Frequently Asked Questions
What to Guide Leaders actually do?
Do I need to have been a Guide myself or have a
daughter in Guides to become a leader?
How much time does it take?
I don't think I can come every week, am I still able to be a leader?
I'm not sure if I'm prepared for 7 year-olds/teenagers, what age would the girls
be?
How to I become a Girl Guide Leader?
I think that I would like to be a leader, but I'm not quite sure. Can I
give it a try first?
I'm interested in helping out but I don't think that I'm ready to be a leader,
is there anything else that I can do to help?
Do I need to be a really outdoorsy, adventurous person?
What do Girl Guide Leaders actually do?
Girl Guide Leaders work together as a team to run weekly meetings and occasional outings for the Guides in their unit. This may involve organising the night's activities, from crafts and games to skill-building activities or even helping the girls to plan their own activities (which is great for developing their leadership and organisation skills). Some Girl Guide Leaders will write permission notes, others handle finances or communicate directly with parents. There are many different parts that make up the Girl Guide Leadership team.
Do I need to have been a Girl Guide myself or have a daughter in Girl Guides to become a leader?
No, Girl Guide Leaders come from all sorts of backgrounds.
Unit meetings are 1.5-2 hours each week depending on the age group and there is the occasional weekend activity day or camp. Depending on their role, leaders also spend some time each week preparing for the upcoming meetings (eg. writing permission notes, getting materials together for a craft, choosing a game, etc.)
I don't think I can come every week, am I still able to be a leader?
Sure thing. After all, 2 leaders who can only come every second week means that there is an extra leader at the meeting every week. As long as you try to let the other leaders know in advance when you can't come, it's fine.
I'm not sure if I'm prepared for 7-year olds/teenagers, what age would the girls be?
The girls are organised into units according to their age. Junior Guides are between 7 and 10, Guides are between 10 and 14, and Senior Guides are between 14 and 18 so you can choose the age group with which you feel most comfortable. Training is also available to help you to understand how to run meetings for girls of differing ages. Support and guidance will always be available from other leaders and your special Guiding-partner who is there to help you along the way so you never feel like you are upstream without a paddle.
How do I become a Girl Guide Leader?
After becoming a member of Girl Guides NSW&ACT, you will need to fill in the prospective leader application and a working with children check.
Once these have been processed, you will be allocated a special Guiding partner. She is a Leader who has been in Guiding for a while and is there to help you with your new role and answer any questions you may have.
You will also receive a Leader's Journal that will assist you through your leadership journey.
After having a friendly chat with your new Guiding partner about the basics of Girl Guides you will need to attend a 'leadership introduction' training. This is a weekend get-together of new leaders who are in the same shoes as you where you'll learn about Girl Guides and be introduced to many new ideas.
When you feel you are ready, you can attend the 1-day 'leadership progression' training to learn more.
Once you have attended both trainings and completed your Leader's Journal you are officially a qualified Girl Guide Leader.
I think that I would like to be a leader, but I'm not quite sure. Can I give it a try first?
Definitely. You are quite welcome to lend a hand at the unit meetings
before making the decision to become a Leader. This is considered as being
a 'Unit Helper'. Unit Helpers are very important to Guiding. They
help the Leaders to run activities (maybe by helping a younger girl with
scissors, hiding items for a treasure hunt, or even leading a game or teaching
the girls a skill). Each Unit Helper means that at least 6 more girls can
join the unit.
The
only thing that is required to become a Unit Helper is that you complete a Working with Children check.
I'm interested in helping out but I don't think that I'm ready to be a leader or Unit Helper, is there anything else that I can do to help?
Absolutely! There are many roles that adults can take on in Guiding.
If you would like to help out but don't think volunteering in the units is for you then maybe you could give the Support Team a try. The Support Team is involved in supporting the district. They organise fundraisers, PR events, hall maintenance and much more. There are special roles within the Support Team but you don't have to take one on to be a part, regular committee members are just as important!
Adults can also become Resource Leaders. These are Adult members who either have or undertake training to gain a special set of skills to help the unit leaders and their girls with activities. For example a resource leader could have/gain boating qualifications and take the girls out on the water for a day, or maybe they have great craft skills and could join the unit leaders for a night to teach the girls a skill.
Do I need to be a really outdoorsy, adventurous person?
There are many facets to Guiding. Outdoors is one of them but it's not the only one. Girl Guides do all sorts of activities both indoors and outdoors. One week the girls might be making special cards and gifts for a nursing home and the next week they might go rock-climbing. The program is quite varied to suit everyone's taste.
If you are interested in finding out more about Leadership or Adult Roles
within Guiding in Winston Hills contact:
guides@fanden.com
Or visit Guides NSW&ACT at
http://www.girlguides-nswact.org.au/