FAQ'S

We have a great current Youth Program which has served us extremely well for for the past fourty years - and has done so because of the contribution of thousands of skilled Leaders. However, external and internal research has made it clear that the impact of our current program is starting to fade. This can be expected, given the current program is a product of its time - the 1970's. Think of how much about the world we live in has changed since that time? Consider how different the opportunities and challenges are for our young people now compared to then?

And so, it's time to moderise our Youth Program, to ensure it meets to the needs of our Youth Members - to ensure it fulfils our Purpose in today's community.

We are more than an organisation - we are a Movement, and so evolution is a part of who we are, and what we do. We were never meant to stay the same.

The New Youth Program is simply our most recent change - and it's an exciting one.

The New Youth Program is made up of many different exciting elements, and we'll be introducing some earlier than others. This means there are parts you can start right away, and others that aren't quite ready yet. Please see the Implementation page for more information.

No - it's just one part of it, and lays some important foundations to be ready to start the other New Youth Program elements. The Adventure Begins was an initiative run to help us all go 'Back to the Basics' that support great Scouting. The Adventure Begins elements are now referred to as 'The Fundamentals'

Please see The Fundamentals page for more detail.

The main cost for Groups will be purchasing the new resources (badges, section handbooks & posters) when they are ready and introduced. Of course, there will be a transition period to move between the current program and the new, so don't worry about the stocks of current resources you have right now - they'll still be needed, but we'd suggest not stockpiling too much going forward.

We've made a huge effort to prevent the running of the Youth Program Implementation from imposing a cost on our groups, and we'll continue to do so. An example of this is our choice to implement the New Youth Program in a way that is cost effective for our Branch. We appreciate that every dollar counts - often hard earned through weekend fundraising.

Any new product needs to be prototype tested, and the New Youth Program is no different. Four Groups in Victoria volunteered to be the first to test the New Youth Program concepts, and are known as the Ground-Breaker Groups. They started running elements of the NYP, and have provided invaluable lessons to date.

Once the NYP was initially tested by the Ground-Breaker Groups, it next needed to be tested more widely, and in a variety of Scout Groups (urban vs regional, big vs small, thriving vs challenged). And so, a number of Groups started a wider trial of the NYP in April 2018, and are called Pioneer Groups.

We're expecting to start introducing the first key elements of the new program in early 2019, and expect to introduce the last elements towards the end of 2020. Between 2020 and 2022 we'll be fine tuning the NYP in our Units.

Please see the Implementation page for more detail.

No, the uniform will not be changing, with the exception of a new logo badge which will cover the old logo on the pocket.

No, the Section names are not changing.

Yes, the Section themes have been expanded, but still allow for elements of the old themes to be used in programs.

No, the Section colours are not changing.

Absolutely, Peak Awards will still be an important part of the New Youth Program. However, not every Youth Member will want to achieve their Peak Award - and that's okay too. Our Program is extensive, and has room for many journeys and pathways for our Youth Members.

The Peak Award names have not broadly changed, with the exception of the Joey Scout Peak Award. But the way they are earned will!

Please see the Achievement Pathways page for more information

The Age Ranges for each section have been tweaked to better align with the New Youth Program. The Age Range changes will be implemented over a couple of stages, as some policy work needs to be done to support the changes.

Please see QBSI for the current age ranges.

Of course. As there always has been in the past, Leaders will have some flexibility in guiding when a Youth member moves on to the next section. A transition to the next section needs to occur at the right time, when the Youth Member is ready - this is usually within a 12 month window.

Please see QBSI for guidance.

There are several places you can learn about the New Youth Program.

• This website provides guidance on the Implementation Plan within Queensland
• pr.scouts.com.au provides tools and resources
• The Scout Shop supplies published handbooks and badges

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the The New Youth Program. The changes that are being made have been carefully developed and progressed over the past 5 years by a number of different groups and stakeholders. Numerous consultations and surveys have been undertaken with our members to gather as much feedback on the various NYP elements as possible. Ultimately, the National Executive Committee, which includes our Chief Commissioners, and also the National Youth Program Team have been key in driving the New Youth Program.

Queensland undertook two significant consultation roadshows that held information and feedback sessions in each of our Regions across the state. The first focused on the changes proposed to the Promise and Law, and the second focused on the key new concepts within the New Youth Program. Each roadshow held over 20 face to face sessions for our members to have their say, in addition to the National online coinciding surveys.

The OAS areas introduce 9 new achievement pathways that Youth Members can work towards in the New Youth Program. Each of these are focused on an outdoor adventurous activity. Please download and read the OAS Pioneer Handbook for more information on these.

The OAS framework splits the 9 activity areas into 'core' and 'non-core' areas. The three core areas focus on the outdoor activities that we consider fundamental to our program - Camping, Bushwalking and Bushcraft. It's what we do. The non-core areas focus on the more specialist activities that Youth Members can pursue - such as Cycling and Boating. Three of the non-core areas cover land based activities, and three cover water based activities.

Each area has 9 stages, starting at stage 1 and climbing to stage 9. The lower stages are targeted towards the younger sections, while the higher stages are designed to challenge our most ambitious Scouts.

There are 9 OAS areas - each focusing on a different category of outdoor activity. However, we know that there are many specialties within each adventurous activity. So, in some OAS areas split into various streams as of Stage 4. For example, at Stage 4, the Vertical OAS splits into Abseiling, Canyoning, Caving and Climbing streams.

The Outdoor Adventure Skills Areas introduce a new way to build more outdoor and adventurous activities into the program. There are nine OAS Areas, each representing a key type of adventurous activity. Each Area has 9 stages that a Youth Member steps through - Stage 1 being the easiest to achieve, Stage 9 being very difficult to achieve.

The OAS Areas are special, and work differently to the other badges in the NYP in that it is progressive across all of the Sections. If a Stage is earned in one Section, it is held even as the Youth Member moves into the next Section.

Queensland introduced the OAS Areas in January 2019.

Please see the Outdoor Adventure Skills page for more information.

The OAS framework is competency based, and recognises the skills that our Youth Members develop while participating in outdoor & adventurous programs. Each stage is made up of a list of skills (called I-Statements) that the Youth Member must have developed in order to achieve the Stage.

To earn each OAS Stage, the Youth Member must demonstrate competency in a range of skills. Each skill is listed as an 'I-Statement': "I can list what food to bring on a day bushwalk", "I can identify the main parts of a compass" etc.

Each I-Statement is ideally assessed by another Youth Member who is two stages higher than the person being assessed. An Adult Leader acts as a Mentor to the assessment.

As a first point of call, we encourage you to look outside of your Unit to a Youth Member in a higher section who may have the higher stage. After this, perhaps there is someone in another Group near you. If there is a Scout in another Region, a remote assessment could be organised using Skype or Facetime. Ultimately, if no Youth Member who is two stages higher can be arranged, a Leader can perform the assessment (with reference to the Adult Leader Mentoring Qualification Matrix)

Yes. However, when bench-marking Youth Members for the first time, it is expected that they would move through the lower stages very quickly, and so would only receive the badge that shows their bench-marked competency. When a higher stage is earned for an OAS competency, it replaces the lower stage on the uniform.

During the transition phase to the New Program, the OAS badges will be worn on the right hand sleeve where the current 'Additional Badges' are placed. If they don't fit in this spot, please try to fit them somewhere on the right sleeve.

The OAS badges will eventually be able to be purchased from the National Scout Shop, following the same procedures as in place for the current badges. However, as each Branch is implementing differently, the Scout Shop is reviewing the levels of access required, which may take some time. Queensland Branch are looking at some other options for our members until the Scout Shop is ready, and we'll advise of these shortly. In the meantime, please start bench marking our Scouts, and record their progress, ready for when the new badges can be purchased.

This will vary for each of the Sections:

• Joey Scouts will need to achieve Stage 1 in the core area's.
• Cub Scouts will need to achieve Stage 3 in the core area's, and have also achieved a total of at least 8 progressions throughout the OAS Stages.
• Scouts will need to achieve Stage 5 in the core area's, and have also achieved a total of at least 10 progressions throughout the OAS Stages.
• Venturer Scouts will need to achieve Stage 5 in the core area's, and have also achieved a total of at least 12 progressions.
• Rover Scouts will need to achieve Stage 5 in the core area's, and have also achieved a total of at least 14 progressions.

No, the OAS Areas are progressive, and carry across the sections. Once a Stage is earned, it is kept.

No.

Adult Leader Training and Adult Adventurous Activities Training remain separate to the OAS. Scouts earn OAS stages, and Leaders earn AA Levels.

Some higher OAS Stages will link to VET certifications. More information will be provided in due course.

The intent of the OAS areas is to cover human powered activities. Motorsports, air-activities, & other non-included activities will be able to be pursued in the Special Interest Area component of the New Youth Program. The Special Interest Areas are being implemented at a later date.

Absolutely! And many already have. What are you waiting for!?

There are a number of options you may choose to track progress:

• Purchase an OAS Handbook for each Youth Member, and tick off each I-Statement
• Use the example individual OAS progress tracking sheet, and refer to a shared OAS Handbook
• Use the example Unit OAS progress tracking sheet
• Use the new digital system, scheduled for release in August 2020

Realistically, not for some time in all areas and stages. It will take time for our Regions to build up the resources (both in trained leaders and equipment) to support all OAS Areas across the State - particularly in the higher Stages of the Specialist Areas. Where Youth Members need support to achieve a Stage due to lack of resources or a suitably qualified Leader to Mentor, we encourage their Leaders to speak with their Region Teams who will connect them with a suitable member of the Adventurous Activities team for assistance.

The Special Interest Area's (SIA) are exciting, because they introduce a meaningful way for a Youth Member to set goals around a topic they are passionate about within a framework, and then be rewarded for achieving them.

Queensland introduced the SIA's in September 2019.

There are six broad categories that the SIA are built around. The Youth Member gets to choose a category that best suits their passion. These categories are:

• Adventure & Sport
• Environment
• Arts & Literature
• Growth & Development
• Creating a Better World
• STEM & Innovation

The SIA Areas also connect to the United Nations Development Goals - furthering our support of our wider communities.

Absolutely, but is taking the form of an 'Introduction to Section' award, with discussions and activities being led by an older Youth member, supported by adults.

The Challenge Areas represent the four key categories that Scouting activities fall under. Primarily, we use them to support program planning and to make sure that the program is engaging and diverse.

Queensland will introduce the Challenge Areas in April 2020.

The Challenge Areas are:

• Community Challenge
• Creative Challenge
• Outdoor Creative
• Personal Creative

The Milestones encourage a Youth Member to regularly participate in the weekly Program, and to grow their Leadership talents - all while learning new skills and challenging themselves.

Queensland introduced the Milestone achievements in April 2020.

There are three Milestones to work through in each Section - Milestone 1, 2 and 3. Each Milestone encourages the Youth Member to:

• Participate in a number of Program activities (a game, a challenge, a camp etc)
• Assist another Youth Member to run a number of Program activities
• Lead a number of Program activities

This is known as 'Participate, Assist, Lead'.

Of course, if a Youth Member joins the section part way through, they will start working towards the appropriate Milestone. For example, a Venturer Scout that joins a unit in the second year of the section would start at Milestone 2.

The Youth Member has the flexibility to choose the activities they are passionate about and select as their Lead activity. Of course, as a whole the activities need to be balanced across the SPICES. This is achieved by ensuring a balanced mixture of activities across the 'Challenge Areas'.

To achieve our Purpose, our Program must develop our Youth Members around the SPICES. However, these are sometimes hard to program around for our Younger Sections. The Challenge Areas introduce a new and interesting way to plan program, and will allow Youth Members to have greater input into the program planning.

In short, SPICES and Challenge Areas work hand in hand:

Use the Challenge Areas to Plan, and use the SPICES to Review.

The current Record Books are still only drafts, and continue to be updated as needed to support the Pioneer Groups.

Our Groups will not need the new record books until April 2020. They will not be available for purchase until this time.

The Peak Award in each section is earned by:

• Completing the three Milestones
• Completing a number of Special Interest Areas across a number of different categories
• Completing up to a particular Stage in the OAS core areas, and also making a number of progressions across the 9 Areas.
• Completing an Adventurous Journey
• Completing a Leadership or Personal Development Course (except for Joey Scouts)

The level of difficulty of each element grows as the Youth Member progresses through the Sections.

What is required for the Journey will vary for each section, but all sections will undertake a Journey of some form.

The Journey requirements will include a Plan, Do and Review element.

The proposed duration's are still being developed, but the current proposal is:

• A Joey Scout undertakes a Journey of at least 3 hours.
• A Cub Scout undertakes a Journey of at least 4 hours.
• A Scout undertakes a Journey of at least 3 days and 2 nights.
• A Venturer Scout undertakes a Journey of at least 4 days and 3 nights.
• A Rover Scout undertakes a Journey of at least 4 days and 3 nights.

Of course, there a framework has been built to further guide and support the Journey. These will be outlined in the new Section Handbooks, which can be purchased from the National Scout Store, or local Region store.

The NYP seeks to develop the Leadership skills of each Youth Member in each Section. Of course, success will be different for each Scout, but each will benefit from specific Leadership training, delivered through a course.

For the moment, the leadership course may be in the form of a course we already run, or a course run externally - perhaps at school or with another organisation.

In the future, we will be providing new leadership course opportunities within each Section - stay tuned.

Working hard over many years to achieve a Peak Award is no mean feat - and of course is celebrated and respected when the end goal is reached.

But it's true that it is the journey, not the destination, that is most important. In the celebration of achieving the Peak Award, and usually in the lead up to linking to the next Section, it's easy for a Scout to miss the opportunity to reflect on their personal journey - articulating how they have grown and the many who have helped them get there.

The personal reflection provides a moment for a Youth Member to reflect on their Journey in a meaningful way.

No Youth Member will be disadvantaged through the introduction of the New Youth Program.

This means that for a transition period, Scouts will have the option to finish their Peak Award on the current system, or be mapped across to the new system.

A simple online converter tool (S2P) allows the Scout themselves (or an adult) to map which badges they are entitled to under the new Achievement Pathways, based on the work they have already completed.

It is expected that Youth Members will be able to complete this mapping themselves, so that it is transparent and fair.

See the Transitioning page for more details

No Youth Member will be disadvantaged through the introduction of the New Youth Program.

This means that for a transition period, Scouts will have the option to finish their Peak Award on the current system, or be mapped across to the new system.

A simple conversion tool has been prepared that will allow Scouts, or their patrol/unit leader or adult leader, to convert their Award Scheme badges to the new Achievement Pathways.

S2P Conversion tool

Yes, there will be a transition period that will allow Scouts who have made good progress in the current award scheme to finish on the current award scheme.

If they run out of time before the end of the transition period, they will be mapped across to the new scheme, and will achieve the new Peak Award.

No.

A simple conversion tool has been prepared that will allow Scouts, or their patrol/unit leader or adult leader, to convert their Award Scheme badges to the new Achievement Pathways. This allows Youth Members to understand how each of their current badges swaps for a new program badge.

It is expected that Youth Members will be able to complete this mapping themselves, so that it is transparent and fair.

Scouts Australia has developed a conversion tool to help Scouts, or their patrol/unit leader or adult leader, to convert their Award Scheme badges to the new Achievement Pathways. You are welcome to use and reuse the tool as often as you like. It doesn’t store or record results in any “official” way.

Conversion tool

Yes.

As the Achievement Pathways will replace the award scheme of each Section, a new Record Book will be needed - even for Joey Scouts.

The Section Handbooks (as they are now called) are available for purchase via the National Scout Shop, or from your region store.

If we're talking about a Youth Lead organisation, then our Youth Members need to be empowered by their achievement pathways - particularly when they are often setting their own goals.

Scouts will sign off their peers achievements and badgework in the new achievement pathways.

At one level, this may be by the Patrol Leader. For bigger awards, this may be the Unit Council.

Of course, our Adult Leaders will need to support and guide this process.

All nYP badges are now available from the National Scout Shop, or from your region store if you have one.

Yes!

It is in development, and is looking really really exciting. The new digital system will be utilised by both Youth Members and Leaders to provide guidance and record keeping. This is expected to be available in August of 2020.

In the meantime, we'll use two separate books - the Section Handbook that replaces the current Record Book, and a second that called the OAS Handbook.

The OAS Handbook booklet is separate, as these are not Section specific and can be earned at any time. So, the OAS record book needs to progress onto the next section along with the Scout.

The books will continue to be made available after the release of the digital system.

No. The current badges will be replaced in the new system -

However, we encourage you to use up stock wherever possible, and swap with surrounding groups for youth members who may be finishing their time in a section under the old award scheme.

Queensland will introduce one part of the New Program at a time, slowly replacing the elements of the current award scheme. This gives us time to learn and implement one element at a time.

Please see the Implementation Plan page

Each of the Branches have developed their own plan to implement the New Youth Program. Of course, we will all finish with the same end product - a consistent and identical Youth Program. We have chosen to implement in smaller layers, across all Groups and Sections at the same time - as it was felt to be the most effective way to overcome the tyranny of distance that we face in Queensland. The QYIP has been endorsed by our Branch and Region teams.