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Last month we published a District Team Update in the from the Volunteer Development Manager pages and for the first few days that the newsletter was online it erroneously stated the District Administrators reported to District Managers. It was corrected and republished; however a number of readers may not have gone back to these pages after they had been corrected. For clarity we wanted to reiterate that District Administrators report to Region Managers, and a District Administrator length of term is not currently defined.
As always, we hope this newsletter leaves you informed, inspired, and deeply connected to the Girl Guides movement.
Happy reading!
Jamie Shepheard (he/him) Senior Manager, Digital, Marketing & Communication jamie@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
State Commissioner from the
From the State Commissioner
Hello Sister’s in Guiding,
It was a privilege to be invited to meet Her Excellency Governor General Sam Mostyn AC KC at Government House during Volunteer Week. The group of people who volunteer across our community is inspiring.
I also met with community leaders at The Kings Parade in Sydney with The Governor Margaret Beazley AC KC and would like to recognise the Kings Birthday award recipients. This year past members Joanne Cooper, Cheryl Deguara, Carol Gathercole, Glennis Pohlner, and Jennifer Ross all received an OAM for their outstanding contributions to the community.
Now is the time to book tickets to several of the Gang Shows being held in July. The participants put in many hours of rehearsal, making costumes and sets and providing our Youth Members with a creative outlet. Thank you to all those people that make Gang Shows a big part of Guiding for so many. My team are looking forward to attending some of these performances.
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Mentor changes are being rolled out and very soon & we will communicate the updates to you. Mentoring new Leaders is important for us to pass the knowledge onto the next generation. Please consider if this accreditation is something you would like to complete. You should discuss this with your Supervisor in Guiding when you are completing your role review. We all need to complete our role reviews on a regular basis. Reach our to your supervisor in Guiding if you need to complete yours and lock in a time for a cuppa and chat.
Region Teams spend a lot of time organising great conferences and attending these days helps build networks and keeps our knowledge up to date. I was delighted to share the day with so many at AGWOL. There were lots of laughs and some good catchups with friends.
Have you looked at the Jamboree Merchandise? It looks great. If you are attending Jamboree, you will receive a contingent shirt, and two badges as part of the contingent fee of $50. Travel will be on top of that. Travel has been finalised, and invoices will be out soon.
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Thank you for your patience as we work through ensuring properties are up to standard for overnight stays and camps.
Yours in Guiding
Jo Tonon (she/her)
State Commissioner sc@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Trail Mix
A Program Feature to Pack in your Resource Rucksack.
Each month, we’re shining a light on a different Program resource—from Guiding in Australia and across the globe. Whether it’s a badge activity, a clever planning tool, or a fresh idea to energise your next meeting, this feature is here to inspire, support and add a little something extra to your Unit’s program. Think of it as your monthly dose of practical Guiding goodness—ready to pack into your Leader kit!
Featured Destinations
Albania – Land of Mountains & Lakes
Discover Albania’s rich history and cultural heritage. Engage in activities like exploring traditional crafts, sampling local cuisine such as Tave Kosi, and learning about notable figures like Mother Teresa and Dua Lipa. Understand the impact of communism on the country and delve into the traditions of Albanian Girl Guides.
Azerbaijan – Land of Fire
Explore Azerbaijan’s unique landscapes and traditions. Learn about its nickname, “Land of Fire,” and engage in cultural activities such as traditional crafts, music, and dance. Discover the history of Guiding in Azerbaijan and its connection to the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
Botswana – Heart of Africa
Immerse yourself in Botswana’s vibrant culture and natural beauty. Identify its location on the African map, learn about the official languages, and explore traditional crafts. Understand the role of Girl Guides in Botswana and their contributions to community development.
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Fiji – Land of Palms & Islands
Experience the island life of Fiji by learning about its languages, traditional games like pani, and crafts such as tapa cloth. Delve into environmental issues affecting the region and explore the traditions of Fijian Girl Guides.
Ghana – Land of Gold & Cocoa
Discover Ghana’s rich cultural tapestry through its languages, traditional games like Antoakyire, and crafts like kente cloth weaving. Learn about the significance of cocoa and gold in its economy and the role of Girl Guides in Ghanaian society.
South Africa – Land of Great Natural Beauty & Cultural Diversity
Explore South Africa’s diverse cultures, languages, and natural wonders. Engage in activities like researching the “Big 5” animals, understanding the country’s history through significant figures, and experiencing traditional music and dance. Learn about the structure and traditions of South African Girl Guides.
Program Highlights
• Interactive Learning: Each country’s program includes map activities, language lessons, and cultural explorations.
• Cultural Immersion : Engage in traditional crafts, continued over page
music, dance, and culinary experiences.
• Guiding Connections : Understand the global Guiding movement by exploring the practices and promises of Girl Guides worldwide.
• Flexible Participation : Programs can be undertaken individually or as a unit, allowing for adaptable learning experiences.
• Badge Integration : Activities align with various challenges and awards, including the Junior BP, BP, Queen’s Guide, and OBP Awards.
Embark on this enriching journey and broaden your global perspective through the Guides Go Globetrotting program.
For more information and to access the resources, visit the Guides Go Globetrotting page.
Period Prepared Program Leader Guide and Badge Syllabus
This program was created in partnership with Modibodi, and Australia’s leading relationships and sexual education for youth expert Interrelate in March 2025.
This Period Prepared Program includes:
• Period Prepared Leader Guide - Including details re Period Point Washing Stations, to be rolled out at guide camps, to support girls washing & drying reusable underwear.
• Period Prepared Badge Syllabus for completing positive period challenges independently and with fellow Guides.
• GGA Period Prepared Resources for girls, supporting positive period conversations for girls, as well as parents and guardians
• Modibodi Teen Camp and Sleepover Hub with
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supportive and educational content for girls to prepare them for any type of camp or sleepover
Resources are also accessible on the GGA Website and you may have seen the Leader Guide and the Badge Syllabus promoted across Facebook and Instagram.
Modibodi has our collab info on their Teen Hub and if you and everyone you know uses the code GirlGuidesAU when buying Modibodi products on their website, Modibodi will make a donation to support Girl Guides Australia!
outdoor Lead
From the Outdoor Lead
Let’s Get Outdoors in Term 3!
The number of Adventure Based activities we’re providing for our Units is (much) lower than in previous years. Let’s try and do something about it. The challenge is on!
Unit Leaders — let’s aim to have every Unit participating in an adventure based activity (OUT01 & RA required) in Term 3.
Not at Region or Division level but at Unit or District level. No Unit is too small to have some fun!
Questions?
Ask your ROC or email your question to: OutdoorLead@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
PS: Going on a camp or adventure based activity without approval.
Sometimes Members believe that the act of submitting an OUT01 & Risk Assessment is all that is needed. Some Members genuinely believe you can continue with your
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activity or camp without receiving an approved OUT01 either from your ROC or the SOL.
This is not correct and if anything goes wrong, as LiC, you are responsible; qualifications cannot be updated and you are exposing yourself and the organisation to a high risk.
Virginia Brown (she/her)
Outdoor Lead
outdoor@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Call for Applications
Are you ready for a new challenge?
Girl Guides Australia is excited to be advertising four National roles and is looking for four Adult Members to join the National Volunteer team.
If you are ready to share your passion and Guiding experience, collaborating with both National team members and State representatives to support the delivery and facilitation of a high quality, inclusive, girl-led Australian Guiding Program, then one of these roles might be for you.
These National roles are:
National Coordinator – Adult
National Coordinator – Youth
National Coordinator – International
National JOTA/JOTI Liaison
All details can be found on the GGA website: Girl Guiding News - Girl Guides Australia Applications close 26 July 2025.
From
the Property Manager property Manager
From the Property Manager
UPDATE ON FIRE SAFETY ASSESSMENTS OF CAMPSITES & HALLS AND APPROVAL FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS
The only Campsites left to be inspected are Burrabaroo, Jackadgery, Naomi England Lodge and Northern Rivers Division campsite (Brunswick Heads Guide Hall). We anticipate these will be scheduled before the end of June.
All of the Campsites and properties inspected to date have fire safety issues – some more extensive than others – and most have permitted use compliance issues as well.
The Property Team requested historic planning approval and fire safety approval documentation for each campsite from Councils some time ago. We have now received documentation back from most Councils, and this documentation is being reviewed by the fire safety engineer (Russel Grove from Building & Fire Surveying Consultants). Some Campsites have adequate existing plans in this documentation so we don’t need to get new plans done.
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The draft BFSC reports have been shared with the Board. They are subject to change based on the historic planning documents received from Councils, the updated plans we get done and the preferred planning pathway identified, and so the draft reports will not be shared with campsite committees and Region Managers. Final version reports will be shared. The Property Manager met with Russel Grove and a private certifier (Sean Connolly from Consult Code Solutions) in May to review the draft reports and discuss planning pathways. Their advice was to try and have Councils issue a Fire Safety Order for a few of the more compliant campsites, and see how that goes. A Fire Safety Order would be the simplest and quickest planning pathway to address fire safety issues at any of the campsites and other properties, so we are trying that first. Much simpler than a Complying Development Certificate or Development Application – particularly for Guides properties which often predate current planning approval and compliance regimes.
Three Campsites have been identified to initially try and get a Fire Safety Order issued as they are closest to being compliant. Plans will be drawn up for these three campsites and Russel Grove will then redraft his report as a recommendation to Council to issue a Fire Safety Order for these properties to have the fire safety upgrades detailed in the report completed. continued over page
It is not guaranteed how the Councils will respond to this recommendation for a Fire Safety Order – they may agree to issue an FSO, they may decline and require a Complying Development Certificate or a Development Application, or it may be a trigger for the Council to further investigate the campsites and their permitted use and require further fire safety upgrades or compliance work to be undertaken.
Fire safety upgrade works can only start once there is a planning approval in place – whether that is a Fire Safety Order, a CDC or a DA.
Araluen is also being prioritised at this time to try for a Fire Safety Order. This will however be the most complicated of the properties inspected to date to navigate through this planning approval and fire safety compliance process. We have engaged PMDL architects to draw up plans where needed at the campsites and properties and they did a site visit to Araluen on 6 – 7 June to start drafting the plans for that building.
Correct building classifications also need to be in place for overnight stays at campsites and Halls to resume. These are also being investigated and reviewed as part of the planning approvals process. Campsite accommodation buildings and Guide Halls need to meet a classification that permits overnight accommodation, and for what number of people.
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Where there is an existing permitted use for overnight accommodation, at a number of the Campsites and properties we need to look at reducing numbers in order to get through the planning approval process much quicker and get the Campsite reopened for overnight stays as soon as possible.
For Guide Halls and other buildings that have a classification only as a Class 9b assembly hall, this does not permit overnight accommodation. A DA would be required to change this.
We are progressing steadily through this fire safety assessment process, but there is still a way to go. As the inspections are completed and draft reports prepared, we are now reviewing each campsite on a case by case basis and developing workplans for discussion with the Region Manager, campsite committee and State Commissioner Team.
MAIN POINTS TO COMMUNICATE:
• All campsites and properties inspected to date have fire safety issues and most have permitted use issues.
• We are going to try and get Fire Safety Orders for three campsites that are closest to compliance plus Araluen and see how that goes – this is the simplest and quickest planning approval pathway, so we are trying that first. But there is no guarantee of the outcome.
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• We are getting plans for these four done first, then Russel Grove will rewrite the draft reports as a recommendation to Council to issue a FSO.
• We can only do fire safety upgrade work once we have an FSO (or a CDC or DA)
• Campsites and Guide Halls also need to have a building classification that permits overnight accommodation – many Halls are likely to only have a classification for use as a meeting Hall. A DA would be required to change that.
• For some campsites that have existing approval for overnight accommodation, we are going to have to reduce numbers to get through the planning approval process quicker.
• There is still a way to go as we work through this process.
Approved Sites for Overnight Stays
When you are logged-in to our website, an easy way to search approved properties, is to go to the Space for Hire menu and click/tap on “Search Approved Campsites” where you can view approved properties by indoor by state or territory.
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INTRODUCING PIERRE EID
The new Building Project Manager with the property team at Guide House.
Pierre Eid has joined the Property Team at Guide House, the State Office, as the Building Project Manager on a 6 month contract.
Pierre has extensive experience in commercial property management, asset management for government bodies including Dept. of Education and Sydney Water, and has run his own company doing building work.
His exclusive focus over the next 6 months will be on getting 3 key Property projects well underway including:
1. Repairs, maintenance and compliance work as identified in the Progroup reports for priority Halls in each Region
2. For Halls we will be relinquishing out of the Progroup reports process, helping Districts and Regions where needed to get make good repairs done and halls cleaned and emptied and ready to hand back to Council or Crown Lands continued over page
3. Getting unapproved septic systems at Campsites and Halls approved and upgraded where needed
4. Pierre will primarily be out and about doing site visits to Halls and Campsites across all Regions.
Pierre and I are meeting with each Region team to discuss and agree the priority Halls for each Region for repairs, maintenance and compliance work from the Progroup reports. Pierre will then make contact with District Managers and other Hall contacts, and organise site visits to those Halls to get things underway.
All other Property matters, including new repair and maintenance issues, should continue to be sent to the Property team at propertyadmin@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au as usual.
Imagine every Guide at the 2025 Great Guide Sleepover proudly wearing a badge designed by a Guide in your Unit or District! Now’s your chance to make that dream a reality!
We’re calling on all creative Guides aged 10–17 to help design this year’s official Great Guide Sleepover badge. If you’ve got a Guide with an eye for design, a clever slogan up their sleeve, or one who just loves a great creative challenge—this is for you!
What to Include in Your Design:
• The words Great Guide Sleepover 2025
• The iconic Girl Guide Trefoil
• This year’s conservation mascot: the Greater Bilby
• A fun, alliterative slogan — think Bilbies, B & B to help set the tone!
Let your Guides’ imagination run wild — badge designs can be any shape, any style! Whether they prefer drawing on paper or designing digitally using Canva, Google Docs or Microsoft O365, it’s their creativity that counts.
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What They’ll Win:
The winning design earns a Bilby-themed Gift Pack and the bragging rights of seeing their artwork adorn blankets and bags across NSW, ACT & NT!
How to Enter:
Submit designs by Thursday 10 July 2025 to communications@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
Entrants need to include:
Full Name
Member Number • Unit Name
The winner will be contacted by email after entries close.
Have questions?
Contact the team at events@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au
If you have feedback, or wish to make a contribution, please send an email to communications@girlguides-nswactnt.org.au.
