An Update to Lones Guides
Lone Guides has historically been run in all states of Australia providing a more flexible Guiding option for girls and young women to participate in the Australian Guide Program when they are unable to attend regular Guide sessions at Guide Halls with their peers. To make best use of Leaders' time and resources going forward, a National Network is being proposed, hosted by Girl Guides Queensland (GGQ).
Guiding was impacted by Covid and increasingly the State Girl Guides Organisations and Girl Guides Australia (GGA) have been working hard to consider shared services and different collaborative ways of project delivery either led by GGA or led by a State on behalf of Girl Guiding in Australia.
A nationally consistent approach has been agreed for Lones. GGQ will deliver Lones for Girl Guides across the country – and Youth Members and Leaders are encouraged to get involved!
Youth Members and Adult Members will still be part of their State organisation (and will maintain their State membership). Queensland will take the lead on ensuring a collaborative and dynamic program for Girl Guides across the country.
This is a great thing! Some States had stopped their Lones program altogether or had such low numbers that they would normally be earmarked for Unit/District closure. Bringing interested Guides and Leaders together will ensure the success of the program and ensure the Fundamentals of the AGP, such as the Patrol System, can be implemented.
What does this mean for NSW, ACT & NT? The Horizon District as we know it will wind-up, but this does not mean Lones is closed. Rather, it means it will continue in a new form with more people involved to make light work. Don’t worry - the 2 Youth Members and 1 Adult Member in Horizon District are invited to transition into the Lones District, managed by the QLD Lones Coordinator, and join forces with other Members to make this is great success! It means more Leaders and more Girls, and who wouldn’t see this as a positive step in the right direction to sustain and hopefully expand what Lones offers.
A particular thanks to Chris Wythes for her dedication to the Horizon District. Thanks also to Stephanie Friel-Hancock for her contributions leading a review undertaken last year that provided a valuable foundation to enable this national approach.
If you are interested in volunteering to support this program, please contact us at [email protected].
You can also encourage any Girl Guides that might be challenged with conventional Guiding (ie. weekly meetings) that this option is available to them and others to extend their Guiding journey.
How do I Register?
If this opportunity sounds like something that may be of interest to you or your daughter, you can submit an enquiry by sending an email to [email protected].