The Australian Women's Register

In Tasmania Girl Peace Scouts, corresponding with the organisation of the same name in New Zealand, were formed as early as 1909-10, while in New South Wales the Australian League of Girl Aids, recognised in affiliation with the Boy Scouts Association, was formed at the same time. In Victoria, the Florence Nightingale Girl Aids were established in 1909, and recognised as Baden-Powell Girl Guides in 1911. Guiding in Western Australia began in 1915 at a public meeting in Perth Town Hall under the sponsorship of the Women’s Service Guild.

Some of these groups were later disbanded with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, but many reformed and were then officially registered as branches of the British association. In the early days these separate groups did not know of each other’s existence, because of our great distances and the scarcity of detailed records. Few of these were kept because the pioneers of Guiding did not realise the significance of what they were establishing, nor what a vast movement it would become.

Eventually each state became organised, setting up a headquarters, forming a state executive and appointing a state commissioner. Tasmania was first in 1911 followed by South Australia in 1913, Western Australia in 1915, Queensland in 1919, New South Wales in 1920 and Victoria in 1921.

In 2004, Guides Australia described its mission as: ‘Helping girls and young women grow into confident, self-respecting, responsible community member.’

All Australian Guides, youth and adults, make the same Promise, use the same Laws, and wear the same badge. (The words on the badge say Guides Australia)

Guide Promise
I promise that I will do my best,
to do my duty to God,
to serve the Queen and my Country,
to help other people and to keep the Guide Law.
The Guide Laws

A Guide is loyal and can be trusted

A Guide is helpful

A Guide is polite and considerate

A Guide is friendly and a sister to all Guides

A Guide is kind to animals and respects all living things

A Guide is obedient

A Guides has courage and is cheerful in all difficulties

A Guide makes good use of her time

A Guide takes care of her own possessions and those of other people

A Guide is self-controlled in all she thinks says and does