Is Scouts South Australia Safe for Kids?

BluebirdV on 21/02/2025 - 13:37
Last edited 21/02/2025 - 14:44 by 1 other user

I was curious to know how safe Scouts is for my 5 year old son?

What safeguards are there against child abuse? Can I be 100 percent sure nothing bad will happen to him if I send him there?

When I was a teenager my brother and I joined a model aeroplane club in 1996. It turned out the guy running it was a child abuser. He ended up getting 4 years in jail for multiple rape and sexual assault on underage boys. Lucky for my brother and I we ran away, and my dad reported him. The abuse was occurring mainly during overnight stays.

Sports & Outdoors Scouts

Comments

  • Seraphin7 on 21/02/2025 - 17:51
    +1

    Can I be 100 percent sure nothing bad will happen to him if I send him there?

    No. But then nor can you be 100% sure nothing bad will happen at home, at school, at the shops, crossing the street, at a friend's place, at a park, at sport, etc., etc.

  • ihbh on 21/02/2025 - 18:09
    +1

    I suggest you do the training that volunteers have to do to see what they have to observe and obviously other adults. There is never one adult with the kids. Doors are always open and parents can stay or pop in any time.

    During overnight camps adults can't go into the kids' tents and the leaders ask for as many volunteer parents to attend as possible to help out. (No adult in their right mind would lead a camp with a big bunch of kids all by themselves.) Also, kids are free to bring knives, so you can post next - how do I make sure my kid doesn't get stabbed by another kid or by themselves (when they trip)?

    Attend yourself to build up your comfort level - there is a free trial period.

  • Euphemistic on 21/02/2025 - 19:20

    Things a re much better than they used to be. More controls in place. Much more awareness and willingness to report etc. Teach your kids what is appropriate and what is not and to tell you if they dont like something.

    End of the day, dont ask us. Send em or dont. Its on you. Nothing saying you cant send them for a couple of weeks and see what the vibe is like. Pull them out if you or your kids dont like the vibe. It doesnt need to be just kiddy fiddling to worry about either, maybe the leader is just a bit of a tool or the pther kids are bullies

    • Protractor on 21/02/2025 - 21:28

      How dare you suggest 'actual' parenting, let alone PROPER parenting.

  • JIMB0 on 21/02/2025 - 19:34

    If the guy that ran the model airplane club is there be worried.

  • AustriaBargain on 21/02/2025 - 20:55
    -1

    Can't be any worse than Queensland's Boys Brigade. Not for abuse, but Boys Brigade always had the biggest dorks in Brisbane.

    • Protractor on 21/02/2025 - 21:29

      If there's uniforms or badges the dicks come out. Cadets is always filled with bullies and wannabe Rambos.

  • Davo1111 on 21/02/2025 - 22:47

    Scouts is great.

  • yoho on 22/02/2025 - 00:20
    +3

    Scouts is great. It is incredibly well managed for a volunteer organization. Lots of training for the leaders. Typically the leaders have kids in the group.

    Lots of smart rules around interacting with the kids, Including if a kid is misbehaving the leader can pull them aside but must be within eye sight of another adult (another leader or parent helper). If anyone did see a leader, or actually any adult alone with a kid it is reportable, The kids go in pairs to the toilet.

    Even people not in direct contact with the kids (e.g. committee members) need their WWC check, and also have to do various and regular training.

    My son and daughter both got an enormous amount of confidence from doing scouts. My daughter finished in Scouts and my son went onto venturers.

    It actually help my son get a position in Camp America during his gap year. The camp was in cabins but no electricity etc so they wanted kids that could handle camping.

    If you are that worried then sign up as a parent helper and go on the first few camps. With any luck your kids will tell you to not come anymore and you will get some weekends back.

    Your kids will get to enjoy something else in life that doesn't involve a screen.

    The pros outweigh the cons.

  • Clickbait on 22/02/2025 - 00:55

    The medai has promoted the notion that 100% of pedophiles are Catholic priests,
    The medai has promoted the notion that 100% of Gays are not pedophiles.

    So, put your child in the GAY SCOUTS. They will be perfectly safe there, right.
    I think I would be more cautious of the NDIS than anywhere else

    • SuperMid on 22/02/2025 - 07:24

      I like the medai, they are a good peoples.

  • morse on 22/02/2025 - 04:34
    +1

    Unfortunately you can’t guarantee any place you leave your children in the care of others is 💯 safe.

    One thing that is helpful is to teach your kids body safety https://www.childsafe.org.au/help-for-families/body-safety-r…

    Also be involved, I think there’s lots of volunteering opportunities with scouts and get to know the other parents.

  • Keplaffintech on 22/02/2025 - 09:19
    +1

    Life is about taking risks and making trade-offs. What is the long term risk of withholding such character and skill building opportunities from your children all of their years?

  • speedyjonzalas on 22/02/2025 - 09:43
    +1

    Any decent sized organisation like that tends to have more processes involved than simple working with children checke.

    I run a large group of around 600+ members, and although we do the normal checks, we also make sure we have processes in place to ensure kids are never by themselves.

    Nothing is 100% safe… but if you are concerned why not volunteer yourself 😀

  • loadofrubbish on 22/02/2025 - 10:24
    +1

    I am a Scout leader in NSW, and my experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The leaders invest significant effort into caring for the kids and prioritizing their well-being. There are numerous protocols in place to ensure safety, such as requiring a specific number of leaders to supervise a group. For instance, after an activity ends, at least two leaders must remain present until all children are picked up by their parents.

    That said, it’s frustrating that some parents treat Scouts as a convenient drop-off service, leaving their kids with us and vanishing without offering any support to the group. It often feels like they see it as a low-cost childcare solution for a few hours rather than valuing the program for what it offers.

    Do research Scout groups in South Australia, you want to join a group with experienced volunteer leaders, good financial situation and good gear.

    Note leaders are volunteers. They get paid zero. If you are really worried you can join as leader and enjoy scouts with your kid.

  • LFO on 22/02/2025 - 14:23

    Can I be 100 percent sure nothing bad will happen to him if I send him there?

    No.

    Same as if he never goes anywhere.
    Nothing is guarantee.

    Awareness and parental guidance and supervision is the key. Badly missing with most "victims"

    • CommuterPolluter on 22/02/2025 - 20:57

      Why quotation marks around the word victims?

  • grasstown on 22/02/2025 - 17:11

    When I was growing up, about two or three sets of parents also came on any overnight activities to help out with cooking bacon and eggs and other things. I would not let Kids go to a camp unless there were other parents coming as well and I would send my kids to a group where the parents were involved.

  • Pungentia on 22/02/2025 - 17:23
    +1

    In Victoria they have made significant efforts to address past issues through implementing mandatory training, even if you are driving a car with other kids.
    Between the required training and the procedures, I feel safer with my children involved than I would be with other activities like dance, sports clubs, etc, where controls would not be as defined.

  • About The Woolongs on 22/02/2025 - 21:12

    Sometimes you take a step back and wonder why you've spent so much of your own time reading two people arguing about catholic pedophiles on OzBargain.
    Sometimes.

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