National Child Protection Week 2025

This year’s theme, “Every conversation matters – shifting conversation to action”, highlights the importance of transforming dialogue into concrete steps that strengthen child protection and create safer environments for children and young people.

At Scouts Australia, safeguarding young people is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing an environment that enables self-development and fosters positive and healthy interpersonal relationships – between young people themselves, between young people and adults, and among adults across our organisation.

In September 2023, Scouts Australia introduced Safeguarding YOUth I-Statements. These empower Scouts and Leaders to assert their rights and express their feelings through the “I” perspective. The initiative encourages transparent and respectful conversations about safety, consent, and digital behaviour. By giving young people tools to speak up, we help nurture a positive culture of safety, respect, and inclusion across the Movement.

Earlier in 2025, Scouts Australia also updated its Code of Conduct to provide clearer expectations and reinforce our organisation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a child-safe environment. The Code of Conduct is more than a guideline – it is a personal and binding commitment that all members must uphold at all times.

To support this, a new mandatory on-demand learning module was launched for all adult members (aged 18 years old and over). This short module has been designed to ensure all adults in Scouting are informed about their responsibilities and best practices in supporting the safety and wellbeing of young people.