Being safe at Scouts and Venturers

If you are worried about how someone is treating you – whether by someone at Scouts, a teacher, a family member or friend, or someone else, you have every right to get help. If you can, the first thing you should try to do is talk to a trusted adult, that you feel safe talking to and who you think will help you – this might be a parent, a teacher, or a Leader.

• They should listen to everything you say and believe you – for this reason, it's not okay to make up what someone has done to you.
• If you don’t feel comfortable talking to someone you know, you can always talk to the Kids Helpline, whom you can contact by phone – 1800 55 1800– or by email or private message on their webpage.
• You can also call Scouts Victoria on 1800 870 772, or email us at childsafe@scoutsvictoria.com.au. We will then investigate the incident(s). Depending on what the person has done, and other circumstances, we may be required by law to report the incident(s) to Victoria Police or Child Protection.
• If what you have (or are) experiencing is not related to Scouts, you can contact Victoria Police yourself, or talk to the Kids Helpline about your other options. If you have a Leader at Scouts or Venturers that you trust, they will be able to also talk to you about your options, or give Scouts Victoria a call on the number above, we can help you.

Remember, it is not your fault that you aren't being treated properly, and it is not your job to stop it. If you an adult know it is happening, it is their job to get you help to stop it from happening

If you are being abused – whether by someone at Scouts, a teacher, a family member or friend, or someone else, you have every right to get help. If you can, the first thing you should try to do is talk to a different adult to the one that is abusing you, that you feel safe talking to and who you think will help you – this might be a parent, a teacher, or a Leader.

They should listen to everything you say and believe you – for this reason, you should never make up what someone has done to you.

If you don’t feel comfortable talking to another adult, you can always talk to the Kids Helpline, who you can contact by phone – 1800 55 1800– or by email or private message at their webpage.

If the abuse is by an adult at Scouts or Venturers, you should always report them to us. The easiest way to do that is by clicking here and filling in the form as well as you can. You can also call us on 1800 870 772, or email us on childsafe@scoutsvictoria.com.au. We will then investigate the incident(s). Depending on what the person has done, and other circumstances, we may be required by law to report the incident(s) to Victoria Police or the Department of Health and Human Services.

If the person is found to have abused you, we will terminate their membership of Scouts Victoria, which means that they can no longer be a leader or hold any other role in Scouting.

If the abuse you have or are experiencing is not related to Scouts, you can contact Victoria Police yourself, or talk to the Kids Helpline about your other options. If you have a leader at Scouts or Venturers that you trust, they will be able to also talk to you about your options.

Remember, it is not your fault that you are being abused, and it is not your job to stop it. If you an adult know it is happening, it is their job to get you help to stop it from happening.

Any adult that breaks the Code of Conduct for Adults in Scouting will have their role in Scouting reviewed. At a minimum, they may be required to undergo further training or suspended. At most, their membership may be terminated – meaning they may no longer be a member of Scouts Victoria.

All adults who join Scouts Victoria have agreed to abide by certain rules and regulations. Youth members are not responsible for the actions of adults who break these rules.

One of the great things about Scouting is that we’re a worldwide movement, with over 40 million Scouts around the world. It’s great to meet as many Scouts from as many different countries as you can, to learn about how different people and different countries Scout differently. However, just because someone you meet online tells you that they’re a Scout, doesn’t mean that you should ignore normal internet safety principles.

Regardless of how you contact other Scouts, however, you should always follow some basic principles.

Remember:

1.  Private stuff needs protecting.
2. You can only really know someone if you meet them face to face.
3. What you share online will always be there.
4. Not everyone online is who they say they are.
5. If something doesn’t feel right, tell a trusted adult.

If you ever see a webpage online with content that you think is unsafe, offensive or illegal, you can report it to the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner.

Finally, if you or someone you know is being abused, bullied or harassed by someone online, it’s just the same as being abused, bullied or harassed in person. Follow the instructions above for what you can do.

Scouting is open to everyone, regardless of their gender or sexuality.

No one is to be bullied, abused, neglected, or discriminated against for any reason in Scouting, and that includes their gender identification or sexuality. If you feel that this is happening to you, you need to talk to someone – a leader, a parent, a friend, or a helpline (check out the support services below). If the problem isn’t solved, or you can’t find anyone else to talk to, the Scouts Victoria reporting hotline can assist you, on 1800 870 772.