Guiding News
A GIRL GUIDES NSW, ACT & NT NEWSLETTER
A Note from the Editor
Welcome to the first edition of a revamped organisational newsletter for Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT. While we don’t have a name yet, we’re not concerned. This newsletter is written and complied for Adult Members, Uniformed Volunteers, Trefoil Guild Members, the Staff Team, and our up-andcoming Junior Leader Youth Members and Guides that sit on the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) feeding girl-ledness up to the Board. The name isn’t that important, the content is!
Contributing authors and length of newsletter will vary from edition to edition depending on what important news there is to share with this audience. You’ve told us loud and clear that you don’t want ‘fluff’ in your newsletters and you don’t want to many unnecessary emails fro us, filling up your inboxes.
What is included in each newsletter will be listed upfront, and like previous newsletters, there’ll be a library on our website for you to look back through when you get that urge. We’re working towards the goal of the content being easily searchable so it’s easier to find what you are looking for!
Oh, and back to the topic of being a nameless newsletter—you can now vote for a name from the contributions we’ve received, or you can contribute an option of your own if you’re not feeling any of the choices.
Thanks for being a part of our Guiding community, and happy reading!
Jamie Shepheard (he/him)
Senior Manager, Digital, Marketing & Communication jamie@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Acting State Commissioner from the
Last weekend was one of the regularly scheduled Region Managers’ weekends. Region Managers and Assistant Region Managers represented each of our 11 Regions, working together to make sure that our ways of work suit the needs of Guiding. Staff team Heidi, Jamie and Mark came too, not only to share work on upcoming projects but to seek opinions and advice on current and future work. I thank this group of dedicated women for not only working within their Regions to support girls, leaders and managers but also for sharing their experience, expertise and thoughts over our time together last weekend.
Last week the Board approved updated role descriptions for our State Leads. Most of our Lead Roles have been appointed. We have Kristina Teodorovic as Leadership Lead, Janice Johnstone as Sustainability Lead, and Julia Becker as Inclusion Lead. We also Have Natalie Schmitzer, Chair Olave Committee and Ashleigh Hansen, Youth Awards Coordinator who are doing a great job in managing their roles.
I have enjoyed working with our Leads and know they will continue to be a great asset not only to Guiding but to the State Commissioner.
We do have vacancies though. Young Women’s Lead, Outdoor Lead, and Training Coordinator are vacant and are integral to the success of Guiding. We have a new Lead role too! Australian Guide Program Lead. This one has particular relevance to us all as we continue to focus on our strategic Growing Guiding pillar of product and delivery.
The Role Descriptions are here along with the nomination form. As you think about applying remember that even though we are firmly focussed on our mission to empower girls and young women to discover their potential as leaders of their world, we encourage everyone be on a journey of personal growth. When you decide you are interested, talk to people. You are welcome to contact me for a chat and if you are ready for your next challenge in Guiding, apply!
If you are not yet ready to apply, do you know someone who would be a great fit for one of these roles? Then encourage them to apply as well. Closing date for all nominations will be Monday, 10 September.
If you have applied for any of these roles in the last 6 or so months, we have your nomination and will add to the mix.
I encourage each of you to consider applying and be on board for our future successes!
Applications will be confidential and considered by the State Commissioner after her appointment.
Thanks to all for being so welcoming during my time as Acting State Commissioner. It has been wonderful to see such great people in action and working towards supporting girls and young women to be leaders of their world.
Sarah Neill Acting State Commissioner sc@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Introducing Social Media Community Standards. A Tool for Page Administrators
As Facebook and Instagram page administrators for Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT, you play a crucial role in fostering a positive, respectful, and inclusive online environment. Our social media channels serve as a platform for engaging with our communities, sharing information, and celebrating the values that define our organisation. To maintain the integrity of these spaces, it’s essential that we all adhere to our Social Media Community Standards and Rules of Engagement.
Our Commitment to a Respectful and Inclusive Community
At Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT, we are committed to ensuring that our social media channels reflect the respectful, inclusive, and tolerant nature of the communities we serve. We value the diverse perspectives of our members, volunteers, employees, and the broader public. As page administrators, your role is to uphold these principles by ensuring that all interactions on our platforms are conducted in a manner that is respectful and considerate of others.
Addressing Factual Errors
In our commitment to accuracy, we reserve the right to correct any factual errors that may arise in comments or posts. This is vital to maintaining the credibility and trust of our online presence. When you encounter such errors, please take the appropriate steps to address them, ensuring that the correct information is clearly communicated.
Engagement and Responsiveness
We encourage meaningful dialogue and will reply to comments when appropriate. However, it’s important to use discretion and judgment when deciding which comments warrant a response. Not all comments require engagement, especially if they do not contribute constructively to the conversation.
Moderation and Content Removal
While we support lively and open discussions, it is essential to maintain a positive environment. As such, we reserve the right to delete comments at our discretion. Our Community Standards helps identify categories of content or engagement that should be promptly removed:.
Closing Posts to Comments
In certain situations, it may be necessary to close posts to comments. This action should be taken judiciously and only when the conversation has become unproductive or harmful to the community’s well-being.
Banning Users
We take the integrity of our social media channels seriously. If individuals repeatedly violate our community standards, we reserve the right to ban them from engaging with our platforms. This step, though taken with caution, is necessary to protect the community and maintain a respectful environment.
By adhering to our Social Media Community Standards and Rules of Engagement, you help ensure that Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT remains a welcoming and supportive online community. Your role as a page administrator is vital in upholding these standards and fostering a space where all voices can be heard respectfully. Together, we can continue to build a positive online presence that reflects the values of our organisation.
Download the Document
Guide Proud? Stand out from the crowd
Last year we were thrilled to announce the launch of our branded ProShop, an online store dedicated to all your print and promotional needs! In collaboration with VistaPrint, we created a platform where you can easily order official Girl Guides branded items like Hall Signs, Banners, and more, anytime you need—no waiting for office hours!
Accessing ProShop
You have to be logged in to buy Guides branded things. If you're a Region Manager or District Manager, your account may already be set up! Invitations were sent to District Manager shared inboxes, accessible through your Microsoft Office 365 email (FirstName.LastName@ girlguides-nswactnt.org.au). The original invites have expired, but do not despair! Let the Digital, Marketing & Communication Team know that you would like to set-up your District’s (or Region’s, or Camp Site’s, or Guide Hall’s... you get the picture) account and we will have a new invitation emailed to you. Send an email to communications@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au with your name, your District’s name, and your Member number and we’ll get you set up.
Need Support?
For general ProShop enquiries, order issues, or artwork questions, the VistaPrint support team is available from 8am–8pm AEST, Monday to Friday, at anzinternalcare@vistaprintcorporate.com. For bulk orders or custom items that you’ve seen through Vista Print but they don’t seem to be available in ProShop, feel free to reach out directly to the Girl Guides NSW, ACT & NT Digital, Marketing & Communication Team, and we’ll work out a solution together.
Can't Find What You're Looking For?
If there's a product you’d like to see in the ProShop or an item that needs Guide branding, contact Jamie (jamie@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au) at Guide House. All new items will go through the standard approval process.
Got your account set up? Explore the ProShop today and enjoy the convenience of self-service ordering 24/7! Find it at: girlguidesnsw.ourproshop.com.au
Girl Guides information stand at Hawkesbury Show 2023 kitted out with branded items available from our ProShop
Good Service Awards
First Name Last Name Award Presented
Amanda Collett Boronia 17-Feb-24
Haylee Brown Flowering Gum 02-Mar-24
Nav Johal Banksia 19-May-24
Race Barstow Banksia 02-Mar-24
Cecily Zhu Wattle 19-May-24
Irini Agollari Banksia 02-Mar-24
Charlotte Weatherall Flowering Gum 02-Mar-24
Aine Leonard Flowering Gum 02-Mar-24
Michelle Kothe Emu 02-Mar-24
Lisa Walters Emu 19-May-24
Shaylah McClymont Flowering Gum 19-May-24
Kerrey Williams Emu 19-May-24
Heather Pinning Wattle 19-May-24
Chris Butler Flowering Gum 24-May-24
Alison Morris Boronia 03-Jul-24
What’s in a Name?
Names are powerful things. They act as an identity marker and a kind of map, locating you in time and geography. More than that, they can be a compass. They can also be a red herring, a diversion, or distraction. Spark a conversation like ‘what’s your Guiding name in emojis?’ on social media and watch your post engagement go though the roof. Ask your community what name we should give to this very newsletter, and be face with a tough decision!
We’ve collated the list of names that have been emailed to us to date and created a form for you to tell us the newsletter names that tickle your fancy.
Tap the button below to have your say!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
