A World of Scouting at AJ2025
Celebrating International Friendship
Photo: AJ2025 Media – Mark Cooper | Camp Chief and Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, Geoff Doo, welcoming the New Zealand Scouts to AJ2025.
The 26th Australian Jamboree (AJ2025) is more than just a national event—it’s a global celebration of Scouting. This year, AJ2025 has made history, welcoming 519 Scouts and Leaders from 16 countries, making it the largest international gathering in Australian Jamboree history.
From the moment these international Scouts arrived, their presence brought a new energy to the Jamboree, with languages, cultures, and traditions converging to create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
A Global Family
Scouts from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Romania, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Timor-Leste, Austria, Canada, Fiji, and the United Kingdom have travelled far to join their Australian peers in Maryborough, Queensland.
For many of these Scouts, this Jamboree represents their first trip to Australia, an opportunity to immerse themselves in a culture both familiar and new. Each international contingent has brought their unique identity to the campgrounds, sharing songs, stories, and traditions while making lifelong friendships with their Australian hosts.
“We took a 14-hour flight to Kuala Lumpur, spent four days there, then flew to Cairns via Sydney and spent a further five days exploring Cairns before catching a 23-hour train to Maryborough,” said Kieran, a Scout from the UK Contingent.
International participants have been fully integrated into the AJ2025 experience, camping with Australian units to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie. From daily activities to evening activities, the bonds formed across borders exemplify the values of Scouting.
Venturer Scouts, known as Explorer Scouts in the UK alongside Venturer aged Scouts from NZ, Korea, Canada and Sri Lanka, have also played an active role, volunteering as Service Leaders and helping with various aspects of the Jamboree. This has provided them with opportunities to develop leadership skills and make meaningful contributions to the event.
Photo : AJ2025 Media Team |Scouts from Australia and East Timor AJ2025
Photo : AJ2025 Media Team | South Korea performing on International Night, showing off their unique culture!
Traditions, Fun, and Vegemite!
A quintessential Australian Jamboree experience wouldn’t be complete without introducing international Scouts to Vegemite. The reactions ranged from surprise to delight, with Scouts from Norway, Sri Lanka, and South Korea particularly enjoying the iconic spread.
“It tastes like soy sauce, it looks like chocolate spread so it doesn’t look like what you expect it to taste like. I think it would be good under eggs for example, I will have this again, it’s quite good actually.” said Ragnhild from Norway.
Meanwhile, Scouts exchanged badges, sang songs, and participated in activities that pushed their limits and helped them grow as individuals and as a team.
Many international contingents took the opportunity to explore Australia before the Jamboree. Whether it was trekking through the rainforests of Cairns, visiting Sydney’s landmarks, or experiencing life in regional Australia, these journeys enriched their overall experience and deepened their appreciation of the country’s diversity.
The inclusion of international Scouts at AJ2025 is more than a cultural exchange; it’s a chance to build a global community. By sharing stories, meals, and challenges, participants learn firsthand the value of diversity and the importance of working together.
Photo: AJ2025 Media Team | Camp Chief and Chief Commissioner of Scouts Queensland, Geoff Doo, thanks each International Contingent Leader,
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Contingent Leaders, International Contingent members, and the Scouts Australia International Team for their unwavering support in making AJ2025 the incredible international event that it is. Your dedication has made this gathering of Scouts from around the world possible, and your teamwork and cooperation have been invaluable in creating such a meaningful and lasting experience for everyone.
Signing off, the AJ2025 International Team,
Marlene Haese & Max Manson
