ACT Scouts have introduced new guidelines on mandatory reporting of child abuse and police checks in a bid to reassure parents their children will be safe in the organisation.
The ACT branch's chief commissioner, Neville Tomkins, announced yesterday all adult scouts would have to report actual or suspected child abuse, not just leaders as the previous guidelines stated.
Two new positions of male and female youth protection commissioners to manage internal reporting and to support alleged victims have been created.
Also, rover scouts those aged 18 to 26 would require police checks and be issued with cards confirming police had given them the all-clear.
The changes come in the wake of similar reforms in the scout movement across the country, and two Canberra cases of adult scouts charged with child-sex offences.
Two years ago scouts rover Duncan McConchie, now 22, of Banks, was charged with having sex with two girls aged 14 and 15 he met through scouts between April 2005 and April 2007, and possessing child pornography. The matter is still before the courts and he has pleaded not guilty.
Also in 2007 Aaron James Holliday, 23, who was training to be a leader with Lanyon Valley Scout Group was charged with possessing child pornography at his Braddon home. He has also pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope praised the new guidelines and acknowledged the court cases had been of concern to the organisation.