Risk - Scouts ACT

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Scouts ACT Risk Appetite Statement

Approved by BEC on 29 February 2024

The object and purpose of The Scout Association of Australia ACT Branch Inc (Scouts ACT) is:

to provide opportunities for young people and young adults from age six to their twenty sixth birthday to participate in a wide range of educational activities. Scouting is a non-formal educational movement which provides a wide range of attractive, constructive and challenging activities, including opportunities for adventure and exploration both indoors and outdoors.
to preserve and foster throughout the Australian Capital Territory the principles of the Founder of the Scout Movement.

All activities undertaken by Scouts ACT will attract some potential risk. Without eliminating the activity, we cannot eliminate all risk, but mitigation activity is critical to ensure safe delivery of the Scouting Program. Rather than avoid all risk and minimise the opportunity for our young people, Scouts ACT actively engages in risk management practices to identify, understand and manage risk.

To assist Scouts ACT to make decisions on what risks are acceptable, the following risk appetite statement has been developed to help guide decision makers on the activities. This will in turn help decision makers to determine what level of risk management (mitigation) is necessary prior to accepting the activity or decision.

The following risk appetite statements are to be used in conjunction with risk assessments. The appetite statement is not the measure of risk, but rather the willingness of the organisation to accept risk. Where a risk is assessed as greater than the risk appetite, then this must be escalated to:

Chief Commissioner – Adults in Scouting; Youth Program; Adventurous Activities; Events; and Adult Training and Development.
Executive Officer – Work, Health and Safety; Governance; Financial; and Property and Assets.
Chief Commissioner and Executive Officer – Child Protection; and Reputation.

All Scouts ACT members are encouraged to regularly consider risks in the activities they participate in or lead, including – risk identification, risk assessment and risk management. This risk appetite statement is an aid to that process and the final decision-making stages.

RISK APPETITE LEGEND

LOW

Scouts ACT accepts as little risk as possible and takes a cautious approach towards taking risk. In some cases, the risk willingness will be extremely low.

MODERATE

Scouts ACT will adopt a balanced and informed approach to risk taking.

HIGH

Scouts ACT will engage a more aggressive approach to taking risk for the achievementof the Scout Program strategy.

Scouts ACT Risk Appetite

Risk Category	Risk Appetite Description	Risk Appetite Rating
Risk Category	Risk Appetite Description	Low Risk Appetite	Moderate Risk Appetite	High Risk Appetite
Child Protection	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for any form of abuse of children or young people (youth). Abuse may be in the form of sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, or neglect.
Adults in Scouting	Scouts ACT has a moderate risk appetite for having insufficient skilled and trained volunteers and paid staff available to deliver all aspects of Scouting. a low risk appetite for the appointment of unsuitable paid staff or volunteers.
Work, health and safety	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for poor work, health and safety practices. Scouts ACT is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace free from physical and psychological harm for all members including paid staff.
Youth Program	Scouts ACT has a moderate risk appetite for reasonable adjustments in the delivery of the Youth Program using the principle of ‘youth-leading, adult-supporting’.
Adventurous Activities	Without compromising adherence to relevant work, health and safety regulations and internal policies Scouts ACT has: a high risk appetite for cycling, land yachting, archery, and the core outdoor adventure skills areas (bushwalking, bushcraft, and camping). a low risk appetite for vertical, air activities, power boating, and four-wheel driving. While Scouts ACT seeks to provide challenge by choice to our youth, and extend their capability, each activity must be done in a way that manages the risks identified in the activity’s risk management plan.
Events	Scouts ACT has a moderate risk appetite for the hosting of events and activities. a high risk appetite for attending interstate and international events.
Adult training and development	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for the non-completion of training, especially mandatory training. a low risk appetite for the maintenance of currency in skills and knowledge.
Governance	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for poor governance practices. Scouts ACT is committed to a high level of compliance with relevant legislation, regulatory compliance obligations, and internal policies and procedures.
Financial	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for risks that threaten financial sustainability. a moderate risk appetite for activities that have the potential to both grow Scouting in the ACT and develop income generating opportunities.
Reputation	Scouts ACT has a moderate risk appetite in making decisions that have a negative impact on our reputation.
Property and Assets	Scouts ACT has a low risk appetite for management and maintenance of real property. a low risk appetite for management and maintenance of equipment. a moderate risk appetite for the use of property by external users.

Scouts ACT Strategic Risk Register -27 Oct 2022

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