FAQ's
1: My child is 8 this year, does she have enough time to complete Little Flowers, in order to achieve the award, before moving up?
The two stages per level in the program are meant to cover 2-3 years of work. It is possible but quite unlikely for a child to complete the requirements for a level award (completion of entire level plus 15 Skill Cards) in one year.
2: My child is 15, does she really have to start back in stage 1? She'll never finish it in 3 years!
All girls must start at the beginning of the program. However parents can sign off tasks if they know their daughter has already covered them, and leaders can use their discretion when helping girls to quickly work up to their correct stage. For example a 15 year old would not have to complete the bushwalking and camping requirements of the early stages, because Stage 7 and 8 included more hours and days of both than the earlier stages.
3: How do I apply?
Use the Express Interest Form above.
4: What training do leaders need to do?
All leaders have Working With Children Checks and receive ongoing training during their time as leaders on the skills found in the program and developing leadership skills .
5. We live rural, or are in a parish without enough girls to form a group. Can my daughters still join?
For isolated girls there is the Assisi Group, named after the property from which the Program is run in The Rock, NSW. Assisi girls have monthly zoom meetings with Guild headquarters, and are guided through the program, with adjustments to fit girls without a physical group.
6. Do all the girls ever get together?
We're glad you asked! The plan is to have the great long weekend St Joan's Guild Camp where all the groups converge on headquarters, on a biannual basis., Awards are presented, leaders get some PD done, a beautiful combined girls choirs Mass is celebrated and we have a show with the girls arts, crafts and skilled work on display. And some of the more group orientated tasks can be completed, especially for the Assisi girls, such as debating and public speaking.
7. We live rural and can not possibly get to the ocean to cover the ocean/beach tasks, can we skip them?
The Guild Program took over a thousand hours to research and create and was reviewed by a score of mums and young women before being carefully edited and finalised. That said, we certainly recognise that a child living in an apartment in Sydney can not view her garden at night to learn about the insects there and a girl on a farm in Dubbo is unlikely to be able to learn about ocean currents in person. Parents and leaders can fill out the Application for Dispensation Form for any task and headquarters will review the task in question. We will endeavour to find some way your daughter can access or learn the skill even if just virtually.
8. I'm a dad, how can I be involved?
In order to retain the uniquely feminine flavour of the Guild program, men typically cannot be senior members or hold leadership roles within a group. Of course there are exceptions to that rule, for example a single dad without a female relative to represent his family at the yearly senior members group meeting. Dads however play a pivotal role in supporting their daughters through the program and should be involved as much as possible in helping their daughters achieve their skills. They can also be a great asset to a group through running workshops or meetings to share their skills with the girls.