Leader/Managers elected as office-bearers. Office-bearers are elected at the Annual General Meeting of the District (AGM).

The District Manager may be elected as an office-bearer however she does hold a position in her own right.