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THE MARKET
The Scouting program delivered by Scouts
Australia, prepares young people aged 6-26 for
business and community leadership, developing
life skills, teamwork and leadership skills through a
value based program called the Scout Method.
However in recent times, available activities for
young people have increased dramatically.
Scouting now competes with organised sport,
other youth development programs and informal
leisure activities such as computer games and TV.
The demands on school students are ever-
increasing, and school activities and homework are
taking up more of young people’s time.
As a result, young people have less available
time, and more choices than ever before, putting
Scouting in a competitive market environment.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Since its inception in 1907, Scouting has spread to
all but six countries in the world, and membership
is now estimated at 28 million. With an emphasis
on peace, education and understanding, it
transcends all cultures, religions, races, politics, age
and gender barriers. Tens of thousands of young
people fromaround the globemeet every four years
atWorld Jamborees to share in the fun and exchange
of knowledge and understanding such events have
to offer. Every day, hundreds of thousands of
projects that benefit local communities are
conducted by Scouts working to improve their
world.
An estimated 2 million Australians have been
Scouts since it was founded in Australia in 1908.
Many of these have used the skills and confidence
gained in Scouts, to achieve success in their
careers, or other community contributions. Scouts
Australia has taught millions of young people
resourcefulness, self reliance, leadership, decision
making and concern for their community and the
environment.
The significant benefits Scouting brings to the
community has recently been acknowledged by
theAustralianGovernmentwhichhas declared2008
as “The Year of the Scout”.
HISTORY
On 1August 1907, LordRobert Baden-Powell, held
the very first ‘Scout camp’ for a group of 20 boys
onBrownsea Island in theUK. B-P as he is known,
was a national hero in theUK, following his victory
over the Boers at the siege of Mafeking during the
BoerWar. Hehaddevelopedamethodof ‘Scouting’
which he taught his soldiers, involving keen
observation and self reliance. On his return to the
UK, he was encouraged to apply his methods to
the training of boys, and thus held the Brownsea
Island camp. The boys lived in tents, cooked their
own food and learnt many valuable skills through
games.
The campwas extremely successful andBP then
began a fortnightly publication ‘Scouting for Boys’
which the youth of the UK quickly adopted and
started to follow. Australia was one of the first
countries to adopt Scouting. In early 1908 the
Sunday Times printed an article by Lord Baden-
Powell about the ScoutingMovement which raised
much interest inAustralia. By the end of 1908Scout
groups had formed throughout NSW, Queensland,
Western Australia and Victoria.
By 1922 a federal council of Scout groups had
been established in Australia. The Scout
Association ofAustraliawas incorporated byRoyal
Charter and Act of Parliament in 1967 and the
Association is amember of theWorldOrganisation
of the Scouting Movement.
Today there are around 60,000 Members of
Scouts Australia, including women and girls who
were first admitted in the 1970s.
THE PRODUCT
Scouts Australia is Australia’s largest youth
development organisation, and has over 1600
Groups in all parts of the country. Scouting is
inclusive and membership includes both girls and
boys, Scouts from remote locations, Scouts with
special needs, Scout Groups fromparticular cultural
backgrounds, including Indigenous Groups. The
aim is to encourage the physical, social, intellectual,
emotional and spiritual development of young
people so they take a constructive place in society
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