Young people are at the heart of Scouting, yet their voices are often underrepresented in the decisions that shape their experiences. In Victoria, Regional Scout Councils guide policies, programs, and priorities that directly affect youth members, but without guaranteed youth representation, these decisions risk missing the perspectives of those they impact most. Making youth membership compulsory on these councils ensures that decisions are informed by real, current experiences, helping keep Scouting relevant, engaging, and responsive to the needs of its members.

Including young people in leadership is not just beneficial—it reflects the core values of Scouting, such as leadership development, inclusivity, and empowerment. When youth are given a seat at the table, they gain valuable skills in communication, decision-making, and civic participation, while councils benefit from fresh ideas, innovation, and diversity of thought. Mandating youth involvement on every Regional Scout Council in Victoria strengthens the organisation as a whole, creating a more dynamic, representative, and future-focused movement.

If this is not enough please know that camps in parts of the state that do not have region councils with youth on them have camps that are boring and do not engage the youth who attend. But in Geelong where there is 3 youth on the council we have the most youth engagement at camps