Girl Guides Australia’s Annual Biscuit Drive:

Girl Guides Australia’s much-loved annual Biscuit Drive takes place in May 2019, when thousands of girls will set up biscuit stalls to fundraise for their Guiding activities. Purchasing Girl Guide Biscuits this month will help to fund programs and activities that empower girls, develop leadership and valuable life skills, boost confidence and help girls to reach their full potential in life.

Being one of the largest organisations in the country open to girls and young women from all backgrounds, cultures and religions, Girl Guides Australia provides informal learning programs, fun adventures, international travel, camps, outings and national events to its members.  

Chief Commissioner, Rosemary Derwin says, “When people from the community buy Girl Guides biscuits, they are essentially buying into Australia’s future female leaders. The public may feel like they are simply buying a delicious biscuit but it is important for the broader community to realise the impact of their support.”

All the profits from biscuit sales fund programs that respond to the issues affecting Australian girls and young women, including promoting women in leadership, financial literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) to increase gender diversity in future workplaces, awareness against body image stereotypes and gender-based violence.

Ms Derwin adds: “Ultimately, our annual Biscuit Drive is a celebration of the diversity, confidence, empowerment and friendship of Girl Guides, which is a platform the whole community can rally behind.”

Emily Milton-Smith has been a Girl Guide since the age of eight. She is now a Board Director, Queen’s Young Leader. She says: “Selling Girl Guide biscuits is a powerful memory from my time as a Girl Guide. Today, Girl Guides continue to be inspired, and as a Girl Guide Leader I’ve seen the life-affirming outcomes it provides for girls. Selling biscuits is a powerful ask of girls still in single digits, but it gets to the heart of what Girl Guides is all about – a place for each girl to grow and learn and challenge themselves!”

Emily continues: “Selling biscuits every year - learning how to be independent, manage money, and speak to people I had never met - pushed me out of my comfort zone. It developed in me strong communication skills and a passion to strive for my best – whatever that may be. These lessons set me up to be the person I am today, as it does for so many girls and young women. It empowered me to use my voice, and built my capabilities to connect in with my community and make a change for good.”

The iconic Girl Guide Biscuit range includes the flagship traditional vanilla biscuit, buttery shortbread (gluten-free), and the bite-sized mini chocolate chip biscuit with real chocolate. Girl Guides Biscuits can be purchased through local Girl Guides Units and from State offices while stocks last. For more information on where to buy biscuits, visit https://www.girlguidebiscuits.com.au/shop-now/.

Girl Guides Australia provides leadership and personal skills development to its 24,000 members and is part of an international Girl Guides movement of 10 million girls in 150 countries. Our mission is to empower girls and young women to become confident, considerate and responsible community members.

https://www.girlguides.org.au/