Maybe your child’s classmate has a Scout Elf who is always up to silly antics, or you have seen them on your social feed and you are ready to add some magic to your family’s Christmas. There are three North Pole‑approved ways to welcome a Scout Elf to an Australian home: adopt one at an official adoption centre, adopt online, or add one to a Christmas wish list.

Three ways to adopt a Scout Elf in Australia

1. Visit an official Scout Elf Adoption Centre

Across Australia, official Scout Elf Adoption Centres pop up during the festive season. These are the magical spots where families meet their elf in person and take home everything they need to start the tradition. Our adoption centre finder shows the Australian stockists nearest you.

How do I get an Elf on the Shelf? - The Elf on the Shelf Australia

2. Visit Santa’s online adoption centre

You can also adopt online at elfontheshelf.com.au, where Scout Elves and Elf Pets® are available all year. Choose a girl or boy elf with light or dark skin, and Santa will see that your magical helper is delivered to your doorstep, ready to begin their seasonal mission.

3. Add an elf to a Christmas wish list

A heartfelt letter to Santa never goes out of style. If your little one has been asking for an elf, encourage them to write to Santa and explain why they would love to adopt one. With a sprinkle of belief, a Scout Elf may well arrive in time for the first day of summer.

What comes with a Scout Elf adoption

Every official adoption is the complete The Elf on the Shelf®: A Christmas Tradition set, which includes:

  • A wonderfully illustrated The Elf on the Shelf®: A Christmas Tradition storybook
  • A Scout Elf ready for daily December surprises
  • A keepsake box to store your elf safely between visits
  • An official elf adoption certificate
A grandmother reading The Elf on the Shelf storybook with two children beside the Christmas tree

Those four items are also how you tell an official Scout Elf from an ordinary Christmas decoration – if you already have an elf at home and you are not certain, here is how to tell whether your elf is a real Scout Elf.

When should our elf arrive?

Most Australian families welcome their Scout Elf at the start of December and say goodbye on Christmas Eve, though plenty of elves arrive earlier – on 1 November, for the first day of advent, or in time for a mid‑year Christmas in July celebration. There is no wrong date. If your elf has already left for the season and the family misses them, you can even invite them back early.

Two Scout Elves perched on wrapped presents in front of a decorated Christmas tree

What happens once your elf arrives

The most exciting part comes first: choosing a name. Naming your Scout Elf activates their magic and makes them part of the family. Not sure what to call them? Our Scout Elf naming guide has festive and funny ideas to suit every personality, from “Snags McTwinkle” to “Cocoa Sparklecheeks”.

A child discovering her Scout Elf hiding on a shelf

From then on your elf settles into their nightly routine, flying back to the North Pole after bedtime and returning each morning in a brand‑new spot. If you need somewhere to start, we have 30 easy hiding places and a whole library of Elf Ideas to work through.

Adopting a Scout Elf is about more than the fun of it. It is a way to create joyful memories, build excitement and strengthen family traditions each Christmas – and the magic begins the moment your elf arrives.