Our People

Reporting to the Chief Commissioner of Scouts Australia (CCoA), the Deputy Chief Commissioner (DCC) will, in conjunction with the CCoA, ensure the smooth and efficient running of the organisation.

This role is one component of Scouts Australia’s commitment to ensuring that our young people are involved in all levels of decision-making and it is therefore a requirement that applicants are aged under 30 on appointment to the role. The successful applicant will be appointed for a term of up to three years.

The role of DCC is both challenging and rewarding and the application process is reflective of the seniority of the role. Scouts Australia acknowledges that applicants may not have previous experience putting together an application for a senior leadership role and is providing this information to assist applicants to put forward a compelling submission.

Scouts Australia is committed to providing opportunities for all people and having a leadership team that is diverse and representative of our community.

Submitting an Application

All applications must be submitted in writing by email to Sarah Eldridge at sarah.eldridge@scouts.com.au no later than 11:59PM on Sunday, 18th July, 2021.

Don’t leave things to the last minute! Late applications will not be accepted.

You will need to submit the following items during the application process:

• Cover Letter; maximum of one (1) A4 page
• Professional CV/Resume; maximum of two (2) A4 pages
• Scouting CV/Resume; maximum of two (2) A4 pages
• Response to the Key Selection Criteria and Personal Requirements contained in the Position Description; maximum of two (2) A4 pages
• Scouting Membership Record (contact your Branch for an extract)
• Contact details for two (2) referees, of whom at least one must be your current supervisor in Scouting

If you are shortlisted for interview the Selection Panel will also be contacting your Branch Chief Commissioner to ask for their endorsement of your application for the role. You might like to reach out to them and let them know that you’re applying.

Putting your Best Foot Forward

It is important that you follow any instructions including page limits and/or word limits as the Selection Panel may not be able to consider material beyond the specified limits. In writing your application, consider the experiences you’ve had and the things you have learned during your time in Scouting, as well as in other areas of life such as school, university, or sport. The Selection Panel are looking for you to demonstrate, through your skills, experience, and knowledge, how and why you will be successful in the role.

There are many ways to respond to selection criteria but one of the easiest and most used is the STAR method:

• Situation: describe a situation that you were faced with
• Task: describe the task that you had to complete
• Action: describe the action that you took to complete the task
• Result: describe the result of your action

Make sure that your membership details are up-to-date with your Branch. It is a requirement that you continue to hold valid membership with your Branch including the completion of any working with children checks, police checks or mandatory eLearning that may fall due during the application process.

Selection Process

After applications close, the Selection Panel will convene to review the applications and shortlist applicants for interview. Individuals who have been shortlisted for interview will be contacted by Sarah Eldridge to confirm your availability for the interview.

Due to the current situation with COVID, to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly, all interviews will be conducted online.

The Selection Panel will be chaired by the current DCC, Luke Saunders. All members of the Selection Panel will be under the age of 30 and hold or have previously held senior leadership roles in Scouting. Interviews can make some people nervous, but we hope that this Selection Panel will put you at ease, they have all been in the same position before.

The interview will be conducted by the following individuals:

• Mr Luke Saunders, Deputy Chief Commissioner of Australia
• Ms Ruby Mavor, Deputy National Commissioner – International
• Ms Tahlia Batters, Deputy National Commissioner – Adult Training & Development
• Ms Julia Miller, Deputy Chief Commissioner – Youth Program
• Ms Eleanor Hewitt, Chair – National Rover Council

Following the completion of all interviews, the Selection Panel will determine one or more Preferred Candidate(s) for the role. The Preferred Candidate(s) will be invited to attend an Appointment Interview with the following individuals:

• Mr Phil Harrison, Chief Commissioner of Australia
• Mr Luke Saunders, Deputy Chief Commissioner of Australia
• Mr Elston Hynd AM, Deputy Chief Commissioner of Australia

More Information

If you would like to find out more about the role or have a confidential discussion about applying for the role, please contact the current DCC, Luke Saunders at luke.saunders@scouts.com.au or on 0431 011 412.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have a disability, can I still apply?

A: Yes you can. Scouts Australia is committed to ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to fulfil senior leadership roles in the organisation. We will discuss any reasonable adjustments that you may require if you are shortlisted for interview.

Q: I’m currently 28, can I still apply for this role?

A: Yes you can, if you are over the age of 27 at the time of appointment, the term of your appointment will run until your 30th birthday rather than for a fixed period of three years

Q: I work full-time, can I still apply for this role?

A: Yes you can, we have a wonderful National Support Team of paid staff who run the organisation on a day-to-day basis. Many of our senior volunteers, including the current CCoA and the current DCC work full-time.

Q: I have a casual job and need to work on weekends, can I still apply for this role?

A: Yes you can, we have previously had young people in National roles who have had casual jobs and who have been able to successfully fulfil the requirements of the role.

​