Youth Safe Advocates
Training is key to developing a child safe environment where individuals feel safe speaking out about difficult topics. Each Youth Safe Advocate has undergone extensive online training by the Office of the Children’s Guardian, as well as face-to-face training with Scouts, so they understand how to take disclosures and report them appropriately.
Advocates are trained to provide on-the-ground advice and support to all of our members at activities across NSW. This includes providing a listening ear to those concerned about their own safety, or the safety of another member, and where necessary, taking disclosures and making reports.
Youth Safe Advocates are responsible for:
- Becoming the ‘on the ground’ face of Scouts NSW Child Safety initiatives – particularly at large events
- Understanding and explaining Scouts NSW Child Protection policies and procedures
- Promoting Child Safe Messaging throughout the organisation
- Achieving a high level understanding of prevention and intervention child abuse strategies; and
- Encouraging and enabling incident reporting.
Individuals can nominate themselves as a potential Youth Safe Advocate by filling in the form here.
All suspicions, concerns or allegations about child protection matters should be reported using the online child protection form. To make a report click here.
Each Advocate will wear a unique Youth Safe Advocate badge and woggle at events to allow youth and adult members to identify them as someone who understands child safety and who can take disclosures and provide advice and support.
