Strategy for Scouting
From Input to Improve
An Update on the Achievement Pathways Review
Last year, almost 4,500 members shared their experiences with the Achievement Pathways. This input is shaping the exciting future of the youth program.
Scouts Australia is making delivery of the program easier and more impactful. Through Key Move 1 of our 2023-2027 Strategic Plan, we’re giving our people the tools, clarity and confidence to deliver life-changing, adventurous and safe experiences for young people.
Continuous improvement ensures our program remains youth-centered, relevant and attractive. Between July and November 2025, youth members and adult volunteers across all age sections took part in locally-led consultation activities. They offered insights on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.
These discussions were healthy, reflective, and collaborative as Units and Groups took the time to pause and reflect on their programming. A huge thank you to the approximately 4,484 young people and adult volunteers who shared their experiences and perspectives.
This article summarises some of the key themes from the consultation. The findings are now shaping improvements to the Achievement Pathways, with more detail to be shared over the coming months.
What’s working?
Units told us they value the flexibility and choice built into the Achievement Pathways. Whether selecting which Outdoor Adventure Skills to progress, setting goals for a Special Interest Area, or deciding whether to work towards a peak award, young people appreciate the ability to drive their own Scouting journey.
Across all ages, Outdoor Adventure Skills stand out as the most successful and enjoyable component of the Achievement Pathways. Youth members like the range of activities on offer, through which they can explore the outdoors and try new things, while volunteers value the structured stages. As one Group in South Australia shared, ‘the I-statements are perfect to help plan a program as it’s all there!’.
Milestones are well-received and implemented across sections, allowing young people to participate, assist, and lead in a balanced program. Milestones recognise the fun, personal development, and youth leadership opportunities of weekly Unit activities. As a Scout Unit in Victoria put it, Milestones are ‘the core of the program that we are engaging with every week’.
Groups also appreciated the One Program approach that the Achievement Pathways reinforce as young people progress their Scouting journey. This is especially true for Outdoor Adventure Skills, captured by a Group in Tasmania who said they enjoy the ‘continuous flow, allowing Scouts to pick up where they left off in the previous section’.
What’s not working?
Members expressed that Intro to Scouting and Intro to Section don’t always feel aligned with our learning-by-doing approach. These components were identified as the least enjoyable part of the Achievement Pathways by 34% of participating Scout, Venturer, and Rover Units. As one Group in South Australia noted, ‘It is complex and too time intensive for Leaders’.
Feedback on Special Interest Areas was mixed. Many Units asked for clearer guidance and better scaffolding, especially to support members who need help developing project ideas. A Cub Scout from Victoria summed it up simply: it’s ‘hard to know how to start and set ideas’.
While Outdoor Adventure Skills are widely valued, access to adventurous activities can be challenging, particularly at higher stages. Key barriers include availability of assessors and instructors, unclear training or delivery requirements, and cost. Work is already underway to strengthen the clarity and consistency of adventure delivery for Units, simplifying requirements to ensure a safe and adventurous program is achievable for all.
Many Units experience challenges with tracking Achievement Pathways progress. Whether using Scouts | Terrain or other methods, this takes time and detracts from the fun of Scouts. As our technology challenges are interconnected, improvements to Scouts | Terrain are being considered as part of a broader roadmap for Scouts Australia’s digital systems. Our digital tools should reduce the administration needed to manage a Unit, so volunteers can focus on running great programs with their young people.
What’s next?
The voices of our young people and volunteers have been heard – clearly and constructively. Your feedback is now directly informing enhancements to ensure the Achievement Pathways can be delivered with greater ease, clarity, and impact.
We’re so excited to share more about these enhancements later in 2026! This isn’t about creating a new program – it’s thoughtfully strengthening the current program to make it more adventurous, fun, challenging, and inclusive.
To continue this conversation, Scouts Australia will host a Youth Town Hall on Tuesday, 21 April. This is timed to align with Youth Week in many states and territories. At this inaugural Youth Town Hall, we’ll unpack the planned changes and give youth members another key opportunity to have their say. Save the date and keep an eye on the next National News for more details.
If you have any questions, please email youth.program.support@scouts.com.au or contact your Branch’s program support team.
