WE SUPPORT GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL BRING ABOUT AN EQUAL WORLD WHERE ALL GIRLS CAN THRIVE. WE HAVE A STRONG, PROUD TRADITION OF SPEAKING OUT FOR CHANGE.
Raising the voices of girls
Girl Guiding in Australia influences decision-makers to make decisions that will create an equal world where girls can thrive. The purpose of our advocacy is to create positive, sustainable changes to the way a system works, addressing global issues that impact the lives of girls everywhere.
Advocacy undertaken is girl-led, with girls choosing the issues they want to advocate on, defining the change they want to see, and influencing the decision-makers they have identified to improve their lives and the lives of others.
Advocacy has been an integral part of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting since 1910 when a group of girls spoke out about what they wanted at the 1909 Crystal Palace Boy Scout rally. They demanded a Movement for girls, and they achieved it! This was the first advocacy activity in Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, which laid the foundation for decades of advocacy actions by girls and young women all over the world.
Advocacy is a service to our community and plays a crucial role in achieving our vision. As part of an advocacy project, girls may take actions to raise awareness and campaign for change, but the ultimate goal is to reach and influence decision-makers whose decisions can lead to sustainable changes. Decision-makers are found at many levels such as family members, school principals, elected officials, the CEO of a company, or even the United Nations! (Read more about Girl Guides Advocacy at the United Nations here)
How Girl Guiding empowers girls and young women to advocate for change
Girl Guiding in Australia promotes youth participation in leadership at all levels – from making big or small decisions, from local Unit to national level and even to regional and global governance of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Girl Guiding leverages intergenerational partnerships to support adult volunteers and enable youth whilst providing the safe spaces necessary for girls to shape their own learning experiences and to advocate for matters that affect them. We believe girls and young women are the experts in their own lives, and ensure they feel informed, empowered, safe and valued at Guides. For many girls and young women, Girl Guiding provides them their first powerful experiences of speaking out to shape their future and that of their community.
In the last three years, more than 100 young women members attended key global events where they spoke side-by-side with Heads of States and key UN officials. They lobbied decision-makers on issues that they cared about, such as gender equality, gender-based violence, nutrition, girls’s agency and empowerment, youth rights, non-formal education, and the environment and climate change. Many more girls have advocated locally to schools, community groups, councils, businesses and more, on topics they are passionate about taking part in actions and programs all over Australia.
The Guide Movement is a worldwide powerhouse of skills, commitment and energy. We represent 10.7 million girls and young women that stand up and speak out for ALL girls around the world.
Decision-makers in the UN, youth organisations and other partners invite our participation because they see the significant and unique contribution that Girl Guides and Girl Scouts can offer society.
Speaking, doing and educating
- GGA speak out on issues that affect girls and young women and influencing opinion-formers.
- GGA do projects that address root causes of issues affecting girls and young women.
- GGA ensure girls and young women and society at large, are educated in areas such as leadership, health, peace and world citizenship.
Whatever the issue, for Girl Guiding in Australia, advocacy is about taking a stand and working for positive change. We speak out about important issues for girls and young women; we develop projects which directly improve people’s lives; and we educate girls and young women so they can positively change the world around them. Only when all three elements – speaking out, doing and educating – are present can we call it advocacy.
Issues Girl Guides in Australia advocate for
Environment
Equality
Young Women in Leadership
More information
Get involved
- Download our advocacy toolkit to design your own advocacy efforts
- GGA Advocacy Framework and Guidelines
- WAGGGS Advocacy Toolkit
- Watch GGA socials or SGGO communications for any advertisement for opportunities to join Government Youth Engagement Groups
- Support national campaigns and advocate for them within your community