Uniform Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1. Why do we wear a uniform?

Uniform is worn by members to create a sense of unity and to identify them as Guides. The uniform has been designed with input from the Guiding community to be vibrant, modern, practical and attractive.

2. What do I need to buy for my daughter’s Guide uniform?

A top and bottom from the youth uniform range will need to be purchased through your Guide retail outlet. Market research and child psychologists indicate that girls wish to look different as they become older and our Guides also told us that they would like a uniform that changes with age. The new uniform has been designed to meet this need and a family of garments with different size ranges has been developed accordingly. Girl choice is the fundamental basis for uniform selection, provided it is appropriate for the occasion and you should check with the Unit Leader prior to purchasing. A sash is optional. Refer to the Uniform information booklet for additional items.

3. Do I have to wear the same shirt as everyone else in my Unit?

No. The shirts have been designed so that Guides progress through the family of garments as they become older. In addition, girls may choose whether they wear the polo or V-necked shirt or blue shirt for teens. Therefore girls in the same Unit can be wearing different shirts.

4. I'm going up to the older Guide Unit mid-year. Will I need a new shirt?

Not necessarily. Guides will progress through the family of shirts as they get older. Girls in the same Unit can be wearing different shirts, and there is no fixed age for which a Guide will wear the girl, tween or teen shirt.

5. Can we still wear Unit shirts as uniform?

No. Uniform is to be worn to all Guide activities. A Guide activity is one that is held in the name of Guiding at a local, Division/Region, State, Australian or international level. All available uniform options are detailed in the Uniform information booklet. Note however, members may wear casual attire such as Unit shirts for some activities such as camping, abseiling or canoeing as the organisers deem appropriate —refer uniform policy in Guide Lines for more information.

6. Can I wear a scarf with my uniform?

No. The only available scarf is the national Junior Leader scarf (to be designed) which is to be worn only by Junior Leaders. Scarves, including Unit/Olave Program/State scarves, are no longer part of our uniform. The Uniform information booklet lists all available uniform options.

7. I’m a youth member—where do I put my metal badges?

Promise and World badges can be worn on any shirt as per the diagram on page 14 of the Uniform information booklet. All other metal badges can only be worn on the teen blue shirt as per the diagram.

8. Where do I wear my Promise badge if I'm wearing a V-necked shirt?

The Promise badge can be worn on the left side of your shirt- about halfway up the ‘v’.

9. What shoes do I wear with my uniform?

Sneakers, closed-in shoes or sandals, as appropriate, can be worn.

10. As a Junior Leader, can I still wear my white shirt?

No. You may choose to wear the teen blue shirt as an alternative to the polo or V-necked shirt as detailed in the Uniform information booklet. A Junior Leader scarf is being designed.

11. What do Olave Program participants wear? Olave Program participants are adult members. They can choose from the adult uniform options as detailed in the Uniform information booklet, and may wear recognised Olave Program Awards and the Olave Program Bar on their badge tab.

12. Is there an informal and a formal uniform?

No. There is one uniform for all occasions. The uniform includes a range of versatile options. Our uniform tops include a choice between polo shirts, V-necked shirts, a blue shirt (for teens) or a striped shirt (for adults). Navy bottoms must be worn with any of these options.

13. I am an adult member – where do I wear my metal badges?

Badge placement for adult members is shown on page 15 of the Uniform information booklet.

14. I don't want to wear my badge tab—where do I put my World badge?

The World badge can be worn on the right collar of the striped shirt and polo shirt, or left side of the V-neck shirt as detailed on page 15 of the Uniform information booklet.

15. I don't want to wear my badge tab—can I wear my Leader's bar?

No. Refer to page 15 of the Uniform information booklet for adult badge placement.

16. What bottoms are available?

A range of navy pants, skorts, board shorts, cargo pants, and skirts are being developed. The full range of uniform bottoms will be available later this year. The navy suit pants and skirt and everyday stretch pants are available now and can be ordered through your Guide retail outlet.

17. I'm an adult member—if I don't want to wear trousers, what uniform options are available to me?

Until the bottom part of the Guide uniform is available through your Guide retail outlet, you may wear any dark navy coloured lower-half garment. Both trousers and skirts will be part of the adult uniform range.

18. I am an adult member - can I wear jeans?

No. You must wear dark navy bottoms as per our Uniform information booklet. A range of options are available including cargo pants, everyday stretch pants, suit pants and suit skirts. Some of these options are already available for purchase, and others will be coming later this year. Also please note if you are wearing your uniform at an activity such as camping, abseiling or canoeing, appropriate bottoms for the activity should be worn. 19. Where can I buy the new uniform? The uniform is available through all State and Territory retail outlets (some of which have online shopping services). Please check your State or Territory website for further information.

20. What is the phase in period for the new uniform?

All members have until 31 December, 2011 to be wearing the new uniform.

21. What are the shirts made from?

The fabric of the polo and V-necked shirts is lightweight, durable and designed for maximum air flow to handle the variable climatic conditions across Australia. The adult striped shirt is 60% cotton and 40% polyester. The teen blue shirt is 65% polyester and 35% cotton.

22. How do I ensure the collar of my striped shirt sits correctly with my jacket?

The striped shirt arrives flat packed when you purchase it. Given this, it is important to steam iron the shirt with the top collar seam flat against the shirt to ensure it sits correctly if you are wearing a jacket. Photo 1 shows the shirt sitting correctly when worn with the jacket. Photo 2 illustrates that the shirt has not been correctly ironed.

23. Is it sun smart?

Yes. The fabric has an SPF rating of 35+.

24. The Uniform information booklet makes mention of a ‘tween’. What is a ‘tween’?

‘Tween’ is a term that has emerged over recent years to describe the stage of human development through childhood that occurs in a child’s years before adolescence. It refers to a young human being who is not yet technically a teenager but starting to act like one.

25. My daughter requires a Guide uniform shirt size much bigger than her usual size. How was the sizing developed?

The uniform is based on standard Australian sizing. The new uniform shirt is of a fitted nature, that is tailored to girls/women’s body shape and hence the sizing of the shirts will tend to be smaller than the previous uniform. Girls and young women who were consulted during the development of the new uniform said they wanted the new uniform to be more stylish and ‘cool’ looking. During the development of our new uniform, a pattern maker tested the sizes with girls of all ages and body types to determine the average size of our Guides. However, we recognise from feedback that, overall, the sizes are smaller, and there is a need for an extended range of sizes for girls, tweens and teens shirts. This will be accommodated in our next uniform shipment.

Please check the Uniform information booklet (available on the Girl Guides Australia website - www.girlguides.org.au). If the information you seek is not included in the Uniform information booklet, contact your State Office.

26. The uniform shirt that my daughter requires for Guides is not available. When will additional shirts be available?

The initial demand for the new uniform has exceeded expectations. We are keen to ensure that all Guides are able to access the new uniform as soon as possible and are working with our retailers to supply the next order of stock. Some items will take 12 weeks from date of order. We plan to hold sufficient stock locally and nationally in the future to meet demand.

27. I heard there was a new recommendation on where to place the long service and good service badges. Where should I place these badges?

Based on member feedback that there is not enough room above the logo on the adult striped shirt to place these badges (when not wearing a jacket) we have reviewed this decision and decided that the long service and good service badges should be worn between the logo on the striped shirt and the centre buttons - one above the other if members are wearing the two badges. The Uniform information booklet has been updated to reflect this change.

28. How was the new uniform developed?

Our new uniform was developed by and for Guides. Over 2008 and 2009 we consulted with Guides on how they felt about a new uniform and what they wanted it to look like, and tested sample garments with Guides across Australia. We also involved parents in the process, particularly around cost. Guides told us they wanted a uniform that changed with age, and one that looked modern and was practical. They also wanted a range of options to choose from in addition to polo neck shirts. We also consulted with Girl Guiding New Zealand who had been through the process a year previously and told us that V-necked shirts had proved very popular with girls as an alternative to polo shirts. To meet the needs of parents, our new uniform is extremely affordable and durable. The uniform is manufactured in China at the most advanced factories governed by Fair Trading Agreements.

29. Do you have any other questions you need answered?

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Leaders & Volunteers

Uniform Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)