Dear Members 

Further to the attachment that will feature as an insert in the Summer edition of the Scouting in NSW magazine, we wanted to write to you and invite any feedback, questions, issues, etc from you that arise from the new Work Health and Safety legislation, and/or the insert in the magazine.  

In particular, if you have any matters you think could be dealt with as Frequently Asked Questions, please send them to us for consideration. The intention of the Work Health and Safety magazine insert is simply a “heads up” to Members about the new legislation that came into effect on January 1, 2012.  

Many Members will be aware of this new State legislation through their own workplaces and other activities. In our view, the Association has a responsibility to its Members to keep them informed of something that not only affects them, but is also quite significant. The Work Health and Safety insert announces no new policy or actions for Members, rather it informs the Members and shares the transitional approach we are taking (with the “watch this space” and “more to come” theme).  

All changes to Scout policies, procedures, committee structures and purposes (eg Scoutsafe), etc will be managed through the appropriate Scouting forums before any decisions and further communications are made. Once the Association has had the opportunity to finalise its approach to the new legislation, a full communications strategy will be developed to support the implementation. 

We have established an email address for Members’ enquiries which was published in the insert, but we realise that each of you may receive enquiries directly from Members.  We are here to support you in that process.  If you receive enquiries, please feel free to forward them to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it address and we will respond.

In addition, the questions and issues raised will begin to form the basis of a Frequently Asked Questions document that can be used to help communicate the change to our Members. If you would like to read more information about the new legislation, please visit the WorkCover site at http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/Pages/default.aspx. 

Yours in Scouting, 

Graham Bargwanna                                                        Robert Rodgers
Chief Executive                                                              Chairman Scoutsafe Committee

Click here to download the article as included in the 2012 Summer edition of Scouting in NSW