Support Services UpdateISSUE 18 OCTOBER 2016

2016/2017 Fees

Visit the online calendar

Forms updated this month:

• D8 - Joey Scout Promise

• D9 Grey Wolf Award

Training Calendar

QBSI Updates

Forms

Event Registrations

Insurance Cert of Currency

MONTHLY UPDATES

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS

www.scoutsqld.com.au

USEFUL LINKS

GROUP SUPPORT COMMITTEE

Training Update This is a reminder that all training courses close three (3) weeks before the commencement of the course.

Prior to submitting an application to attend either a Basic or Advanced course please ensure that all relevant eLearning has been completed (refer Learning Plan). In future the Training Department will not be accepting training applications if the eLearning is incomplete.

As a Group Leader you are required to sign the training application to advise satisfactory Leadership performance and the eLearning has been completed.

The Group Support Committee (GSC) is a vital part of any successful Scout Group. Scouts Training describes the Committee thus, “The mission of the Support Committee is to remove all barriers to success and allow the trained Adult Leaders to focus on delivering Scouting without being distracted by housekeeping, fund raising, facilities management, and so on.” It is important to note the word SUPPORT.

This committee is made up of ALL the Parents by default. Any Leaders who also happen to be Parents are also part of this Committee but must remember their Role changes when attending these meetings, from Leader to Parent.

The Group Support Committee Executive (GSCE) is part of the GSC and is made up of the Group Leader, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. This is the core of the Committee and it is vital to have committed, strong and passionate people in these roles. The Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary are all to be signed up as Adult Members of Scouts Queensland, hold a valid Blue Card and complete the Mandatory E-Learning modules of Child Safe and Workplace OH&S. The Group Leader needs to complete the required Leader of Adult training and practical weekend courses.

The GSCE reports to the Group Leader and are there to support all the Leaders to deliver a great Scouting Program. There are further elective E-Learning modules for each Role available, which offer excellent insight into the Roles and the GSCE. All Members of Scouting have access to these E-Learning modules using their Membership Number and DOB in 6 digits.

The GSC should meet once per month, and this meeting should be at a set time and date. Making it the First Monday of the Month, for example, ensures everyone knows exactly when it will be and can plan their calendars to suit. Agenda Items should be sent to the Secretary before the meeting and a copy of the Agenda then sent to all GSCE members at least 2 days before, so they can come prepared to discuss. The GSC meetings should be quite formal with minutes taken, motions moved, seconded and voted on. The GSC should meet regardless of availability of members with reports from absent members emailed beforehand and discussed during.

A GSC meeting should follow a standard meeting format, with Minutes from previous meeting accepted and seconded, Business outstanding from previous meetings, Incoming mail, Outgoing mail, Workplace Health and Safety, Treasurers report, Group Leaders report, Fundraising Report and General Business. Always agree and set the next meeting place and time and ensure it is broadcast to the Group Families. Using a Group noticeboard within your Den is a great idea, as well as using a Group Newsletter. Broadcasting the Minutes of the GSC meetings is an excellent way of promoting to the families what is coming up and how much work is being done in the background to ensure the success of the Scout Group.

Some of the tasks of the GSC:

• Purchase/attainment of required equipment for sections.

• Maintenance and organisation of Group Equipment.

• Administration of Group. E.g. Memberships, Renewals, Blue Cards etc.

• Fundraising

• Group Budget

• Promotion of the Group activities

• Payment of rates, electricity etc.

• Housekeeping, Maintenance of the Group Buildings

• Compliance Audits

Click here for more...

SMS TRAINING UPDATE – PHASE 1 COMPLETIONPlease be advised the Training tab on SMS is now available as all data cleansing has been completed.

What has changed over the last 6 weeks is all appointments now reflect the National Training Curriculum. All e-learning modules are now displayed individually and are no longer grouped under headings eg advance core e-Learning. An automated process from the National e-Learning site has also been implemented which automatically each evening updates SMS for any modules that have been fully completed.

Please note that the “Status Field” on a Leaders record has currently been disabled until phase 2 of the SMS project has been implemented.

Click here for more details...

Gambling Community Benefit FundThe Gambling Community Benefit Fund has announced changes to the application process for grants using an online grants portal. The new system will be accessible through more devices and operating systems and will reduce the time it takes to apply for grants.

As regular recipients of grants from the Fund, Scouts Queensland have been chosen to assist with testing the new system and the Grants and Project Office is currently working with the Department and providing feedback on the system’s functionality.

Applications to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund by Queensland Scout Formations will still be submitted through the Branch Support Office and Formations will be registered under the auspice of Scouts Queensland.

The maximum value of grants awarded will remain at $35,000 and there will continue to be four grant rounds a year. However due to the launch of the new system, the next round will not open until November 2016 and will close in mid-January 2017.

More information regarding the application process will be circulated to all Formations once the testing stage has been completed and the system is ready to be launched for applications.

Get in the Game – Get Started VouchersRound 8 of the Get Started Voucher program will close on 27 November 2016, please continue to forward all Get Started Vouchers received to the Branch Support Office so that they can be redeemed and the funds allocated in good time.

Round 9 of the Get Started Voucher program will open on 25 January 2017, please give families plenty of notice to apply for these vouchers because they were fully allocated in less than a week last year.

For those who are not familiar with the program, Get Started Vouchers assist children and young people who can least afford, or may otherwise benefit from, joining a sport or active recreation club. Eligible children and young people can apply for a voucher valued up to $150 towards the cost of membership.

Queensland Scout FoundationSince April 2016, the Queensland Scout Foundation has awarded 12 grants valued in total at nearly $50,000 for projects that assist Formations with the development and delivery of the youth program. The Fund also supports applications for funding projects that assist Formations in meeting their compliance requirements and to carry out urgent maintenance work to secure the ongoing safety of Members and the Association.

For more information regarding the Queensland Scout Foundation and for details on how to apply, please refer to the Branch website: https://scoutsqld.com.au/members/resources/grants/queensland-scout-foundation

FIRST AID IN THE WORKFORCE

BRANCH SUPPORT OFFICEBusiness Address:

32 Dixon Street, Auchenflower Qld 4066

Postal Address:

PO Box 520, Toowong Qld 4066

Phone: 07 3870 7000

Office Hours:

Monday 8.30am – 4.00pm

Tuesday 8.30am – 5.00pm

Wednesday 8.30am – 5.00pm

Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm

Friday 8.30am – 5.00pm

www.scoutsqld.com.au

Support Services Update

GRANT NEWS

Throughout my travels, many members ask, “what is the correct first aid kit we should be using or have” My response is as always “it’s risk related and or task specific”

(https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/58162/first-aid-in-the-workplace-cop-2014.pdf) the 2014 code of practice - First aid in the workplace

If I can draw people’s attention to Table 1 at section 2, which provides sound guidance for those people nominated and qualified as first aid respondents (who we depend on),whom provide essential support to all our activities.

This document will further support those nominated as first aiders to develop a greater robust response plan and appropriate equipment for all activities.

Rod Lang - Facilities Compliance Officer

NEW APPOINTMENTSThe Chief Commissioner is pleased to announce the following people have accepted these appointments:

• Paul Rogerson - Region Commissioner Brisbane South

• Brendan Dickenson - Region Commissioner Brisbane North (as of 1 November 2016)

• Peter Gould - Branch Commissioner (Adventurous Activities) (as of 1 November 2016)