An adaptation of the Rovers training program is operated by Scouts Australia for adults aged between 18 and 25 years of age.

Rovers are organised into local Units (formerly and traditionally known as "Crews") which may be part of or associated with a Scout Group. Rovers are encouraged to become better citizens through training programs, developing leadership skills, participating in outdoor activities, attending national and international events, providing service to the community, and generally building their life skills.

History

Scouting in Australia in various forms and organisations started after the publication of fortnightly pamphlets which later formed Scouting for Boys, in 1908. The minimum age of a scout youth member was generally 10 to 18-years-of-age. The loss of young men at 18 to the movement was considered an issue, with some kept on in minor roles, became scoutmasters, or formed an Old Scouts' Club. In 1910 in Victoria, a 'Corps of Guides' section was proposed for those boys not wishing to become scoutmasters or assistant scout masters, but 'desirous to continuing their scout practice in real earnest', and between 16 and 25 years of age.

By 1917, in England the Senior Scout Scheme was created for boys over fifteen, and were known as 'Rovers'. (Today's Venturer Scout section, known initially as Senior Scouts, was not created until 1946.)

In late-1918 as young men returned from World War I back to Australia they sought outlets with like-minded others. The Rover section was officially adopted in 1918. As well as acting as leaders to youth sections, some chose to form Rover Patrols and undertake activities, many service-related, as a team. During the 1920s, these became named Rover 'Crews'. The first Australian Rover is thought to have been Eric Booth from the 1st Chatswood Scout Troop in New South Wales. After serving in the war, he was invested in the United Kingdom in November 1918 and given the charge to introduce Rover Scouting in Australia. After returning home to 1st Chatswood, he invested Arthur Hindwood, who is believed to be the first Rover invested in Australia.

In early 1919, the Tasmanian Boy Scouts' Association received correspondence from the London-based Commissioner for Overseas Dominions, regarding 'dealing with the maintenance of Rover Scouts or older boy's classes. The need for something to keep the adolescent lad in touch with the Movement is recognised'.

Impacted by the Great War, by 1920, the 'Rover' scheme was operational, members needing to be a minimum of 16 years, and a minimum height of , with 'reasonable physical development... [to conduct their own affairs] to a more advanced standard than Scouts'. The uniform was the Scout khaki, with red shoulder straps (with 'S.S.' on them for 'Senior Scouts), red garter tabs instead of green at the top of their socks, and bands instead of half-inch bands on their Scout hat. Both Senior Scouts and Rover Troops existed. Some Rover Units in existence about this time included:

NSW: Hurstville (the first in NSW to be "officially 'sworn in' as Rover Scouts" in mid-April 1920), Kogarah was operating by February 1922. Coffs Harbour Rover Troop was proposed for formation in July 1922.

The Rockdale and Hurstville Rover Patrols amalgamated in February 1922 to become the Rovers of St George District.

Qld: There was a Rover Mate assisting the 2nd Toowoomba Troop by March 1923. A Bundaberg Patrol was fundraising in July 1923. Redcliffe had several Rovers by November 1923. By December 1923, a Brisbane Scout sports day saw Rover Troops from Milton and Kangaroo Point.

Scoutmaster B. Heape, a former Rover Mate with Haig Patrol in Great Britain, formed the Buderim Mountain Scout Troop in July 1922, changing to a mounted Troop in October 1922. By November 1923, he had five Rover Scouts, possibly the first Rovers to be in a mounted Troop.

SA: 1st Woodville Troop voted to organise a Rover Patrol by February 1920.

Tasmania: A small group at Launceston by November 1923.

Victoria: By February 1922, there were Rovers with the 2nd Brunswick (Lord Jellicoe's Own) Scout Troop. By May 1922, there were Rovers with 10th Melbourne (Saint Peter's) Group.

WA: No. 32 (Highgate Hill) was recognised from 9 March 1920 and had 17 members by December, and the 1st WA Sea Scouts group changed on 1 July 1920 to become a dedicated Sea Scout Rover Troop.

Baden-Powell's book Rovering to Success was published in 1922 and provided a "book of life-sport for young men", becoming the ethical foundation of the Rover section, which also detailed the aims and program of the section. The late 1920s saw Rovers adopt the theme of knighthood in their ceremonies and Crew structures.

At this time the Rover section motto of 'service' was established.

The minimum age was raised in 1920 to 17.5 years, and a maximum age of 25 added in 1936. Other changes included a proposal in 1970 to replace Rovers with a new section called 'Pathfinders'. This move that was ultimately abandoned after the 'Rover Scouts Must Stay' campaign mounted by the then current Rovers. Female members were admitted to Rover Crews in 1975 following trials in several NSW Crews.

The 1931 annual report indicated 633 Rover Scouts in New South Wales, 504 in Victoria, 255 in South Australia, 235 in Queensland, 74 in Western Australia, and 23 in Tasmania.

Uniform Since the 2000s, Rovers in Scouts Australia wear a blue uniform shirt, distinguished from other sections by the red yoke (including shoulder panels).

It is compulsory for invested members to wear a scarf (or neckerchief), as well as the badges they have been awarded.

The youth award scheme in Australian Scouting consists of badges for participation in the program, proficiency in adventurous activities, participation in major events, recognition of service and peak awards. In addition to these, Rovers are permitted to wear a Rover Scout shoulder knot and bar. The knot and its colours symbolise the idea of one program, one journey in Scouting, through a series of developmental age groups. It is to be presented in its entirety during an investiture. (The 'knot' has five ribbons (tan for Joey Scouts, yellow for Cub Scouts, green for Scouts, maroon for Venturer Scouts, with red for Rover Scouts) on the left shoulder, symbolising the role of the Rover section in helping and protecting their younger brothers and sisters.) The knot became optional with the 2020 uniform change.

Organisation

Rovers are organised from a national level downwards, however the day-to-day running of the section is organised at a branch (state) level. Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are split into Regions which in turn are made up of Units. There are around 3,000 Rovers nationally in about 250 Units.

Unlike the other sections of Scouts Australia, Rovers are self-governing, with Rovers under 26 becoming the leaders of their own section while still taking part in the program. After the Scout Association of Australia's 1970 Design for Tomorrow Report, amongst other changes, their leaders aged over 25 were asked to step back from being Rover Scout Leaders to become Rover Advisers, with the Crew Leaders, Region Rover Council Chairs and Branch Rover Council Chairs taking up the responsibility for their Rovers.

The National Rover Council, a group of Rover representatives from each state who coordinate interstate efforts, was founded in 1979 and just like Units, all are under 26 years old.

Local Units

A local Rover Unit is run by its members and led by an elected committee. The committee normally consists of a Unit Leader, assistant/deputy Unit Leader, secretary and treasurer and larger Units may also add a fundraiser, quartermaster, training officer, Venturer liaison/recruitment officer, and other roles. Rovers are young adults and make their own decisions but frequently Units wish to have input and support from people over the age of 25, called Rover Advisers. These Advisers are selected by the Rover Unit, and usually re-endorsed by the Unit annually.

Region Rover Councils

The next step in the Rover organisation ladder is the Region Rover Council (RRC). These bodies run Rovering in their geographic areas and are typically based on the same Regions as the other sections of the Scouting Movement. These Regions can also run various Branch events on behalf of the Branch and run their own where all Rovers are invited. The application and practice of RRCs varies between the three states that operate them. In Victoria this level is known as a Rovering community and conduct few if any events and are primarily a social networking function with most co-ordination done at a Branch Rover Council level. Conversely in New South Wales, RRCs generally undertake several regional events a year and support their Units in running events and activities that are open to all Rovers. They operate bank accounts, conduct business, and hold an annual general meeting or annual report presentation.

There are currently RRCs in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria which assist the Units in their Region by offering community involvement activities, organising social functions, distributing information, promoting training and the Baden-Powell Award and many other tasks. The smaller states without RRCs have their Units reporting directly to their Branch Rover Council.

Branch Rover Councils

The Branch Rover Council (BRC) is composed of representatives from each of the RRCs (in states that have them) or directly from Units and may also have representatives from sub-committees (for events, property, marketing, motorsport, etc.). This body approves Branch awards, co-ordinates training, liaises with other BRCs and the National Rover Council, develops policies and initiatives and encourages the further development of Rovering and the Rover program.

These bodies also communicate with their respective Branch organisations where the whole state is organised and BRCs send their elected members to represent Rover interests. BRC Commissioners and Chairs directly represent Rovers to the wider organisation in this way.

BRCs also have a number of sub-committees which organise various parts of Rovering life. These may include: management committees that run campsites and manage assets and property; event committees, which organise some of the larger Rover events for Rovers in the Branch; Rover Motorsport is CAMS-affiliated but also the responsibility of the BRC; diversity and inclusion committees that help support members; and award approval committees for the conferring of Rover awards.

Some states have a Lone Rover Unit which accepts members from country or other areas where the nearest Unit is further than practical travel allows, or who cannot attend a regular Rover Unit due to work or other commitments. Currently New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia have 'Lones Units'.

National Rover Council

The Australian National Rover Council (NRC) governs Rovering at a national level, by assisting Branch Rover levels, and designs policy to affect Rovering as a whole in Australia. This team works together to develop a strategic plan and then implement this over the course of their elected year(s). They also liaise with the BRC Chairs and the Branch Commissioners/Advisers for Rovers (or their equivalent) in each state to help them with any issues, ideas or help that they may need plus implement any actions or policies that affect the whole nation.