Adult Supporters

Adult Supporters

Adult Supporters are parents who help at Scout meetings regularly. They commit to attending at least 50% of the weekly meetings for their child’s section, helping with activities and supervision under the guidance of the Section Leaders.

Why We Need Adult Supporters

Regular extra adults let leaders run a wider range of activities, keep the right supervision ratios for everything from outdoor adventures to craft, and give Scouts more individual attention. Knowing who will be there each week also lets leaders plan with confidence.

What an Adult Supporter Does

At meetings, Adult Supporters help set up and pack up, run or supervise activity stations and games, help Scouts with challenges and skills, and keep an eye on safety and behaviour. You won’t plan the program or lead the section: that stays with the qualified leaders. If you can’t make a meeting, let your Section Leader know and coordinate with the other Adult Supporters.

No Scouting experience is needed. Leaders will show you what’s needed each week, and there are training opportunities if you’d like to learn more.

What You Get From It

You see your child’s skills, confidence and friendships grow at first hand, and you share their activities and camps. You also get to know the other parents in your section: many of the closest friendships at Bardon Scouts started between Adult Supporters.

Requirements

Every adult who works regularly with children in Queensland needs a Blue Card (Working with Children Check). It’s free for volunteers, and we’ll help you apply. Adult Supporters also complete two national e-learning modules, Child Safe Scouting and WHS for Scouting, and only help with youth activities under the guidance of a trained leader who holds a Certificate of Adult Leadership.

The easiest way to meet these requirements is to join online as an Adult Member of Scouts. See Group Structure for how Adult Supporters fit into the Group.

Adult Supporter or Parent Roster?

Every family helps at one meeting a term through the Parent Roster. Being an Adult Supporter is for parents who can commit to more: at least half of all meetings. If you can’t commit to that, the Parent Roster is still expected.

How to Become an Adult Supporter

  1. Tell your Section Leader you’re interested, or contact us
  2. Come along to a few meetings to see what’s involved and meet the team
  3. Join online as an Adult Member, apply for your Blue Card and complete the two e-learning modules (we’ll guide you)
  4. Start helping regularly

If you’d like to do more after that, you could become a Scout Leader, join the Committee, or share a specialist skill such as first aid or IT. See also Our Leaders.