Extraordinary Rovers, One Year On....
Extraordinary Rovers = Extraordinary Crews (ERC) provided a unique opportunity for Rovers to quantify what an Extraordinary Rover and Crew can be, it provided a great aspirational objective/goal for all members. Since the conference the Next Step team (NST) of keen Rovers and Advisers took on the role of quantifying steps needed to help rovers become extraordinary. We have done many things since this conference, some highly visible and some background work. We have also held back some items for the National Rover Program Review due to start later this year. Some of the things we have done include:
- We're improving our links with Venturers by ensuring that we have information available about Rovers at all major Venturer events. We're updating the VicRovers.com find a crew page and are putting in place a system to call all venturers who have turned 18, to ensure that they've found the right rover crew for them.
- We're also updating our image with new photos of Rovers being Rovers and creating Rover posters and Merchandise to be distributed at future events.
- More photos from Crews are always welcome.
- It was recognised at ERC that many components of having an extraordinary experience relate to Crew life and that Rovers need help at the crew level. The NST took this theme and developed some guidelines for Region Rover Councils and Crews that would increase the level of support provided to Crews by the RRC and also a list of the qualities and activities that lead to an extraordinary Crew. It is hoped over time this will raise the minimum quality the Rover experience provides to all future members. This plan is now with Rovers to implement, the hard work is ahead.
- Better promotion of training, highlighting where to find fact sheets on training. Regions contacting Rovers who are ready for the next step of training.
- More focus on contacting individuals who are eligible for training rather than promoting to a group of Rovers.
- Trialling the National Introduction to Rovers course online to commence in the next few weeks.
- Each Rover Adviser now has access to the Extranet and their Crew details.
- The find a crew feature on the web page has been enhanced and updated
- Each Rover Crew now gets a copy of the Info Book each year.
There are also a number of things that we have started but are not ready for implementation and these include:
- A selection process to assist Crews in choosing the right person as an RA, this will be workshopped at the RA Seminar in May and then possibly referred to the National Rover Review.
- The Webpage is being upgraded. This is a slow process as we are looking at all aspects of the pages, we would hope to see some results in the next six months.
- A letter has been developed for Venturers who are 17.5 years old; this letter will provide five Crews in their local area for them to choose from. We are just waiting for the extranet team to finalise their processes.
- We are planning on scanning all Branch Minutes and then loading them on the web page, scintillating reading but a good resource and source for history. This will be done over the next twelve months
- The “I want to be Rover” initiative is set to come back; we are currently sourcing some more woggles.
- A survey is being produced to explore bullying and harassment in Rovers, something that was highlighted in the pre conference survey
- Rover Crews are being placed on Extranet and members will be linked to their Crews. Rover Advisers will then have access to all Crew members via extranet.
There are also some issues that we are referring to the National Rover Review to look at, these include:
- Rover promotion to all sections
- Rover Image
- Developing a structure that assists not impedes
- Managing Alcohol in Rovering
- Clear definition of the roles of Groups and Districts with Rovers, look at formalising the relationship.
- Clear guidance on BP Scout Award
- Create a link badge between Rovers and Leadership roles
We have come a long way in twelve months, whilst you may not see the results straight away there has been a lot of work going on in the background. All this and still providing quality Rovering to our members. The Branch Rover Council Office Bearers and Region Chairs will be discussing the next step at our Planning Weekend on March 27th – 28th 2010. If you have any further suggestions please pass them on to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and I will ensure they are tabled at this conference.
Craig Whan
Branch Commissioner – Rovers
Victorian Branch Rover Council
Extraordinary Rovers Report
The final report has been completed for Extraordinary Rovers, this report contains the full results of the day help on 21st March 2009 along with copies of the results obtained from the surveys that were conducted in the weeks before the event.
Download Extraordinary Rovers Report
Where to from here?
The Next Step team has been formed of which any Rover is welcome to join. This team is the steering group of how we will move forward into the future with the findings from Extraordinary Rovers. The idea is to gain experience and knowledge from Rovers far and wide to implement strategies to address the findings indicated in the report.
Anyone is welcome at the Next Step team, you don't need to come from a committee background or a region council background. In fact, it is encouraged for members who have not been interested in those roles get onto the team. The team is there to help solve the issues raised within Rovers, if we don't get the feedback and how we can resolve the problems, we cannot move forward.
How do I get involved?
Simply turn up to a Next Step team meeting, they are held on the first Monday of each month at the Victorian Rover Centre, Highland Avenue, Clayton. Chris Young (Asst Branch Commissioner for Development) is the best person to contact for more information, he can be contacted via email. Please see the Asst Branch Commissioner for Development Contact Page
What do we need to do at Region Level?
At a region level, discussion topics will be distributed from the Next Step team. These will be distributed via the BRC Minutes, Region Executives are requested to bring these topics up at their Region Council meetings for discussion. This feedback then needs to be provided back to the Next Step team. This will help develop the processes into the future.
What do I need to do at Crew Level?
As feedback comes from your region, you'll need to take the discussion topics from the region back to your crew to talk about them. If you then provide the feedback to your region you can then ensure your voice is heard from crews. You may even want to speak to younger members in your crew and ask them to participate in the Next Step team.
'I Want To Be A Rover' is designed to further increase the awareness of Rovers existence and to encourage our youth members to carry on into Rovers. The “I want to be a Rover” woggles will be handed out to younger sections of our movement during their participatioin in joint activities with Rovers. A Nation Rover Council Iniative it is our responsibilty to manage this scheme and ensure its success.
There are four topic areas that programs and activities have been put under: The Jungle Book, Winter Games, St George and the Dragon and the 10 Quests of Rovering (a treasure hunt of sorts), a number of options have sourced for the Rovers to choose, to mix and match from or to spark their own ideas.
Don’t forget to write an article or send some photos in if you run a night, and we can post them on the new and improved www.vicrovers.com.
The Four Program Areas:
The Process:
- Contact your local Cub pack/Rover crew
- If you don’t have a local Cub pack/Rover crew, contact your Region Chair
- Decide on a night that suits you and your Crew/Pack.
- Select a Program or come up with your own.
- Organise the crew to be there, and to assist with organising any equipment if needed
- Fill out the Information Form and hand a copy of it to your Region Chair
- Receive the specified amount of woggles requested/needed (yes rovers, you will need to ask these questions of the Cub Leader.)
- Run the program night.
- Hand out woggles to all of the cubs present.
- Ask the Leader to fill out the Feedback section on the Information Form.
- Ensure that the Cub Leader has your contact details for the next Rover/Cub night (no woggles this time but we know you had a heap of fun!).
- Hand copy of completed form to Region Chair.
- Region Chair to forward a copy of completed form to the Assistant BRC Chairman.
Download the Information Form and Letters below:
For all enquires, contact the BRC Assistant Chairman.
During 2010-11, Scouts Australia is conducting its regular review of the Rover Section. This Review will be called ‘Rovering Towards 2020’.
In March 2010, the NOC commissioned a committee to develop the terms of reference for Rovering Towards 2020.
The committee agreed that the Review will:
- Identify the needs and desires of young adults in contemporary Australian society and over the next 10 years.
- Identify the needs and desires of the current Rover population.
- Investigate what other young-adult focused organisations are doing to attract and satisfy young adults, and the success of those strategies.
- Identify the perceptions of the Rover Section that are held in contemporary Australian society and within the Scouting community.
- Review research and good practice in Australian Scout Branches, other National Scout Organisations and WOSM for the age group 15 to 25 .
- Consider the Scouts Australia National Strategic Plan and findings arising from other relevant Scouts Australia reviews over the past 10 years, including the 2004-2005 Review of Adults in Scouting in Australia and the recent Venturer Scout Review.
- Conduct a critical review of the current program in relation to the operation of the program, and whether it meets the needs of young adults, and the needs and requirements of Scouts Australia.
- Consult with, and obtain input from, the National Rover Council and the Branch Rover Councils.
- Make specific recommendations regarding the future of the Rover Section in the form of a written report to the Scouts Australia NOC, and provide an implementation plan for approval of the National Executive Committee by Nov 2011.
What is the purpose of conducting a review of the Section?
Scouts Australia conducts a national review of each Section every eight years or so in order to ensure that the youth program remains dynamic and relevant.
The purpose of Rovering Towards 2020 is to conduct a professional and considered review of the Rover program and make recommendations to ensure that Rovering contributes to the education of young adults through a value system based on the Promise and
Law, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.
Bla… sounds pretty dry, yes?
It’s actually not! The Scouts Australia youth program aims to achieve this personal growth by providing young people with opportunities for new experiences and adventure using the Scout Method, and we all know that it’s FUN as well!!! Rovering Towards 2020 will ensure that the Rover program is consistent with this nationwide (and, indeed, worldwide) approach to Scouting.
For more information, check out:
Rovering Towards 2020 Edition 3 (July 2011)
Rovering Towards 2020 Edition 2 (Sept 2010)
Rovering Towards 2020 Edition 1 (July 2010)
The application pack is now available for download, click the link below!
Scouts Australia (specifically the Rover Section), RotorACT and Rotary are undertaking a partnership project in Timor Leste (formerly known as East Timor) to further develop the community. This involves infrastructure work, community development and eventually building up their Scout Association. Scouts Australia have committed to supporting Timor Leste in their endeavours to grow their association. At this stage we are looking for expressions of interest from Rovers who are interested in participating in the project and being involved in a project that fits well with the Scouts of the World Award.
If you would like to participate, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will let the relevant bodies know that you would like to be involved.
More Information
More information is available on the Scouts Australia Website on the Partnerships Page.
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