Guiding News A GIRL GUIDES NSW, ACT & NT NEWSLETTER
Edition 16 | 18 Dec 2025
For all Adult Members, Trefoil Guild Members, Staff, Junior Leaders, and Youth Advisory Committee Members
In this newsletter From the State Commissioner When the Scroll Stops, Our Opportunity Begins
Base Camp: your hub for 5 operational updates and support
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9 Campfire Call: join us at upcoming events
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Trail Mix: A Program Feature to Pack in your Endeavour Badge Redesign 37 Resource Rucksack 14 New Adult Action Badges 39 Anchor Points: Steady Leaders’ guide to navigating leadership essentials the Social Media Minimum Age that keep your Unit Restrictions 40 grounded 17 New Volunteer Position STEM Tent Pegs: Small outdoor things Program Champion 46 that hold everything steady 19 Girl Guides Australia Position Statement 49 Solid Ground: Caring for our Guiding 21 Neurodiversity at Guides 51 In Balance: Supporting Healthy Olave Contingent—Way Out Finances across Guiding 27 West Moot (Scouts Australia) 53
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A Note from the Editor JAMIE SHEPHEARD (he/him)
SENIOR MANAGER, DIGITAL, MARKETING & COMMUNICATION JAMIE@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
This edition of Guiding News closes out 2025 with both reflection and momentum. Across our State and two Territories, the past year has been defined by growth, resilience and renewed focus on what matters most: girls’ wellbeing, strong leadership, and vibrant local Guiding communities. At its heart, this edition captures a pivotal moment for Guiding. With new social media age restrictions reshaping how young people spend their time, we explore the opportunity before us to reintroduce girls to connection, confidence and real-world adventure through the Log Off. Level Up. campaign. This is not a moment of concern, but one of possibility — and one that calls for action at Unit, District and Region level. Alongside this call to action, we celebrate the strength of our organisation. From membership growth and major events to improved systems, financial stability and operational reform, this edition highlights the collective effort of Volunteers, Leaders and staff who 3
continue to keep Guiding safe, accessible and futurefocused. Updates from across program, leadership development, outdoors, property, finance and member services reflect a year of hard work and meaningful progress. We also look ahead. New badges, refreshed national position statements, expanded STEM opportunities, inclusive initiatives such as neurodiversity research, and a full calendar of events for 2026 point to a Movement that is evolving while staying true to its values. As we move into the holiday season and prepare for a new year, this edition is both a thank you and an invitation: to reflect on what we’ve achieved together, to rest and reset, and to step confidently into 2026 ready to welcome more girls, strengthen our Units, and continue growing the next generation of leaders .Happy reading!
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from the
State
om the State Commissioner
r e n o i s s i m m o C
Looking Back with Pride, Looking Forward with Purpose Hello Sisters in Guiding, It is a great honour to serve as the head of this organisation that I love. As we close out another vibrant year of Guiding across NSW, ACT & NT, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to every Girl Guide, Leader, Volunteer, parent, and supporter who has helped shape 2025 into a year of connection, courage, and community. This year reminds us—again—that Guiding is at its strongest when we stand together. Whether it’s a Unit night full of laughter, a weekend camp where newfound confidence shines through, or the quiet moments of encouragement between youth and adults, these are the threads that weave the fabric of Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT.
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And woven between those threads are the numbers that tell our story. Together, this year we…
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Welcomed 623 (and counting) new Youth Members, many experiencing Guiding for the very first time.
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Supported at least 836 Volunteer Leaders to continue providing safe, empowering spaces for girls.
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Brought together more than 1200 girls aged 10– 17 and Leaders from 8 international locations across 3 continents and every Australian state and territory for camping, skill-building, and cross-cultural exchange at the Bush 2 Beach Australian Jamboree.
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Presented 14 Queen’s Guide Awards, 1 Olave Baden Powell Award, 2 Olave Challenges, and 3 Commonwealth Awards
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Delivered badges, camps, and community service projects across 391 Units, each one a small spark of impact.
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Enriched the lives of 323 girls that attended a State Camp and 449 that attended a State Sleepover
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Invested in improved Leader development and resources—ensuring our adults feel supported, capable and connected.
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Continued our commitment to accessible Guiding, including careful stewardship of Member fees and investment in sustainable growth.
Most importantly, we watched thousands of girls discover something new about themselves— courage, independence, teamwork, resilience, curiosity. These are the outcomes that truly matter, and they remain at the heart of everything we do. As we look to the New Year, I am filled with optimism. In 2026, we’ll see the launch of new program resources , more opportunities for outdoor adventure, expanded Leader development pathways, and renewed focus on strengthening our communities. We’ll also continue working toward a future where every girl—no matter her postcode— can access Guiding without barriers. Thank you for the energy, generosity, and spirit you bring to our Movement. Your contribution— no matter how big or small—helps girls grow into 7
confident, thoughtful citizens of the world. I wish you and your families a joyful and restful holiday season, and I look forward to sharing a year of growth, enrichment, and possibility with you in 2026. Together, we grow the next generation. Together, we thrive Happy Holidays! Yours in Guiding Jo Tonon (she/her) State Commissioner sc@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
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When the Scroll Stops, Our Opportunity Begins There is a moment happening right now across our communities—one that won’t come around often, and one that sits squarely within our mission to empower girls and young women. With new social media legislation limiting under-16s from using major platforms, thousands of girls suddenly find themselves with something many of them haven’t had in years: time. Time to explore. Time to grow. Time to belong. Time to be part of something real. This isn’t a moment for alarm. It’s a moment for us. 9
For more than a century, Girl Guides has been the place where girls step into their confidence, learn to lead, and build friendships that outlast every trend. But now, uniquely, the world is shifting in a way that gives young people an unexpected pause—a natural opening to reconnect with community and rediscover life offline. And we are perfectly placed to meet them. We’re working on a new recruitment campaign: Log Off. Level Up. It’s bold, positive and girl-led—centred on the idea that when screens go quiet, life gets louder. It’s being designed not as an anti-technology stance but as an invitation: an invitation to try something real, to choose adventure, to say yes to a future that isn’t shaped by algorithms but by their own hands. But a campaign is only as powerful as the people who bring it to life. This is where our local Districts and Units come in. Across the state and territory, the heartbeat of Guiding is not at Guide House—it’s in every Hall, 10
every meeting place, every circle of girls learning knot-tying, planning a camp, cooking over a fire, writing a Patrol plan, or laughing together after a night of challenges. Girls join Guides because of you—your energy, your welcoming smile, your belief in their potential, your willingness to give them a place to grow. The new landscape gives us an unprecedented chance to open our doors wider. Imagine a parent, relieved to find something safe, structured and joyful for their daughter. Imagine a girl who feels displaced by sudden changes to her digital world, discovering she can lead a project, make a new friend, or learn something that makes her stand a little taller. Imagine your Unit full—buzzing, thriving, diverse, and energised by new faces ready to step into the adventure. To make that happen, we’re asking every Unit and District to play an active role in localising this campaign.
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Here’s how: •
Use the content. Posters, scripts, emails, videos, localised flyers — they’ll all be ready for you in January to add your Unit’s meeting night and your contact details.
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Host a themed recruitment night. “Offline GlowUp”, “2-Hour Challenge”, “Outsmart the Algorithm”.
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Share the message locally. Schools, community boards, libraries, parent networks — this story resonates everywhere.
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Invite girls directly. A personal invitation still matters more than any mass campaign.
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Make space for leadership. Teens want responsibility, not busywork. Give them chances to own the night, the plan, the challenge.
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Show up visibly. Wear your uniform, talk to your networks, be present in your communities.
Some moments in Guiding history have called for resilience. Some have called for celebration. This one calls for action. 12
Because when the scroll stops, the world doesn’t. And when girls look up from their screens, what they see next matters. Let’s make sure they see us —ready, welcoming, and offering them something they can’t get anywhere else: a place to belong, a place to lead, a place to grow. This is our chance to reach girls who might never have thought of Guides before — not because we weren’t relevant, but because the digital noise drowned everything out. Now the noise is fading. The room is clearing. And this is where Guiding shines. Together, let’s seize this moment. Together, let’s fill our Halls again. Together, let’s help girls across NSW, ACT & NT log off —and level up.
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Trail Mix A Program Feature to Pack in your Resource Rucksack. JODIE CHILVERS (she/her) | AUSTRALIAN GUIDE PROGRAM
(AGP) LEAD | AGPLEAD@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
Each month, we’re shining a light on a different Program resource—from Guiding in Australia and across the globe. Whether it’s a badge activity, a clever planning tool, or a fresh idea to energise your next meeting, this feature is here to inspire, support and add a little something extra to your Unit’s program. Think of it as your monthly dose of practical Guiding goodness—ready to pack into your Leader kit!
Celebrating 100 Years of World Thinking Day: State Challenge Badge For Youth Members, this special challenge badge may be worn on the back of the sash for 12 months, alongside other approved special badges — a visible reminder of this once-in-a-century celebration. 14
Making It Work for Your Unit The great news is that this challenge is designed to be flexible and easy to integrate: •
Activities can be completed around World Thinking Day or as part of your Unit’s existing program
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Many challenges align naturally with activities you may already have planned
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Units are encouraged to adapt the syllabus to suit their Members, interests, and time frames
Ordering Your Badge
EA 0 Y RS
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🎂
GIRL GUIDES NSW, ACT & NT 10
And yes—make sure your celebration includes cake!
26 – 20
WORLD THINKING DAY CHALLENGE
Badges should be ordered by Unit Leaders, District Managers, Trefoil Guild Secretaries etc. once participants have completed the challenge requirements. Information in where and how to order and costs involved will be released prior to World Thinking Day. 15
Additional Resources Coming Soon To support your celebrations, we’ll be adding a few extra resources to the website shortly, including: •
A Thinking Day event invitation
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A letter for schools (for wearing uniform)
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A letter for local Members of Parliament
These will help make planning and participation even easier.
Share the Celebration We’d love to see how you celebrate 100 years of World Thinking Day! Please remember to: •
Take photos of your activities and celebrations
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Share them with the GG NSW, ACT & NT Communications Team so we can showcase the creativity and friendship happening across our State and Territory
This is a unique opportunity to reflect, connect, and celebrate together. We can’t wait to see how your Unit marks this historic World Thinking Day. 16
Anchor Points Steady leadership essentials that keep your Unit grounded. KRISTINA TEODOROVIC (she/her) | LEADERSHIP LEAD |
LEADERSHIPLEAD@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
Further Development for 2026 As 2025 starts to draw to a close, it is important that we reflect on ourselves as Leaders, Unit Helpers, District Managers, Regions Managers, and every other hat our wonderful Volunteers wear. What have we accomplished this year? What are some goals for 2026? What could we have done better? I am a strong believer in always finding new ways to improve ourselves, to learn something new to discover and try, a skill to develop or a challenge to take on. While reflecting on your Guiding journey this year, I encourage you to think about how you might challenge yourself and make 2026 even more rewarding for you! 17
Maybe you’d like to consider learning a new skill or gaining a new qualification? Perhaps you want to explore a new position in Guiding or even share your skills and knowledge by becoming a Trainer. If you are interested in becoming a Trainer in 2026 please contact Felicity, our amazing State Learning & Development Coordinator: learninganddevelopment@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
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Tent Pegs Small outdoor things that hold everything steady VIRGINIA F.M. BROWN (she/her) | OUTDOOR LEAD OUTDOORLEAD@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
New Stuff Congratulations to everyone who took their Guides outdoors during 2025. So many of you grabbed the challenge of an Adventure Based Activity in Term3, and the OUT01s have kept rolling in for Term4. Although there have been challenges with our indoor camps, every other type of camp and all kinds of activities have been delivered. BRAVO! There will be a new outdoor challenge in 2026!
Tips Remember to get the regular parents who help at Unit meetings and camps 19
to become Ongoing Volunteers (OVs). The process is simple but vital. By arranging it before the start of Term 1 2026, you’ll have something less to worry about when you are planning your camp or adventure-based activity!
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Solid Ground Caring for our Guiding BARBARA CUTHBERT (she/her) | PROPERTY MANAGER BARBARA@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
Insurance, Grants and a Thank You As we move toward the end of the year, I’d like to share some important updates from the Property Team, including insurance renewals for 2026, upcoming grant opportunities, and a sincere thank you to those who have supported us through a very challenging year in the property and compliance space.
Insurance for 2026 Trailers Districts, Campsites and Regions have been contacted over the past few weeks to confirm the trailers they hold for renewal of insurance in 2026. Please ensure you respond by January so our insurance schedule remains accurate. 21
If you have a trailer or other Guides vehicle and have not heard from us in the last three weeks, it means we are not aware of it and it is not currently insured. Please contact propertyadmin@girlguidesnswactnt.org.au so we can collect the necessary details and include it in our insurance schedule.
Boats and watercraft Similarly, Districts, Campsites and Regions have been emailed to confirm boats and watercraft for 2026 insurance renewal. Please respond by January. If you hold any boats or watercraft and have not been contacted recently, this again means we are not aware of them and they are not insured. Please email propertyadmin@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au with the relevant details so they can be added.
Contents insurance Existing contents insurance as at November 2025 will roll over into 2026, including any changes advised to us during the year. The Property Team will contact Districts, Campsites and Regions early 22
in 2026 to review and confirm contents cover. If you would like to confirm your current contents cover, or have any questions, please contact barbara@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au.
Aviation activities Aviation insurance cover will not be renewed for 2026, as no aviation events took place in 2025 and none are currently planned. However, cover can be arranged with at least one month’s notice for any aviation activities planned in 2026. Please contact the Outdoor Lead, Virginia Brown, well in advance if you are considering an aviation activity next year.
Building Project Manager update Many volunteers will have spoken with or met Levi Smith, who was engaged as Building Project Manager on a five-month contract from July this year. Levi’s contract concludes in mid-December. Unfortunately, Levi required unexpected surgery in mid-October and has been off work since that time. He remains in hospital, and we understand his 23
recovery is continuing slowly but steadily. We thank Levi for his contribution during his time with us and wish him well in his recovery.
Community Building Partnership (CBP) 2026 grants The CBP 2026 grant round is expected to open early in 2026 and is one of the main annual funding opportunities for NSW properties. While dates have not yet been formally announced, the current expectation is that applications will open around 2 February and close around 27 February. We will share more information in January once details are confirmed. As in previous years, an internal Expression of Interest (EOI) process will apply. Please remember:
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Grant applications over $5,000 must be submitted by State Office
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If proposed works require a Development Application (DA), DA approval must be in place before a CBP grant application can be submitted
Meeting Hub webinar The recording and slides from the recent webinar on the Meeting Hub booking platform is available on the website in the My GuideBook pages. The Property Team will be back at work from 5 January and is happy to answer questions from Districts interested in using Meeting Hub to manage and grow Hall hire bookings.
Thank you This has been an exceptionally difficult year in the Girl Guides property space. The association has faced significant and unexpected compliance and safety issues, and the process of addressing them has been slow, complex and ongoing. The impact—particularly on campsites and accommodation facilities—has been substantial. The work to resolve these issues remains front and centre, including at Board level. On behalf of the Property Team, I would like to sincerely thank all Leaders, Members and Volunteers who have worked with us throughout the year. In particular, we thank the State Commissioner team, Region Managers, and 25
the campsite committees and booking officers who have shown patience, resilience and collaboration during this challenging period. The Property Team will be working up until Tuesday 23 December and will return on Monday 5 January. For any urgent property matters over the Christmas break, please contact Barbara on 0417 548 496. Thank you again for your continued support and understanding.
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In Balance Supporting Healthy Finances across Guiding KATHY CHALMERS (she/her) | CEO & CFO CFO@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
Expense Claims Thank you to everyone who has commenced using Dext as a means of submitting expense claims and invoices. We encourage everyone to commence using this system as the jotform method will be phased out in 2026. If you would like a login to Dext please email
nadia@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
You will be required to use your FirstName.LastName (FN.LN) Girl Guides email address. If you are 27
having issues with your FN.LN email please contact Rosemarie@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Introducing EFTPOS Air Our Association has entered has entered into a partnership with Westpac to offer EFTPOS Air as an alternative to Square for taking payments instantly. Westpac have offered cheaper rates than Square. More information will be distributed in the New Year as to how your District can sign up.
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Base Camp Your Hub for Operational Updates and Support MEMBER & VOLUNTEER SERVICES TEAM
GUIDES@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
Wrapping Up 2025 with Gratitude and Good News! As we head into the festive season, it’s a great time to reflect on what we’ve achieved together this year - and what a year it’s been! In 2025, we’ve successfully:
💳 Launched Pay By The Month (PBTM) as a flexible
payment option. Over 550 New Members have joined using the monthly option, We have proceed over 4,800 monthly payments processed, and consistently strong success rates of over 90% month after month.
🧾 Rolled out the new First Aid & NPC reimbursements. All reimbursements are up to date.
☁ Processed all Support Fund Application in a
timely fashion with over 90% of applications being approved, ensuring Members who needed 29
financial support were able to continue their Membership.
☁️ Completed UAT and the full migration to our 📞 💰
cloud-based iMIS system - a huge milestone.
Handled approx. 10,000 calls and supported thousands of Member and Volunteer enquiries with patience, professionalism, and heart. Processed 4500 payments and 1650 Member updates, while navigating freeze periods, data transitions, and new processes — all with good humour and grace.
Looking Ahead While we had a few minor hiccups (especially around comms post-migration), we’ve tackled them head-on and continued to improve our systems. Our Operations Team’s resilience and dedication have been key to making all of this possible.
A Well-Earned Break The Member & Volunteer Services Team are taking a well-earned break from 21 Dec to 5 January. We look forward to supporting you and all Members in 2026.
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Work Experience in Guide House Recently we had the pleasure of Charlotte from Ku Ring Gai Senior Guides join the team at Guide House for a week of Student Placement as part of her year 10 curriculum. Charlotte got to spend time with each department learning about what the teams do and helping with tasks and projects. Charlotte was a fantastic temporary addition to the Guide House team.
For any Student Placement or internship enquiries please contact guides@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au 31
Incidents and Complaints is now live in the updated Digital format We are pleased to advise that we have completed the transition of the Incidents & the Complaints Forms from paper based to online for Members. For Non-Members – the process is to continue to use the current PDF forms. It is important to know the difference between ‘raising a concern’ and ‘making a complaint’. A concern is an issue that is resolved quickly, usually at the first point of contact and on the spot. Most concerns will be received by phone, in person, mail or email and should be able to be resolved at the local level through discussions with the person who has raised the concern, and through negotiating an outcome that everyone accepts. If in doubt about how to proceed contact your supervisor. A complaint will take longer to resolve and includes the following: 1. Child safety and wellbeing 2. Criminal conduct or breach of statutory obligation 32
3. Recurrent and/or long-standing unaddressed concerns 4. Misconduct such as a serious breach of the Girl Guides Australia (GGA) Code of Conduct (including a breach of GGA or SGGO policies and procedures) 5. Matters which may affect the reputation of GGiA Note: Anything involving child safety must also be considered in terms of Element 8: Responding to Abuse and Neglect and Element 9 relates to the internal management of these issues. For all Members, use your FN.LN email address and submit your form via the relevant link:
Complaint Form - Member
Incident Form - Member
For all non-Members they will need to continue to 33
use the existing forms Complaint form - Non Member, Incident Report - Non Member & send it to the Incidents & Complaints mailbox. You will be able to include any relevant attachments to the form and once it has been submitted you will be able to request an email with all the details of your submission, and an email will automatically be sent to the Incidents & Complaints inbox for it to be reviewed and actioned. If you need any further clarity, please click on the link for details guidance Guide Lines - responding to feedback, concerns & complaints
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Campfire Call Join us at Upcoming Events LYDIA MORRIS (she/her) | EVENT MANAGER EVENTS@GIRLGUIDES-NSWACTNT.ORG.AU
2026 State Calendar of Events & Courses A near to final draft of the State Calendar of events & courses was shared with Region Managers to assist with planning etc. last month. The calendar has been endorsed and events & courses have started to be populated on our website. This work will continue into the New Year. The first major event for the year and a new edition—Junior Guide Getaway: Great Escape —has been open for registrations for almost a week and is already at 75% capacity! The next major event—Regatta 2026: Steampunk Splashdown— is on our site for information, including the Pre-Regatta Challenge for participants to start preparing over the 35
holidays. Registrations will open early January, 2026. Watch this space and keep an eye on our events and courses pages as more are added in the coming weeks.
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Endeavour Badge Redesign Girl Guides Australia is excited to announce the redesign of the Endeavour Badges. These badges are now available for purchase. The Endeavour Badge is awarded to Guides who AGINFO 35 (2025) commit to learn, collaborate, communicate, Endeavour Badge Redesign connect with community, respect diversity, and Girl Guides Australia is excited to announce the redesign of the Endeavour Badges. These badges are develop their self-awareness and confidence, taking now available for purchase. initiative andis awarded leading endeavours The Endeavour Badge to Guidesothers. who commit toTheir learn, collaborate, communicate, connect with community, respect diversity, and develop their self-awareness and confidence, taking initiative provide a platform for progressing their learning and leading others. Their endeavors provide a platform for progressing their learning journey towards the Junior BP, BP and the Queen's Guide Awards. journey towards the Junior BP, BP and the Queen’s As part of the reflect phase of our reconciliation action plan, we acknowledged that the colonial ship imagery onAwards. the badge was culturally insensitive and had to change. Guide We are proud to introduce the new badge design which features an image of a compass. This image represents guidance, exploration and freedom. It reflects a Guides ability to navigate their own path, in a way that is respectful and meaningful.
As part of the reflect phase of our reconciliation action plan, we acknowledged that the colonial ship You will note the new design shows a new shape and size. The badges are round and are of a smaller size, but these will place appropriately the youth member’s sash. Please check the Uniform and imagery onalsothe badgeonwas culturally insensitive booklet on the Girl Guides Australia website GGA-Uniform-Information-Booklet_updated-2025-0507.pdfto change. had Girl Guides who complete their Endeavour Gold Award before 31 December 2026, have the option to purchase the old gold design to complete their set, or to purchase the new gold badge. As such, the old gold badge and pin will remain available for purchase for the next 12 months or until stock runs out. Old design badges will no longer be produced. For any other queries or special requests regarding the badges, please contact the GGA Office admin@girlguides.org.au.
We are proud to introduce the new badge design which features an image of a compass. Bronze Endeavour
Silver Endeavour
Gold Endeavour
Cloth Badge Specifications: 55mm W x 55mm L, Embroidered, Backed & Overlocked (sew-on) Pin specifications:
Endeavour pin
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This image represents guidance, exploration and freedom. It reflects a Guides ability to navigate their own path, in a way that is respectful and meaningful. You will note the new design shows a new shape and size. The badges are round and are of a smaller size, but these will also place appropriately on the youth Member’s sash. See Badge Placement in the Uniform Booklet Girl Guides who complete their Endeavour Gold Award before 31 December 2026, have the option to purchase the old gold design to complete their set, or to purchase the new gold badge. As such, the old gold badge and pin will remain available for purchase for the next 12 months or until stock runs out. Old design badges will no longer be produced. For any other queries or special requests regarding the badges, please contact the GGA Office admin@girlguides.org.au. Cloth Badge Specifications: 55mm W x 55mm L, Embroidered, Backed & Overlocked (sew-on) 38
Pin specifications: 25mm W x 25mm L Enamel pin
NEW ADULT ACTION BADGES Exciting news! The new Girl Guides Australia ‘Adult Action Badges’ will be available for purchase from the retail shops. AGINFO 37 (2025) (2025) AGINFO 37 AGINFO 37 AGINFO 37 (2025) (2025)
NEW ADULT ACTION BADGES NEW ADULT ACTION BADGES NEW ADULT ACTION BADGES NEW ADULT ACTION BADGES The table below outlines the colour for each year,
similar to the Youth Action Badges, the colours will news! The new new GirlGuides Guides Australia ‘Adult Action Badges’ willbe be available forpurchase purchase fro citing news! The Girl new Girl Australia ‘Adult Action Badges’ will be available available forpurchas purcha ggxciting news! The Australia ‘Adult Action Badges’ will available for fro news! GirlGuides Guides Australia ‘Adult Action Badges’ will be for be The on new a four-year rotation.
shops. eailretail shops. ail shops. he retail shops.
Year Colour ble below outlines the colour colour foreach each year,year, similar tothe the Youth Action Badges, thecolours colours e table below outlines the for similar toYouth the Youth Youth Action Badges, the colo colo ble below outlines the for year, similar to Action Badges, the ww he table below outlines the colour colour for each each year, similar to the Action Badges, the 2026 Blue aeon four-year rotation. a four-year rotation. four-year rotation. on a four-year rotation. 2027 Green Year2028 Colour Purple Year Colour Year Colour Year 20262029 Blue 2026 Blue 2026 Blue Orange 2026 20272027 Green Green 2027 Green 2027 With any questions the Action Badges 20282028 Purple 2028 Purple Purple 2028 regarding 2029National Orange please email Coordinator Adult at 2029 Orange 2029 Orange 2029
adults@girlguides.org.au.
39 anyquestions questions regarding the Action Action Badges please email National Coordinator by yor regarding the Badges please email National Coordinator Adult by email yr questions questions regarding the Action Action Badges please emailemail National Coordinator AdultAdult by ema any regarding the Badges please National Coordinator Adult by
Leaders’ guide to navigating the Social Media Minimum Age Restrictions Background On 10 December 2025, the Australian Government introduced the Social Media Minimum Age (SMMA) obligation. This new law aims to protect young people under the age of 16 from the pressures and risks they can be exposed to as account holders on some social media platforms. There is a list of social media platforms which must stop under 16s from creating or keeping an account on their platform. The list includes: •
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X
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Snapchat
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Kick
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Twitch
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TikTok
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YouTube
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Threads
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This list of age-restricted platforms will continue to evolve. To see the most up to date list of which 40
platforms are age-restricted and which are not, go to the e-Safety Commissioner’s website
Worth noting is that: •
Under-16s will still be able to see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require logging into an account.
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Most standalone gaming and messaging apps, as well as many services that support health and education, will not be affected by the new law.
What does this mean for Girl Guiding in Australia? The legal responsibility is on the social media platforms to stop under 16s from holding social media accounts. It is not GGiA’s legal responsibility to ensure Youth Members are complying with the law. However, the GGA Code of Conduct requires that all Adults in Guiding adhere to the laws of Australia. No Adult in Guiding should encourage or communicate with Members under 16 years on age restricted platforms. As a Child Safe Child Friendly (CSCF) community, 41
and in keeping with the Code of Conduct, we have an obligation to work within the spirit of the Social Media Age Restrictions. As such, across GGiA, we should aim to: •
Not target or intentionally engage with Guides who are younger than 16 via age-restricted social media platforms; and
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Not target Guides younger than 16 as the audience of any Guiding communications via age-restricted social media platforms.
Minor changes have been made to our CSCF Framework to reflect updates to the law where needed. GGA is working with the Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT and other State Girl Guides Organisations (SGGOs) to update our broader policy position relating to all communication with Youth Members going forward. We will keep you updated on this.
What needs to be done now and how do we do it? Unit Leaders: Where Units currently connect directly with Youth Members under the age of 16 years using a social media platform, the use of that social media platform should be immediately reviewed. 42
To ensure Youth Members are complying with Australian Law, Youth Members under the age of 16 should be removed from these groups. If Units currently use any of the identified agerestricted social media platforms to communicate with Guides who are younger than 16, you are encouraged to: 1. Talk to your Guides in person, about the need to find a new way of communicating with them. Encourage Guides to be inclusive of the needs of the whole group in their decision making. 2. Talk to your Guides and their parents/guardians about alternative communication solutions which could include: •
Replacing the Guide’s social media account with that of an adult family member
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Relying on emails to convey non-urgent information
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Using a messaging platform like WhatsApp for time sensitive communication
Note: Please communicate with your Leaders that this is also a good opportunity to check that
all forms of digital communication with Youth Members of any age also includes the Youth Member’s parent/carer.
Supporting the Wellbeing of <16yrs Youth Members This Social Media Age Restrictions are intended to keep children safer online, but the full impacts of the law will not be understood for some time. Children who are cut off from social media sites may become anxious or feel isolated. We ask that Adults in Guiding, as always, care for the wellbeing of our Guides, some of whom may find this a challenging time. As such Leaders can facilitate Guides to gain expert support. If adults become aware of a Guide needing support, they could recommend to the Girl that they:
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•
Talk about it. Chat with their friends, family or someone they trust about how they are feeling.
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Stay connected in new ways. Look for alternatives like gaming, texting, voice notes or video calling.
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Reach out for more support. Support and
content to help navigate the change can be found at: ॰
eSafety
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ReachOut
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Headspace
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Kids Helpline
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Beyond Blue
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13Yarn
Need more information? •
For more information on the SMMA Obligation go to the eSafety website
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For more ideas around how to support Guides through the transition go to Social media age restrictions: Get-ready guide for under-16s | eSafety Commissioner
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For a good digital newsletter by the eSafety Youth Council go to The Digital Landscape
If you have any questions, please contact admin@girlguides.org.au.
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New Volunteer Position STEM Program Champion INCREASING THE CONFIDENCE AND CAPABILTY OF GIRLS The Girl Research we undertook in October 2024 identified a number of program areas that girls really care about. Body image, leadership, and financial literacy made the list, which happily we already have amazing programs in place for, like Free Being Me, Guide Your Money, and Fly and Ignite Leadership programs. Girls also want to be in a position to consider opportunities for all kinds of employment including roles typically held by men. They want to have equal opportunities in the working roles available to them. In Australia, Girls, young Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, and those from lower opportunity areas and regional areas are all underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Guiding has always valued STEM activities in all aspects of our program, however providing a wider variety of STEM activities and making them more accessible to all our Volunteer Leaders would 46
certainly ensure that girls get wider exposure to these core skills.
CSIRO STEM TOGETHER STEM Together is a national program delivered by CSIRO in partnership with the BHP Foundation. CSIRO engaged GGA in 2024 to extend the STEM Together initiative to our Volunteers. As such, a pilot program has been worked on by passionate Volunteers with Girl Guides Victoria. GGA are now in a position to extend the program nationally to provide professional learning webinars and strategies to Volunteers to boost their impact on Girl Guides. Ensuring more girls get to benefit from undertaking STEM activities at Guides. Training resources will be developed and implemented on and offline in line with surveyed needs of Volunteers. The whole program is facilitated by CSIRO and a GGA STEM Program Champion who will coordinate a STEM Working Group of representatives from each State Girl Guide Organisation. In early 2026, Leaders will be given the opportunity to share their experience of STEM at Guides and 47
their needs. The outcome will lead to interactive workshops where attendees can learn more about STEM facilitation and share their experiences By building the confidence and capability of our Volunteers, and providing them with transferable skills, we expect to see STEM skill and knowledge sharing increasing nationally, and more varied activities being offered to girls—keeping them engaged at all ages.
EXCITING NEW ADDITION TO AUSTRALIAN VOLUNTEER RESOURCES So, in June 2026, we plan to make available a fully catalogued and searchable repository or library of STEM activities for all Volunteers to benefit from. The repository will enable Leaders to search by badge, by age, by topic and more, and consequently be provided with a list of relevant activities to suit their needs. They can then download the activities they choose. Not only will this save Volunteers time looking for ideas, but it will reduce precious session planning time. The greatest benefit is that it will ensure a variety of activities are offered so that girls need never do the same activity twice.
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Girl Guides Australia Position Statements Girl Guides Australia (GGA) has developed a suite of Position Statements to clearly articulate our organisation’s values and stance on key social and policy issues. These statements aim to support members at all levels in advocacy, decision-making, and public engagement, ensuring consistency and confidence when representing Girl Guiding in Australia (GGiA). The Position Statements aim to: •
Clarify GGiA’s stance on relevant issues and ensure internal understanding.
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Serve as a tool for Members to speak out and take action on issues they care about.
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Provide a foundation for discussing and managing complex or controversial topics within the organisation.
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Enable Members, Units, Peer Groups, Districts, regions, and boards to engage confidently with decision-makers and stakeholders.
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By developing and communicating these Position Statements, GGA ensures it remains responsive to your needs while participating actively in broader societal conversations, strengthening our collective impact as an organisation committed to positive change. The board approved suite of Position Statements can be found on Guidelines at the following link:
Position Statements
If you have topics that Youth members would like to see included in future statements, let us know care of guides@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au.
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Neurodiversity at Guides Our Commitment to Inclusion The Girl Guides Australia (GGA) Neurodiversity Working Group (NDWG) are taking an important step in Girl Guides’ ongoing commitment to creating a truly inclusive, accessible, and supportive environment for neurodiverse Girl Guides and the Volunteers that support them. When we refer to neurodiversity, we are including, but not limited to, those who identify as Autistic, having ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome, or other neurotypes.
Improving Guiding As part of the process in developing an ‘Introduction to Neurodiversity’ Girl Guides Learning activity, GGA want to hear firsthand accounts of experiences at Guides, from Members and Volunteers who either identify as Neurodiverse themselves or are a parent or carer of a Neurodiverse Guide. We recognise and celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives that neurodiversity brings to the organisation. The feedback is crucial for us to learn and improve the Guiding experience. And, to ensure 51
that every Member, Parent/Carer and Volunteer feels valued, understood, and able to participate fully. To this end we have created a survey for people to complete by 31 December 2025. The survey can be found online by tapping the button below or using the QR code Neurodiversity Guides and Member Feedback
Participants sought for the survey We are seeking responses from: •
Neurodiverse Members and Volunteers
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Parents or Carers of Neurodiverse Guides
Confidentiality and Purpose The survey is completely anonymous and confidential. The answers will be used only to inform future training, adapt our meeting structures, and develop resources to make our activities more accessible and welcoming. 52
Olave Contingent – Way Out West Moot (Scouts Australia) Have you heard of the Way Out West Moot (WOW Moot) for Olaves and Rovers from around the country? No? Now’s your chance to be part of an epic adventure.
What is the Moot? The WOW Moot is a chance to dive into everything that Western Australia has to offer from stunning landscapes, once in a lifetime expeditions, vibrant city life, meaningful service and a whole lot of fun.
When? 31 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 Who can attend? Participants are under the age of 26, with Service Leaders 26 and older
How do I find out more about the Moot? Check out the website: wow27.au
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What do I need to do to be part of the Olave contingent? How do I apply? What does it cost? Events are always more fun together so be part of the Olave contingent to camp together, support each other and create lasting memories.
Find out more via this link.
Share with your friends so they don’t miss out.
Stay in the know by following the Facebook page
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If you have feedback, or wish to make a contribution, please send an email to communications@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au.
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