Similar to other awards, the Baden-Powell Scout Award allows for the highest standard to be set. This occurs through the individual participant planning and proposing their goals to their Rover Crew. Through consultation and discussion at this level a target is set that is of a level that is guaranteed to be challenging and that meets the requirements of the BP Award.
The Baden-Powell Scout Award, like other prominent Scouting Awards is presented annually by The Governor and Chief Scout of Victoria, reinforcing the stature this Award holds both within Scouting and the Community.
Helpful Resources
Rover Award Scheme Fact Sheets
The mid-point between the Rover Award Scheme publication and the Rover Record Book, the Rover Award Scheme Factsheets provide more detail than your red book, but they are smaller and quicker to read, and are available right now on the NRC website. The NRC Website also contains more background on the new award.
Where do I Begin?
World Membership and Venturer-Rover Link Badges
One of these two badges will be the first badge earned by a new Rover. The World Membership Badge is awarded to Rovers new to Scouting, or returning to Scouting after a break, while the Venturer-Rover Link Badge is completed by those Rovers who are coming directly to the Crew from a Venturer Unit. Both badges have identical requirements.
This badge is all about getting to know the new Rover Crew, crew members, what the Crew does, and how it is structured; as well as Scouting in general, and fulfilling state child-protection requirements.
The badge should be presented when the new member is inducted as a Squire.
St George Award
The St George Award is designed to be completed as a part of your Crew program and general Rovering life.
A Rover must complete the Squire Training badge before they can be awarded Rover Skills, Service or Physical.
The Squire Training and Rover Skills are 'check the box' type badges that you will remember from your time in Joeys, Cubs and Scouts; while Service and Physical are more open badges that you will need to consult with your Crew and the BPSA Support Team before starting to make sure that what you are doing is going to meet the requirements of the badge before you begin work.
As well as completing the four badges, a Rover must have been Knighted/Fully Invested before they can be awarded the St George Award.
The St George Award is comprised of the the following four badges:
- Squire Training Badge (north west)
- Rover Skills Badge (north east)
- Service Badge (south west)
- Physical Badge (south east)
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Squire Training Badge – The idea behind Squire Training is to give new Rovers the fundamental skills that they will need to survive as Rovers over their 8 years. It has been integrated into the Baden-Powell Award to remove barriers to new Rovers becoming fully invested members of their Crews, and because the fundamental skills that a Rover needs are the same across the country. This badge includes scoutcraft skills, service, camping, learning about the award scheme, Intro to Rovers, the Promise & Law, meetings and a small project for the Crew or its assets. Rover Crews may not add their own requirements to Squire Training. |
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Rover Skills Badge – This badge has been designed to promote active participation in the Rover section, whether at Crew, Region or Branch level. It also hopes to encourage more Rovers to contribute towards the effective operation of our section. This badge includes holding a position of responsibility, going camping, and running activities for other Rovers. |
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Service Badge – The only badge to emerge from the Rovering Towards 2020 Review, unscathed, the Service Badge is to provide six or more months of regular, active service to a worthy cause. Service may be performed inside or outside of Scouting. Service, to Rovers, is Help that a Rover gives to a person, community or organisation, to further the Rover's development, especially by using Scouting skills, ability or knowledge. |
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Physical Badge – There are two options you can choose between when completing the Physical badge:
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Baden Powell Scout Award
The rest of the BP Award, the the "project badges" as they are known, is much more widely open to interpretation and personalisation. These two badges can be completed at any time after you have completed the Squire Training badge.
As these badges are so much less structured, you are required to meet with the BPSA Support Team before commencing the badge to make sure that the badge meets the requirements in the Rover Record Book.
The Baden-Powell Scout Award is comprised of the following four parts:
- St George Award (inner badges)
- Community Development Badge (north)
- Personal Growth Badge (south)
- Self Reflection Interview (no badge)
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St George Award – The four badges outlined above must be completed, and Rovers must have been Knighted/Fully Invested before they can be awarded the St George Award. Once a Rover completes the BP Award, they will replace the St George Award badge (pictured left) with the BP Award badge. Rovers do not have to complete the St George Award before beginning the Community Development and Personal Growth badges. |
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Community Development Badge – This badge aims to contribute to the development of your local, national, or international community. It is up to each individual Rover to develop a project that will practically and culturally benefit their targeted community. |
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Personal Growth Badge – This badge aims to encourage Rovers to explore their personal beliefs, challenge their thinking, or develop their own skills. It is up to each individual Rover to develop a project that will challenge and enhance your skills. You may choose to enhance an existing skill, or undertake something entirely new to you. |
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Self Reflection Interview – The self reflection interview is there to help you think about your journey through the award scheme and reflect on what you have learnt along the way. The interview is facilitated by a member of the BPSA Support Team and will not consider if you have technically completed the required badgework. |
FAQ
I started working on the Old Award, what can i do?
The transition period from the Pre-2014 Baden-Powell Award ended on December 31st 2014. All BP Awards from now on must be completed under the new requirements.
Where do I start?
Take a look through the resources available online, purchase a new Rover Record Book and talk it thought with your Crew.
Who can help me?
The subject matter experts on the new BP Award are the BPSA Support Team, but there are plenty of other people that you can talk to about the BP Award, from you RA and Crew Leader to the Region Executive and ARC - Rovers through to Booted Rovers and people you know from other Crews.
I have a fantastic project I want to complete, what do I do now?
Once you’ve decided on a activity, write it down and submit it to your Crew for approval (make sure this is done prior to the commencement). Providing the Crew and the BPSA Support Team are satisfied that the activity presents a sufficient challenge to the Rover and that a suitably qualified examiner has been appointed to assess the completion of the project then then they can approve for the commencement of the relevant project. Both the Crew Leader and BPSA Support Team member will sign the Rover Record Book.
What are Progress Reports and what do I do with them?
Whilst undertaking the activity, the Rover should make regular reports to the Crew on their progress. It is suggested that at least 3 reports are given over a six month period.
Once I’ve completed my activity/project what do I do?
Having completed the activity, the Rover must submit a record of the activity to their Crew. It should be of sufficient detail to adequately describe the activity undertaken and should be of a standard to be expected of the Rover.
I’ve completed all the badges. Now What?
Once you have achieved all six badges, you need to get in contact with the BPSA Support Team to organise the Self-Reflection Interview.
After the Self Reflection Interview has been completed, the Crew can nominate you to Region to be awarded the BP Award. The completed nomination form must be given to a member of the Region Executive before your 26th birthday.
The nomination is noted by your Region Community. The Region then forwards the nomination to BRC, who then forward it on to the Chief Commissioner.
Who are the Self Reflection Interview Facilitators?
In Victoria, the panel typically includes a member of the BPSA Support Team, an Advisor, and one or two other experienced Rovers from your Region.
Presentation of the Award.
Once the Chief Commissioner grants final approval of your Award, the Victorian Scout Centre will forward the BP Award Badge to the person you have nominated to present it to you. When, Where and Who presents the Award varies from Rover to Rover, but it is important that the Award is presented with high regard and given the ceremony that it deserves - it's also a great PR opportunity for your Crew!
The Baden-Powell Scout Award certificate is signed by the Governor-General, as Chief Scout of Australia. It is presented at Government House, Melbourne each year along with the Queen's Scout & Queen's Guide Awards, Lady BP Guide Awards and any Scouting Awards for Gallantry or Meritorious Service.