Girl Guides Association (New South Wales)
t/as Girl Guides NSW & ACT
ABN: 21 366 241 150
The liability of its members is limited
GH17001 © May 2017 Girl Guides NSW & ACT
by
Every Board of Directors is charged with ensuring that the mission of the organisation is considered in all decisions and that the organisation continues to be sustainable into the future. Directors are required to reflect on the big picture while also keeping the current needs of the organisation in focus. Accordingly the Board of Directors of Girl Guides NSW & ACT took some time in 2017 to review our strategic objectives. During the assessment of what was then the Strategic Plan it was agreed that there should be a slight shift in order to achieve membership growth and supporting that focus in every aspect of our operations was key. Our Board is committed to supporting our CEO, Helen White, and her team to focus on Membership Growth.
During 2017 the GROW Awards initiative was launched and I congratulate the 82 Units that achieved this Award. Thanks to those Districts that took up the challenge and used GROW to increase their members and also some other initiatives undertaken I am pleased to report that Girl Guides NSW & ACT achieved a 2% membership growth.
While we should celebrate this achievement it should be considered the very start of a journey towards continued growth and not a job done. Membership growth cannot be the concern of our Directors solely, but of each and every Member, everything that we say or do should be with Guiding’s best interests at heart, and with that growth will follow.
We have continued to listen to our Members and following on from a request from Youth Members our first State STEM camp was held. Drawing from and thanks to the vast resources within Guiding the Camp Leaders were from a STEM background and willingly gave their time to pass on their enthusiasm and provide opportunities for these girls to complete projects in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Guiding has always enabled its Members to be able to increase knowledge and skills in their areas of interest and will continue to meet current interests and needs of our Members Girl Guides NSW & ACT.
The Girls Advisory Panel (GAP) has continued to go from strength to strength. Each year our older youth Members have opportunities to put forward ideas and provide advice on ways to improve the Guiding experience for all. I continue to be in awe of the skills of these Members and the way they embrace this Guiding experience.
These two very successful programs, and only a sample from 2017, were initially recommendations from youth gatherings and work towards achieving our mission to be Australia’s leading organisation for girls and young women in leadership and personal development.
Guiding today continues to embrace one of our Founder, Lord Baden Powell’s, original tenants of service. True service comes from a genuine need in the community and not from one’s own interest. Girl Guides NSW & ACT continues to support the breast care bag initiative, our ongoing service to local communities all across NSW and ACT. On behalf of the Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have involved themselves in this project that makes such a difference to all recipients of a breast care bag after surgery.
OF COURSE IT IS OUR VOLUNTEERS WHOSE TIRELESS WORK ENSURES OUR ONGOING SUCCESSES AND WITHOUT WHOM GUIDING WOULD NOT EXIST.
Of course it is our volunteers whose tireless work ensures our ongoing successes and without whom Guiding would not exist. Thanks to each Leader and Manager in every District who continue to facilitate programs and provide the wherewithal for Guiding to be available to their communities. On behalf of all Directors, I would also like to thank Region Managers, their teams and other State Managers, Consultants and Liaisons, and the countless others who have contributed so very much to empower our girls to grow into confident, self respecting and responsible community members.
I would like to extend a sincere thanks to outgoing Region Managers in 2017, Viv Evans (Central West Region), Fiona Langford (ACT & SE NSW Region) and Jenny Hull (Southern Sydney Rivers Region) who have completed their terms as Region Managers. All three have worked tirelessly on behalf of the Board and have provided exemplary leadership for their Regions.
Rosemary Derwin completed her term as State Treasurer in May 2017. Over the last five years Rosemary provided financial insight and worked with the Finance Management Committee to make our funds work hard to provide for the current and future needs of Guiding in NSW & the ACT. The Board of Girl Guides NSW & ACT then appointed Karen Lui as State Treasurer and I welcome Karen to that role and applaud her ongoing commitment to ensuring financial management that will continue to provide stability for our organisation into the future
Rosemary Derwin also completed her term as a Director of Girl Guides Australia and I again thank her for her tireless work and providing insights and experience to ensure GGA continues its strong standing in the community.
Outgoing Directors at the 2018 AGM, Meagan Gardiner, Hazel Maxwell and Renée Bianchi along with Davina Rooney, who completed her term late in 2017 are all to be commended for their work at Board level. These Directors were willing to provide
their time, skills and experience to ensure Girl Guides NSW & ACT Board continues to provide good governance for their Members and I offer my thanks on behalf of all Members.
Last thanks must go to Helen White, CEO, for her neverending energy and enthusiasm in leading her team to ensure Girl Guides NSW & ACT are in a strong position to springboard into the future.
I commend this Annual Report for 2017 to you and ask you to turn the pages to gain a real insight into the successes of Girl Guides NSW & ACT.
Sarah Neill State Commissioner
I am pleased to present the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017.
Overview
This financial year we have continued to successfully deliver against our objectives to support Guiding in the NSW & ACT community. The Association reported total revenue of just over $2 million and is in a strong financial position as at 31 December 2017 with Total Accumulated Funds and Reserves of $31.3 million which is up from last year at $29.2 million.
Whilst this year membership income represented 22% of total revenue from core activities, investment income represented 48%. In addition, during the year, there was the relinquishment of two properties which has resulted in $2 million being received from non-core activities.
The Finance Management Committee monitors the performance of the Fund Managers. Although the investment funds are subject to market fluctuations, at 31 December 2017, Girl Guides NSW & ACT had funds invested with external fund managers that amounted to $26.9 million.
In 2018 Girl Guides NSW & ACT will be hosting the Jamboree. The increase in the liabilities of $433,083 as at 31 December 2017, as compared to last year includes Jamboree attendance fees of $495K received to date. We are unable to include this amount in our profit and loss until 2018, when the Jamboree is held.
In 2017 we continued to strive towards our strategic focus area for 2020 on retaining and growing membership and continue to fully fund new Leader qualification training. Regions are also allocated additional funds to use to support travel within the Region and to enable and support personnel to attend Region meetings, events and trainings.
Acknowledgment is made of our operational staff, led by our Chief Executive Officer, Helen White, on personnel changes in 2017 with the intention of improving operational efficiency and streamlining processes—which is also moving towards our strategic focus of being an effective and efficient organisation.
GIRL GUIDES NSW & ACT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, MEMBERS, STAFF, SUPPORTERS AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR ONGOING COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION.
In 2017 we rolled out a state-wide review of District and Region properties. An external consultant was engaged and maintenance work commenced on some properties as a result of the inspections in order to ensure that they were maintained at a level required for the Association to carry out its activities. As at 31 December 2017, the maintenance work carried out amounted to $431K covering 245 properties.
Girl Guides NSW & ACT would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers, members, staff, supporters and friends for their ongoing commitment and dedication. It is because of such tremendous support that we are able to provide Guiding within NSW & ACT.
I would also like to thank volunteer members, Sarah Neill, Belinda Allen, Lisa Walters and David Fahey of the Finance Management Committee for their expertise, enthusiasm and dedication.
Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the countless hours of voluntary service, pro bono work and in-kind donations that are not reflected in these financial statements, but are an essential element which makes Guiding possible.
Karen Lui State Treasurer
Since I commenced with Girl Guides NSW & ACT in 2017, I have had the opportunity to experience Guiding at every level including State events, with local Units, and at WAGGGS, Region and National meetings. All of these have one common theme: the passion of our members for this organisation. This passion also holds true for our staff team who are focused on ensuring the success and achievement of our revised 2017 to 2020 strategy (see overleaf). This strategy was developed collaboratively following feedback at Region Personnel Conference and in consultation with the Board.
Below are some of the highlights of achievements in 2017 or projects in process since 2017:
Retain and Grow Membership
• In 2017 Girl Guides NSW & ACT grew by 2% to 7440 members versus a decline in the previous three years.
• 7 new Units opened
• The Grow initiative was launched in 2017 which resulted in 82 Units achieving an award for growing
by increasing net number of Unit members by an average of 1 new registration to the association per term, sustaining this growth during the year, participating in a number of Guiding awareness activities in their communities.
Run quality and relevant Programs for Girls
• 119 adult members qualified in one of the 28 training programs in 2017; this included 101 new leaders
• GirlMade had 288 of participants; an increase of 10% on previous competition.
• Guide Your Money, a GGA program, had 228 participants in NSW & ACT
Recruit, Retain, Support and Develop Volunteers
• In 2017, 108 new volunteers joined, however a similar number also resigned from Guiding.
Volunteers are core to the success of Guiding, and thus in 2017 and into 2018, volunteer retention and growth are of key organisational focus. Projects will include improved accessible learning, processes
and procedures, a new database and website and upskilling our volunteers in non-Guide specific skills, e.g. mental health, conflict management.
Increase Brand Awareness
• New responsive website development to improve member and non-member engagement, to be launched mid 2018.
Engagement of a PR consultant; development of a Region PR tool kit and organisational PR calendar which has improved both local and state-wide PR exposure.
• Social Media campaign focus which has increased exposure in 2017 by 17.5 %.
Be an effective and efficient organisation
• The redevelopment of our database commenced in 2017; due to be launched mid 2018. This will allow real time reports for volunteers, and significantly improve the transparency, speed and simplicity of volunteer and staff reporting.
• In 2017 an operational review was undertaken and a number of staff changes were made to ensure improved operational capacity; an HR compliance review was also undertaken and policies and procedures were updated.
• 90% of our WHS property compliance project was completed in 2017. This was a significant investment by Girl Guides NSW & ACT of which provides a robust approach for the organisation in property compliance and WHS risk.
• Property strategy review is in development to ensure that we make best use of our properties; where properties are not required they have been relinquished by regions. In 2017 two properties were relinquished, resulting in income of $2 million for the organisation.
• In 2017 a member pricing review was undertaken and youth pricing was increased by $10 to $140 having not been increased in the previous two years.
• Proactive involvement with Sport NSW throughout 2017 ensured that Girl Guides NSW & ACT were included as one of the first organisations with the capacity to accept the $100 Active Kids rebate (for NSW only) which ensured strong uptake by our now members.
• Financial process review was commenced and processes such as insurance invoicing were improved; this is an ongoing project.
• A Retail Review was undertaken and as a result the Glengarry Shop was closed. 85% of retail sales are now online and this service will be improved as part of the website redesign.
• To remain sustainable, the organisation also refocused resource on the development of alternative revenue streams such as partnerships and bequests; this is an ongoing project.
Finally I would like to thank our staff team who are passionate advocates of Guiding and who are working hard to support and develop Guiding into the future.
Retainandgrowmembership Runqualityandrelevant programsforgirls
OUR MISSION
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Au alia’sleading organisationforgirlsandy ng womeninleadership and personaldevelopment OUR VISION
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GIRL GUIDES NSW & ACT CREATES YOUTH LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO EMPOWER GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO GROW INTO CONFIDENT, SELF-RESPECTING AND RESPONSIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN GUIDE PROGRAM.
The Australian Guide Program (AGP) provides girls and young women with a sense of purpose, belonging and achievement. It’s a non-formal education program providing leadership and personal skill development.
Modelled on the views of Guiding's founder Lord Baden-Powell that the activities, while delighting girls, should also give them a course of education outside the school environment in four areas: character and intelligence; skill and handicraft; physical health and hygiene; service for others and fellowship, the AGP is delivered using the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Girl Guide/Girl Scout method. It is a unique non-formal educational tool that sets Guides apart from other youth organisations and unites all Girl Guides and Girls Scouts throughout the world. When applied to any program activity the Method empowers the girls and young women to take the lead and make choices—ensuring we have relevant, fun and impactful programs!
While Baden-Powell’s language might sound archaic, his message still rings true: Girl Guides NSW & ACT aim to give girls adventures, friendship, inspiration, exhilaration and laugh-out-loud fun, at the same time as we take them beyond their comfort zone to extend their skills and improve their confidence in a safe, inclusive environment.
INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS AREN’T SO INDIVIDUAL WHEN WE WORK AS A GLOBAL TEAM!
Karen describes the start of her Guiding journey as a pretty unglamorous story: my friend from school and I got bored of basketball and wanted to try something different! A student in year 6 at the time, lucky for Karen and friend it was a campfire on their first night and their interest were piqued.
Looking back on the impact Girl Guides has had on her life and her personal development, Karen identifies that Guides has given her a support network that continues to encourage her to think big and strive to achieve her goals.
Karen’s memorable experiences with Girl Guides include: fires and navigation as a Guide; and first aid and lightweight hiking as a Senior Guide. These experiences opened her eyes to being self-sufficient and confident, in the natural environment and in every other environment besides.
I love that Guiding gives women of all ages the chance to grow from each other, so they can stand tall and act with confidence on their beliefs.
Karen feels very lucky to have had amazing experiences during her time in Guides, all thanks to her Leaders and peers at the Baulkham Hills District. These women continue to support her
through her current goals, for her Olave Baden Powell Award (OBP) and her Helen Storrow Seminar work.
Karen also cites among her influences the peers she met in 2017 while attending the Helen Storrow Seminar. They continue to stay in contact to support each other through their projects and their lives. Of these remarkable network of young women Karen said: I know they always have my back: our individual projects aren’t so individual when we work as a global team!
Karen was selected to attend—as a representative of Girl Guides Australia—the Helen Storrow Seminar, an annual World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) Leadership event for 18–25 year olds, focused on the environment. The Helen Storrow Seminar gives young people from around the world the chance to connect on issues they care about and take the lead as agents of change in their communities.
This special programme has been held at Our Chalet, WAGGGS’ World Centre in Switzerland, since 1986. In the heart of the Swiss Alps, this Our Chalet adventure brings Guides closer to nature, explores the environmental issues they face in their communities, and inspires them to value and protect the environment.
Karen regaled how her cohort, and herself, grew together over the course of a week, learning more about the world and its current state; learning to focus their concerns and come up with directed solutions in the form of a Nationwide Project; and learning more about themselves and about the power of a loving team.
Karen returned home wanting to improve Girl Guides Australia’s relationship with the environment. Her goals are to focus on building environmental skills, knowledge and awareness from the top (Policy, Training and Leaders) to influence the way our Youth Members interact with the environment, and help us all to really make choices for a better world, all the time.
Currently, Karen has several strands of her project in progress, and with her Guiding support network, Karen is confident that
together we can make a difference to Australia’s environmental attitudes.
What does Guiding mean to Karen in two words? Opening doors!
GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION (NEW SOUTH WALES)
STATEMENT OF PROFIT O R LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017 Notes 2017 $ 2,182,186 5,950 169,853 993,441 202,579 381,166 5,977 578,333 2 4,519,485 253,291 36,179 344,308
Continuing operations - Revenue and other income Investments Jamboree Marketing & Communications
Total revenue and other income from core activities
Expenditure
Investments Jamboree
Total expenditure from core activities Surplusl(deficit) from core activities Expenses from reserve fund transactions
Deficit from reserve transactions
Bequests and Property Sales
Surplus from non-core activities
Operating surplusl(deficit) from continuing operations
Other comprehensive incomel(loss) Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss
Changes in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets
Total comprehensive incomel(loss) for the year Continuing operations - Revenue and other income 2016 $ 2,089,562 124,591 999,267 209,177 356,968 7,240 596,022 5,700 4,388,527 455,856 1,918 165,188 121,395 652,769 413,702 188,106 2,647,486 380,609 5,027,029 (638,502) 10,373 (10,373) 12,750 12,750 (636,125) 418,888 (217,237)
GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION (NEW SOUTH WALES) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Inventories
Other
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
Available-for-sale financial assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Employee benefits
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
Employee Benefits
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS ACCUMULATED FUNDS
Michelle started her Guiding journey at age seven as a Brownie in a little town called Tumbarumba. Why? Her mother thought it would be a good idea. She later discovered her mother had been a Guide herself.
When asked what impact Girl Guides has had on her life and her personal development, Michelle replied wow, what part of my life hasn’t been impacted by Guiding. I have made so many wonderful friends through Guiding, done activities I would never have otherwise done and been to places I would never have been to without Guides. One of the best things was the wonderful role models I had in the Guide leaders and Commissioners around me. If they could do it, I figured I had no excuses— certainly being female wasn’t a valid excuse for failing at anything. The strong leadership and service elements of Guiding have really driven how I approach my life and how I have brought up my kids.
At age 10 Michelle discovered if you can’t get your gumboots off, it is possible to take a bath in camp tub with them on. Michelle’s list of memorable Guiding experiences has grown since then, and every memory she’s collected has helped forge the person she is today. Michelle remembers vividly her first Jamboree, way out in the dust at Dubbo. They were called Musters then. Her first meeting as a very nervous 18 year old assistant Leader with 35 Guides aged 10–15 was a real shock. Michelle learned to ski on a Guide trip and then many years later she skied at Our Chalet in Switzerland, a recollection she fondly describes as a dream come true! The day her own daughter joined Gumnuts tops her list.
Michelle recounts the experience of turning up to a Guiding seminar to discover the extremely competent young woman leading it had once been one of her Guides. These days she runs into them everywhere.
As an adult Guide in the ACT, the memories take a new form. Michelle includes amongst her memorable Guiding moments all of the parents who say thank you for all the things you have done for their daughters. Michelle also fondly remembers the wonderful collection of Dads her Unit has had who dropped off, picked up and helped out in every way possible. To Michelle this was an amazing sight after all those years of Mums doing all the hard yards.
We also asked Michelle what she loved most about Guiding. Her response: Everything!
I love watching the girls grow from shy, sometimes klutzy kids into strong confident leaders. I love seeing how the same games and activities I loved as a Guide still enthrall today’s girls.
But I also love the fact that no-one does a laundry badge anymore, instead they do science or outer space or computers!
CERTAINLY BEING FEMALE WASN’T A VALID EXCUSE FOR FAILING AT ANYTHING.
Michelle cites many memorable Guiding influences. One was her Leader as a Guide, who helped her complete her BP award. Michelle recalls we always called her "Captain". She was wonderful, I think we went camping about six times a year with her. She hooked me up with a family whose son had cystic fibrosis for my service activities and helping him out was very special—I think it was the first time I really understood how something as simple as helping his parents with his exercises could really make a difference to someone’s life.
Influential friends, Wendy and Lindy, were Rangers with Michelle. In her words: we did some mad things, rowed a lot of boats, hiked to a lot of places and looked after a lot of Brownie Guides together—it is great to know that even once you are an adult the fun continues with Guiding.
Another influence was Michelle’s friend and mentor Fiona who invited her (rather forcefully) back into Guides as a Leader when Michelle’s daughter’s Unit was about to close and never let her leave again. Fiona was a co-Leader, a District Leader and a wonderful role model who it seemed just as good as Michelle at recruiting her husband into Guides at all possible points!
Michelle is responsible for Girl Guides getting involved with an international organisation dedicated to inspire girls of all ages and backgrounds to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects by introducing them to the world of science in fun and exciting ways— greenlight4girls (g4g).
Michelle’s relationship with g4g started in one of those funny ways. Two years ago, a friend of Michelle’s in the ACT government mentioned some money was available as a grant for National Science Week, and thought she should apply for it, and do something with the Girl Guides. Michelle didn’t have any concept of what to do, but knew she didn’t just want a stall with leaflets. She wanted something to engage the girls and
enthuse them. Figuring that she couldn’t be the only person with this sort of idea and Michelle recruited a handful of Leaders who promised that if she could come up with a program and the money to run it, they would turn up on the day and do whatever was needed. A bit of searching led Michelle to greenlight4girls on the internet, a few emails later they said they had a program she could implement with minimum planning needed on her part and best of all, tried and tested already on girls in Michelle’s target audience. Four months later and a small grant in hand the first g4g day in Australia happened!
The aim of the g4g program is to give girls a hands on experience with role model mentors (ie: women from all walks of life) in different areas of STEM. Targeting girls aged 10-16 who haven’t yet made that unconscious life decision about the sorts of activities that are for them and the ones that aren’t, Michelle hopes to both inspire the girls and the leaders to explore more of STEM (lots of our activities end up on Unit meeting programs) to have fun with their friends (a great way to engage girls in any activity), and also to see that STEM is not just nerds in labs but covers almost every aspect of life.
What does Guiding mean to Michelle in one sentence? Growth, passion and fun—doing awesome things with awesome girls and women.
Number of hours spent by adult members in Girl Guides NSW & ACT training courses in 2017
228
Number of members that participated in Guide Your Money in 2017
119
Number of adult members who qualified through one of our 28 training courses in 2017
Region Managers
District Managers
Outdoor Leaders
Assistant Unit Leaders
Unit Leaders
Leadership Qualification Course by Type
35,780 TRADITIONAL
30,756 MINI CHOC CHIP
27,456 GLUTEN FREE
GIRL GUIDE BISCUITS WERE CONSUMED IN NSW & ACT IN 2017
Total number of our Youth members inspired and empowered through Girl Guides NSW & ACT program, Leaders and volunteers as of 31 Dec 2017
Shelley Agrawal
Lillian Burke
Shania Corby
Natasha Goldsmith
Echo Huang
Sarah McFaul
Dulmi Ranatunga
Kimberley Spencer
Gabrielle White
Amy Brown
Kellie Chilvers
Rachel Florey
Alyssa Graf
Alison Johnson
Isabella Newton
Ashleigh Redpath
Tara Ott
Kimiko Wotherspoon-Smith
Cassandra Boland
Ella Coddington
Nicola Georgopoulos
Rachel Gray
Kiana Mazidi
Gemma Page
Madeleine Saffery
Sarah-Jayne Van Der Voort
Queen’s Guide Award Recipients with His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) 38th Governor of New South Wales, Mrs Linda Hurley, State Commissioner Sarah Neill, and Deputy State Commissioner and Commonwealth Award Recipient Larissa Saywell at the Girl Guides NSW & ACT Award Presentation, NSW Government House, September 2017
Micheala started Guiding in 2003 at age 7 in a small Unit in her home town of Blayney. She got into Guiding rather reluctantly at first, after her mum saw an advertisement and thought it would be a great opportunity. Due to a medical condition, Micheala was unable to participate in sports. Like many of her peers, the self-challenge and diverse interests/opportunities Guiding provides, made it a perfect activity for Micheala who soon grew to adore her time in Guiding.
Guiding for Micheala has seen immense personal growth, in many facets of her life. It has provided her with unique opportunities and experiences that have helped to build who she is today. Guiding encouraged me from a young age to try new things and embrace experiences. It allowed me to connect with my world, build my selfconfidence and to become a Leader both with peers and beyond. Guiding bought much friendship, fun and challenge to my life a lot of which I continue to experience today. Guiding has enabled me to develop a wide range of
skills from goal setting to governance, which I utilise throughout my life both professionally and personally. Guiding has been a life changing experience and continues be a unique and ever rewarding part of my world said Micheala.
Micheala has multiple memorable experiences with Girl Guides, each triggering the next phase of her personal development: staying overnight at a camp for the first time; having her first world centre
GUIDING HAS BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE AND CONTINUES BE A UNIQUE AND EVER REWARDING PART OF MY WORLD.
program experience at Sangam, India; volunteering on a mobile school bus and travelling around India with a bus full of Olaves; representing the World Associations of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and Girl Guides Australia (GGA) at the Women in the World Summit in the UK; and dialling in to her first WAGGGS international skype call with young women from throughout the world.
What does Micheala love most about Guiding? That Guiding provides a supportive environment where girls and young women can truly be themselves and grow. Through Guiding, girls and young women learn to challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zone and connect with amazing women right across Australia and internationally.
Guiding provides opportunities which many girls and young women wouldn’t get anywhere else in life, it promotes youth leadership and following your interests in anything from adventure to advocacy.
Some of my Micheala’s memorable Guiding influences have been those amazing peers and leaders that have supported her in learning to challenge herself and step out of her comfort zone. Too many to mention, there are also all the incredible young women she connects with who make a difference to their world. These women have and continue to serve as influential role models throughout her life.
In 2017, Micheala was selected as the Under 30 Observer in the Australian Delegation for the 36th WAGGGS World Conference in India. The conference was the largest on record with 119 Member Organisations, coming together to reflect on the achievements of WAGGGS, in the previous triennium and the future of WAGGGS in the coming triennium. The conference performs a number of essential governance practices and provides a unique insight into the innerworkings of WAGGGS, as an international movement. It provides opportunities for networking, planning, sharing ideas and reflection so Member Organisations can continue to grow and develop. At the World Conference new members are voted
upon with countries such as Syria and Palestine gaining membership to continue to extend WAGGGS’ work for girls and young women throughout the world. The World Conference, Micheala surmises, celebrates all that we are and continue to be as the world’s largest voice for girls and young women.
Micheala hopes that in the next triennium, we will continue to see Guiding grow in its partnerships and advocacy for girls and young women in Australia and internationally. Through extending our reach, growing our membership and embracing the international nature of our movement, we will continue to develop Guiding in Australia.
What does Guiding mean to Micheala in one sentence? Guiding is the ultimate opportunity for girls and young women to grow in confidence, connect with their world and discover their potential.
ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR SERVICE TO GIRL GUIDING
Felina French
ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR DISTRICT AND STATE LEADERS
Pip Bloomfield
Wilson
ASIA PACIFIC LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR UNIT LEADERS
Jodie Chilvers
Lee
FLOWERING GUM AWARD
Langford
WATTLE AWARD
Orr OAM
BANKSIA AWARD
BAR TO BANKSIA
Ann McLachlan
Rachael Baas
Beris Hawgood
Patricia Simmons
Stella Murphy
Stephanie Ellis
Elissa Jack
Jessica Bailey
Haylee Brown
Alexandra Strickland
Kirsty Bates
Susan Moen
Margaret Bulluss
Deborah Pabian
Linda Howse
Fiona Vickery
Heather Pinning
Sara Vassallo
Julie Manns
Aiden Baldwin
Ronnie Joyce
Julie-Ann Humphries
Susan Mork
Helen Beasley
Larissa Saywell
Helen Harris
Julie Adams
Sarah Turner
Kaye Peters
Catherine Priestley
Jo-Anne Robinson
Joanne Myers
Gillian Weatherall
Vicki Hill
Suzanne a'Court
Joanne Allen
Sarah Neill State Commissioner, Chair
Renée Bianchi, appointed July 2017
Krista-Lee Fogarty, co-opted, appointed May 2017
Hazel Maxwell
Rosemary Derwin, term ended May 2017
Davina Rooney, term ended August 2017
State Commissioner & Board Chair: Sarah Neill
Chief Executive Officer: Helen White
Advocacy Liaison: Emily Milton Smith (term Ended March)
Assistant Program Manager: Vicki Marsh
Inclusion Support Consultant: Emma Introna
Outdoors, Environment & Earth Education Consultant: Virginia Brown
Tingira Chair: Cheryl Squires
Youth Leadership Development Liaison: Kimberly Ransom
Karen Lui State Treasurer, appointed May 2017
Sue Belling
Kath Follers
Joanne Muller
Anne (Julie) Knight, term ended April 2017
Alice Anderson
Chris Glasheen, appointed May 2017
Meagan Gardiner
Lisa Walters
Bev Orr OAM, term ended May 2017
Deputy State Commissioner: Larissa Saywell
Program Manager: Kate Conroy
Archivist: Chesne Jones
Awards Committee Chair: Prue Carpenter
International & World Guiding Consultant: Amanda Cooper
Policy & Procedure Review Committee Chair: Lorraine Chegwidden
Trefoil Guild Advisor: Sally Thornton
Treasurer: Rosemary Derwin (term ended May) Karen Lui (appointed May)
Learning and Development Manager: Elizabeth Baker
Arts & Culture Liaison: Michelle Thyrd
GAP Facilitator: Kate Weatherall
Olave Program Consultant: Sally Woodhouse
Risk Committee Chair: Krista-Lee Fogarty
Youth Recognition and Awards Liaison: Jodie Chilvers
ACT & South East NSW: Fiona Langford, term ended September Veronica Heard, appointed September
Cumberland Plains: Vacant
Northern Sydney: Alice Mee
Southern Sydney Rivers: Jenny Hull
Central West: Vivian Evans
Greater Rivers: Kerrey Williams
Northwest Inland: Helen Leamon
Twin Rivers: Robin Laverty
Coastal Valleys: Carol Peterson
North Pacific Coast: Elise Crofts
South Coast & Highlands: Kris Wyber
Director, Board of Girl Guides Australia: Rosemary Derwin
Member, International Committee: Amanda Cooper
Member, Outdoor Activities Committee: Virginia Brown
Honorary Legal Advisor: Joanne Muller
Member, Learning & Development Committee: Elizabeth Baker
Member, Program Committee: Kate Conroy
Member, Finance and Risk Committee: Rosemary Derwin
Member, Olave Program Committee: Sally Woodhouse
National Trefoil Guild Advisor: Barbara Fairbarn
Legal Representative for Girl Guides Australia and State Girl Guide Organisations: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse: Joanne Muller
Provides Governance, strategic planning, sets policy, ensures accountability, approves and monitors significant projects and expenditure, and is comprised of:
Chairperson
State Commissioner*
Deputy State Commissioner/s (Non Voting)
Chief Executive Officer* (By Invitation, Non Voting)
Up to 9 Elected Members
Member Management Committee
Chairperson: State Commissioner
Deputy State Commissioner(s)
Learning and Development Manager
Program Manager
Olave Program Consultant
Region Manager representative
CEO or delegate
Membership Manager
As required:
Outdoors, Environment and Earth Education Consultant
International and World Guiding Consultant
Finance Management Committee appointed committee members
Policy and Procedure Review Committee appointed committee members
Risk Committee appointed committee members
Governance Working Committee appointed committee members
Awards Committee appointed committee members
Treasurer*
Up to 3 Co-opted Members
Appointed Members responsible for the management of each Region
* Ex-Officio Members of all Committees
11 Regions
444 Trefoil Guild Members
531 Units
240 Districts
Youth Members
1353 Adult Members
GIRL GUIDES AUSTRALIA
Suite 103, Level 1, 100 William Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011 02 9311 8000 guides@girlguides.org.au www.girlguides.org.au
GIRL GUIDES NSW & ACT Level 2, 55 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 02 8396 5200 guides@girlguides-nswact.org.au www.girlguides-nswact.org.au
GIRL GUIDES NORTHERN TERRITORY 55 Ross Smith Avenue Parap NT 0820 08 8981 3628 girlguidesnt@iinet.net.au www.girlguidesnt.com
GIRL GUIDES QUEENSLAND Unit 1, 132 Lutwyche Road Windsor QLD 4030 07 3357 1266 reception@guidesqld.org www.guidesqld.org
GIRL GUIDES SOUTH AUSTRALIA 63 Beulah Road Norwood SA 5067 08 8418 0900 guides@girlguidessa.org.au www.girlguidessa.org.au
GIRL GUIDES TASMANIA 17 Clarence Street Bellerive TAS 7018 03 6244 4408 office@guidestas.org.au www.guidestas.org.au
GIRL GUIDES VICTORIA Suite 812, 401 Docklands Drive, Docklands Vic 3008 03 8606 3500 guides@guidesvic.org.au www.guidesvic.org.au
GIRL GUIDES WESTERN AUSTRALIA 265 Great Eastern Highway Belmont WA 6104 08 9479 9800 info@girlguideswa.org.au www.girlguideswa.org.au
GIRL GUIDES NSW & ACT
Level 2, 55 Holt Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
T: (02) 8396 5200
E: guides@girlguides-nswact.org.au
girlguides-nswact.org.au
