April 2019

Welcome to first edition of the new Region Newsletter!
As the region is large and I cannot meet with everyone frequently, I decided to follow the Chief's lead and start putting some articles out as part of a small regular newsletter. I am hoping to release the newsletter each month with a few things I want to cover.

This edition went out to all Adult Members and Rover Scouts with an email address registered in SMS but is available to anyone via the region website. If you know someone that should be receiving this, send them the email and they can register at the following link.

https://www.ccrscoutsqld.com.au/newsletter/


Dougal McWhinney
Region Commissioner (Central Coast Region)
rc@centralcoast.scoutsqld.com.au
0417 462 463
Membership Numbers

The total number of youth members in the region as at the end of March 2019 was 527 comprising of 54 Joey Scouts, 213 Cub Scouts, 170 Scouts, 66 Venturer Scouts and 24 Rover Scouts. Unfortunately, this count is down -8.8% since 01 April 2018.

The chart below shows the numbers throughout the year. The drop off at the end is most likely due to Group Leaders undertaking a membership cleanup of youth members that either haven’t paid membership or are no longer returning to Scouts. Ideally Groups should be resigning members at the beginning of each term when they don't return. If the youth member is resigned and then returns before the end of the financial year, the parents just complete a youth joining form and they are re-instated (membership fee covers the entire Scouting year).

The region youth count target set by the Chief Commissioner of Queensland for the 2018-19 Scouting year was 773 Youth members. This target is updated each to ensure we achieve the goal of 22,000 youth members in QLD in 2022. At present our region is well behind the required target as is QLD overall. At the end of the 2018-19 Scouting year, Scouts QLD only had just over 11,000 youth members.
Region Numbers Graph
Read more here
Blue Cards
Just a reminder that it is mandatory that all Adult Members and Rover Scouts have Blue Card or an exemption (refer to QBSI 10.1 v3 Page 23). Those eligible for an exemption, must apply for an Exemption Card. Those who have an existing Blue Card from another organisation must complete a Validation form.

The process of applying for a Blue Card should be started when the Adult Member is signed up or when the Rover Scout transfers into the Section.

Adult Members cannot work with children until their Blue Card application has been approved.
Rover Scouts can continue in the Rover Section while waiting for the Blue Card application to be approved but must not attend activities where youth members under 18 years of age are present.
Blue cards should not take longer than 2 months to be processed but occassionally the process is delayed. Should the card not be received after 2 months, the Adult Member/Rover Scout should contact Blue Card Services and enquire about the status of the application.

A Blue Card is renewed every three years and the holder will receive an email from Blue Card services 3 months before the renewal date. Team Leaders also receive notice via the formation updates of members whose cards are due to expire. Providing an Adult Member submits a renewal application (download from Scouts QLD website) to Scouts QLD prior to the expiry date, they will be allowed to continue working with children.

If the Adult Member/Rover Scout's Blue Card expires prior to the renewal application being submitted to Scouts QLD, the Adult Member/Rover Scout will be suspended and will have 14 days to submit an Blue Card application or face being terminated.
Mandatory e-Learning Modules
We are seeing a very large number of Adult Members not completing the mandatory e-Learning modules (BCORE-CHILD & BCORE-WHS) in the required timeframe. At the end of this month (April) there may be as many as 200 Adult Members in QLD terminated for failing to complete the modules.

When an Adult Member is first signed up or a Rover Scout first joins/transfers to the Rover Section, the formation leader (GL/DC/RC) is required to inform the person, as part of the Introduction to Scouting, of the requirements to complete the two mandatory e-Learning modules. The modules are required to be completed within 6 months of being signed up and for most Adult Members who are not leaders, this is the only e-Learning they are required to complete.

The modules then need to be re-done every 3 years. Providing the e-mail address in their SMS record is correct, the National Scout Training system will send the Adult Member/Rover an email notifying them of the requirement to renew the modules. The Adult Member/Rover will then have around 4 weeks to complete the modules.

Failing to complete the modules within the required period (6 months from sign-up/1 month after 3 year renewal date) may lead to the Adult Member receiving a notice of suspension. Once suspended, the Adult Member/Rover Scout will have 4 weeks to complete the module(s) or face being terminated.

At present the Region Commissioners are the only ones with access to the SMS Crystal Report showing the completion Dates for the Modules but I am happy to supply this to Team Leaders as requested. Hopefully with the various SMS changes in the future, Team Leaders will be able to run the report.
Want to talk to the RC?
If you have something you would like to discuss, don't forget to use the line system (talk to your team leader).
However, I am happy to be contacted should you wish to discuss Scouting process, procedures and innovative ideas.

Regards,
Dougal McWhinney
Region Commissioner (Central Coast Region)
rc@centralcoast.scoutsqld.com.au
0417 462 463
Critical Training Dates
The following Training Courses are coming up in our Region:

* 18-19 May - Basic Outdoor Skills (Lake Awoonga - Gladstone)
* 19 May - Venturer Unit Management Course (Yeppoon Scout Den)
* 31 May - 02 Jun - Basic Practical (Seeonee Park - Rockhampton)
* 08 Jun - Abseiling (Natural Surfaces) L1 (Gladstone)
* 23-25 Aug - Advanced Practical (Rowallan Park - Mackay)
* 15 Sep - Venturer Unit Management Course (Banksia Scout Den - Mackay)
* 20-22 Sep - Venturer Leadership Course (Lake Awoonga - Gladstone)
* 23-26 Sep - Sea Kayaking L1 (Yeppoon Scout Den)

Refer to the Branch Training Calender for further detail on the course and when applications close (normally 3 weeks prior to course date).
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