Personal Development Courses
Completing a leadership or personal development course is part of the peak award in each section (except the Joey Scout Challenge Award). However, leadership or personal development courses aren’t only for those working towards their peak awards.
All Scouts should be encouraged to take part in these opportunities as part of developing and exploring their leadership potential! The leadership or personal development course should allow a Scout to put into practice some of the skills they have developed during their Scouting journey so far.
Youth members may choose to undertake one of the Scout courses available for their age or an external course (such as RYLA or RYPEN provided by Rotary Australia).
The Scout courses are:
- Personal Development Course 1, for ages 7-9
- Personal Development Course 2, for ages 10-13
- Personal Development Course 3, for ages 14-16
- Personal Development Course 4, for ages 16-20
These Personal Development Courses have been intentionally designed to not exclusively align with section age groupings, instead allowing for participation by members from two sections. This reflects our One Program philosophy and enables collaboration and sharing between young people of slightly different ages.
The Personal Development Courses have been designed to challenge and extend the character development of participating Scouts. One of the SPICES, character is the pursuit of one’s personal best and includes having a positive attitude, demonstrating responsibility, respect, and making an effort beyond what benefits oneself.
Character development is equally a reflection of the values expressed in the Scout Law: Be Respectful, Do What is Right, and Believe in Myself. Collectively, these underpin the themes explored and emphasised on each Personal Development Course.
Empowering young leaders
Scouts primarily develop their leadership skills by participating, assisting and leading in their Unit program, through learning by doing, and when working with others through the Patrol System. Personal Development Courses do not ‘teach’ these skills, but help to solidify learnings, create space for reflection, and open up new opportunities for personal growth.
Information for course organisers
Adult volunteers and youth members involved in delivering Personal Development Courses should use their creativity and local context to make each course fun, adventurous, challenging and inclusive for the Scouts participating. The course guides provided below contain the ‘what’ and the ‘why’. Activities (the ‘how’) have been included to complete the package, noting that the use of the Scout Method is needed to fully realise the activities and this is adapted best by individual course organisers.
Youth leadership in the delivery of Personal Development Courses is highly encouraged. Older Scouts and/or Scouts who have previously completed a course can be involved in facilitating activities and mentoring participants, with adults actively supporting the organisation and delivery of the course.
Course guides
A guide has been put together to unpack each Personal Development Course and support course organisers to deliver the program. Each guide includes an outline of the themes explored through the course, core and optional activities, a suggested schedule, and links to further resources.
Recognition and reflection
Completing a Personal Development Course is a great achievement! At the end of a course or after returning to their Unit, Scouts should reflect on what they have learned and how it applies to their path of leadership and personal growth.
Once this Review> has occurred, Scouts can be presented with the Personal Development badge matching the age section they are currently in. Any Personal Development Course can count towards a Scout’s peak award.
Rover Scouts aged 21+
Rover Scouts aged 21+ are encouraged to complete Scouting Leadership within the Adult Training & Development pathway. This can seamlessly be recognised as a Personal Development Course for the Baden-Powell Scout Award.
Scouting Leadership not only builds valuable leadership and mentoring skills, but also contributes meaningfully to an attendee’s personal growth by fostering self-awareness, responsibility, and a deeper understanding of how to lead with purpose and integrity – both within Scouts and in everyday life.