Girl Guides have their say
In April 2008, Girl Guides Australia released the report National survey of Australian Girl Guides: Issues concerning Girl Guides, outlining results from their 2007 survey of the local, national and global concerns of their members. Close to 4,500 Girl Guides aged 5-17 years took part in the survey, which asked the question, ‘What three issues in the world, in Australia and in your community do you care about?’
Selected findings:
Issues of concern raised by Australian Girl Guides, overall
|
Global issues
|
% of
responses |
Australian issues
|
% of
responses |
Local issues
|
% of responses
|
|
Global warming
|
16.9
|
Water
|
21.2
|
Environment
|
12.3
|
|
Environment
|
15.6
|
Environment
|
18.0
|
Addictions
|
10.8
|
|
Poverty
|
15.1
|
Addictions
|
8.7
|
Bullying
|
8.4
|
|
World peace
|
9.6
|
Animal cruelty
|
7.0
|
Water
|
7.5
|
|
Animal cruelty
|
7.7
|
Equal rights
|
5.4
|
Littering
|
7.0
|
|
Equal rights
|
6.9
|
Government
|
4.6
|
Crime (serious)
|
5.8
|
Issues of concern raised by Australian Girl Guides, by age group
(Note: A total of 76% of respondents were aged 5-12 years. When two or more issues are listed in any cell, the percentage given relates to each issue and is not cumulative.)
(Note: A total of 76% of respondents were aged 5-12 years. When two or more issues are listed in any cell, the percentage given relates to each issue and is not cumulative.)
a) Global issues:
|
Issue
|
5-12 years
% |
Issue
|
13-17 years
% |
|
Environment
|
18.2
|
Poverty
|
22.3
|
|
Global warming
|
16.6
|
Global warming
|
17.9
|
|
Poverty
|
12.9
|
Equal rights
|
11.1
|
|
World peace
|
10.3
|
Environment & world peace
|
7.3
|
|
Animal cruelty
|
8.2
|
Animal cruelty
|
6.0
|
b) National issues:
|
Issue
|
5-12 years
% |
Issue
|
13-17 years
% |
|
Water
|
21.5
|
Water
|
20.4
|
|
Environment
|
20.2
|
Environment
|
11.1
|
|
Addictions
|
8.7
|
Addictions
|
8.9
|
|
Animal cruelty
|
8.3
|
Government
|
8.3
|
|
Equal rights
|
5.1
|
Body image
|
6.8
|
c) Local issues
|
Issue
|
5-12 years
% |
Issue
|
13-17 years
% |
|
Environment
|
13.6
|
Addictions
|
13.7
|
|
Addictions
|
9.8
|
Environment
|
8.5
|
|
Bullying
|
8.7
|
Bullying
|
7.6
|
|
Water
|
8.2
|
Crime (petty)
|
6.1
|
|
Littering
|
7.7
|
Equal rights & teen issues
|
5.9
|
Sources:
Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 2008, p.5.
Sydney Morning Herald, 28 April 2008, p.5.
Girl Guides Australia 2008, Advocacy at the heart of Australia’s young women: First national survey of young women rating key world and community issues released today, media release, 28 April, Girl Guides Australia, viewed 3 July 2008, http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=224
Girl Guides Australia 2008, National Survey of Australian Girl Guides: Issues concerning Girl Guides, Girl Guides Australia, viewed 3 July 2008, http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=21#AustralianGuidesSay