July 2019

Welcome to July edition of the Central Coast Region Newsletter.
There wasn't a June edition due to personal commitments taking up my time.

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

A reminder Blue Card forms have an expiry date they can be used by.

Any Blue Card application form that wasn't submitted by 30 June 2019 on the current forms, will now be invalid and need to be resubmitted on the new forms which will have an expiry date of 31 March 2020.

The new forms are available via the members area of the Scouts QLD.

The total number of youth members in the region as at the end of June 2019 was 537 comprising of 65 Joey Scouts, 228 Cub Scouts, 190 Scouts, 67 Venturer Scouts and 23 Rover Scouts. This count is up 9.4% since 01 April 2019.

At the end of June 2019, we also had a total of 211 Adult Members comprising of 1 Assistant Region Commissioner, 3 District Commissioners, 12 District Leaders, 98 group/section Leaders, 68 Support Members (Adult Members & Adult Helpers), 27 Fellowship members and 2 campsite members.

I have been queried over the last few weeks about the changes in insurance bills.

As seen in the Chief’s Newsletter Issue 9, 14 March 2019

In the November 2018 Regional Commissioners Conference, important changes were approved to the way Scouts Queensland allocates insurance costs across each formation. The system used through until 2018, rolled the two largest elements of our insurance  – public liability and property insurance – into a single insurance rate ($ insurance cost per $100 of insured value) based solely on their property valuation. So a small Group with a high value building was paying unfairly higher insurance costs compared to a large group with a lower value building. The new allocation model aims to create greater transparency in insurance costs and more equity in the insurance cost outcomes.

For a detailed summary of the change to insurance costs please click here

For any further information or questions please contact scoutsafe@scoutsqld.com.au

The awarding of a Wood Badge should be the aim of every Leader and it is important that a Leader be supported through the Wood Badge Training Program. i.e., From the Introduction to Scouting, (sign up), Basic e-Learning the Basic Practical Face to Face course and then through the Advanced training and ultimately be awarded the Wood Badge.

This demonstrates a commitment and a learning process that should provide the best outcomes for Youth and other Leaders.
The Team Leader, Personal Leader Advisor, or appointee, undertaking the final evaluation, (attached), has a very important role in ensuring that the Leader truly represents a Wood Badge Leader.

When a Leader attends a Basic Practical Weekend, they are given copies of the attachments; 4.40 and 4.41, and a discussion takes place about what may be required in content and effort.

The content is an expansion of a topic based on the Fundamentals of Scouting, (Purpose Principles and Method), that a Leader may wish to learn more about.

This is personal development and will ultimately benefit Scouting.

A Leader working through the Advanced, e-Learning will again come across the Project attachments, as well as the final evaluation documents 4.59 and 4.60. These documents are required as discussion reference material when a Leader attends the Advanced Practical course.

The Project should not be arduous and only a “seeking of further knowledge” about the benefits and why a topic supports the Youth or Adult program (not a thesis).

The final evaluation is conducted by the learner's District Commissioner or the Region Commissioner and should be completed around 4 months after the completion of the Advanced Practical Course.

If you have completed your Advanced Practical Course at least 4 months ago and have complete your Wood Badge Project, contact your DC and start the conversation on getting your final assessment completed.

Just a reminder that QBSI was updated in March 2019.

1. QBSI Cover and Content (content updates to reflect this update to Queensland Branch Scouting Instructions)
2. QBSI 2.1 Youth Sections (updates to QBSI 2.1.3.1 Section Age Ranges in Queensland, and QBSI 2.1.10 Extension Beyond Age Range; minor update to QBSI 2.1.11 Section Flags Design)
3. QBSI 2.15 Adventurous Activities (new paragraph QBSI 2.15.5.4 Level 3)
4. QBSI 2.18 Bubble Ball Activity Hire (new chapter)
5. QBSI 6.3 Bank Accounts (amendments throughout, complete re-read recommended)
6. QBSI 6.5 Grants (re-write, complete re-read recommended)
7. QBSI 6.8 Fundraising (new paragraph QBSI 6.8.2 Policy and Rules, removal of paragraph ‘Fundraising – Door to Door’)
8. QBSI 6.10 Reimbursement for Car Travel for Members attached to Branch (removal of paragraph ‘Current Practice’, updates to QBSI 6.10.2 Policy – Travel Support Allowance, and QBSI 6.10.3 Initial Travel Support Rates)
9. QBSI 6.11 Financial Assistance (updates to QBSI 6.11.1 New Group Grant, QBSI 6.11.2 To Assist Youth Members Travelling Overseas or to National Events, and removal of paragraph ‘Training Support’)
10. QBSI 8 Uniform (updates to QBSI 8.2.1 Shirt, and QBSI 8.3.3 Scarves)
11. QBSI 11.24 Terra Firma – Alpine Activities (new chapter)
12. QBSI 11.25 Terra Firma – Archery (minor updates to QBSI 11.25.2 Special Conditions, QBSI 11.25.4 Minimum Activity-Specific Equipment/Facilities, and QBSI 11.25.5 Mandatory Activity-Specific Hazards/Risks and Suggested Control Measures)
13. QBSI 11.27 Terra Firma – Bushwalking (updates to QBSI 11.27.2 Minimum Activity-Specific Qualifications for Supervisors, and QBSI 11.27.3 Minimum Activity-Specific Equipment/Facilities)
14. QBSI 11.31 Terra Firma – Pioneering (new chapter)
15. QBSI 11.33 Vertical – Abseiling (update to QBSI 11.33.2 Minimum Activity-Specific Qualifications for Supervisors)
16. QBSI 11.37 Vertical – Climbing (removal of paragraph ‘Policy’, update to QBSI 11.37.1.2 Minimum Activity-Specific Qualifications for Guide/Instructor)
17. QBSI 11.39 Use of External Providers for Adventurous Activities (new chapter)

To access the updates click here (members area - login needed).

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

The following Training Courses are coming up in our Region:

* 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)
* 25-27 Oct - Basic Outdoor Skils (Rowallan Park - Mackay)

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

https://scoutsqld.com.au/members/leadership/training

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Copyright © 2019, Scouts Australia, Queensland Branch Inc, Central Coast Region.