Every year I have the privilege of walking alongside young men as they work toward their Queen’s Badge or King’s Badge. And every year, I’m reminded of something profoundly important—the heart of the BB Advantage:
BB is for all.
I’ve seen outstanding BBK Projects—thoughtful, analytical, wise. I’ve read Service to Community reports that reveal deep insight and compassion. But I’ve also supported young men who struggle to construct a paragraph… or even a sentence. And yet, at the end of the journey, they stand side by side, receiving the same Award, celebrating the same achievement, honoured with the same recognition.
That is the BB Advantage.
My role is simple but significant:
to know each young man,
to respect his individuality,
to challenge him to strive for excellence within his personal abilities.
And when we do that well, BB becomes a place where every boy—regardless of ability, background, or learning style—can flourish.
The Barriers Boys Believe
Despite our best efforts, some boys still count themselves out before they even begin.
They say things like:
- “I’m autistic.”
- “I have ADHD.”
- “I can’t write a report.”
- “I’m too unco for drill.”
- “I can’t remember all that stuff for the interview.”
- “I’m not academic—I’m in the trade stream at school.”
- “I can’t walk, so how can I get Outdoor/Adventure points?”
- “I have a physical disability—how can I get Physical Awards?”
These aren’t excuses. They’re fears.
And they’re exactly why BB must remain excessively accessible, strongly supportive, and innovative.
The Program Is Modifiable—We Just Need the Mindset
The BB program—including the KB pathway—is far more flexible than many realise. With confidence, imagination, and the support of those overseeing assessment, we can adapt almost every component.
We already have an alternate pathway for drill.
We already know how to recognise competency in different ways.
We already understand that not all boys demonstrate knowledge the same way.
Anyone who has conducted BBK Interviews knows the spectrum:
- The boy who answers the first two questions and you instantly know he’s competent.
- The boy who knows everything but can’t recall names under pressure.
- The boy who understands the structure but can’t articulate it clearly.
- The boy who freezes because interviews terrify him.
And then there are the boys whose disabilities are more visible.
Years ago, I watched a young man in a wheelchair receive his Queen’s Badge. It was a powerful moment. But I can’t recall seeing a young man with a severe intellectual disability standing in that group—despite the fact that many Companies run wonderfully inclusive programs.
It’s time we see those young men at Government House too.
And it’s time we give leaders the resources, encouragement, and freedom to make it happen.
The BB Advantage in Action: Inclusion Through Creativity, Not Compromise
For boys with obvious disabilities, the adjustments are usually clear.
But for those who are “just a bit different,” we need a mindset shift.
Here’s what inclusion looks like in practice:
- Scaffolding reports so boys can express themselves within a supportive structure.
- Modifying the BBK Interview so they don’t have to memorise every name—just know how to find the information.
- Removing the armband and letting them talk through what’s on it.
- Helping them map out what’s left to complete in a way that makes sense to them.
- Using imagination and experience to create a reasonably adjusted pathway—one that still challenges them, still requires effort, and still results in genuine achievement.
This isn’t lowering the standard.
It’s adjusting the pathway so the standard is reachable.
And when a young man knows he has worked hard—within his ability—and achieved something special, the Award means just as much.
Let’s Maintain the BB Advantage
BB has always been at its best when it is:
- Excessively accessible
- Strongly supportive
- Innovative in its approach to inclusion
We have the structure.
We have the heart.
We have the opportunity.
Now we need the mindset.
Let’s be fully inclusive.
Let’s champion every boy.
Let’s ensure the BB Advantage continues—strong, compassionate, and unmistakably life‑changing.
by Don Smith – Founder of BBQLD Leadership Development Course, Author of Growing Young Leaders