Name: Niamh Hitchman
Role in Scouts: Assistant Venturer Leader
Day Job: Operations Manager
Hobbies and Interests: When I'm not with my Scout family, I'm an avid gamer, I love to read and I love urban exploration and photography.
Favourite moment in Scouting: Attending my very first Dragon Skin as an adult leader, and watching all of the success of the teams as they went through the challenges. It was brilliant!
What inspired you to work with youth members? I've worked in volunteer roles for the last 13+ years, but have always been drawn to work in roles that support and mentor young people. Although I was never in Scouting growing up, I believe it's never too late to start!
What key thing has a youth member said to you that has stayed with you? One of my Venturer Scouts telling me that I was "the best leader ever" because I made her feel like she was listened to - that was when I knew I'd be in Scouts forever!
Why did you become a Youth Safe Advocate? I became a Youth Safe Advocate because I believe that every member of our organisation has the right to feel safe, to be protected and to be believed if they speak up about something that's not right.
Why is the Youth Safe Advocate scheme important for Scouts NSW? Our duty of care to our members means that every single member of our movement needs to be looked after - it's important that our youth know there's people they can talk to if they need help!
What is the key message you would everyone to remember about the Youth Safe Advocate scheme? I've always believed that the standard you walk past is the standard you accept - having the YSA program is a great way to make sure that our organisation keeps its members safe.
