Take
up
the CHALLENGE
INTRODUCTION TO THE AWARD
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an non-competitive, flexible program for
all young people, whatever their background or ability. The Award expands personal
horizons and explores potential talents and interests. The Award is run in 126 countries
around the world and so far 6 million young people have completed their Award. The
International Award is the generic title, but each National Award Authority (NAA) can
choose its own title, for example the El-Hassan Youth Award in Jordan, The Presidents
Award in Ireland and the Hong Kong Award for Young People.
The Award is for young people aged 14-25 years and comprises three levels Bronze,
Silver and Gold
For all levels the participant must fulfil the requirements of each of 4 sections.
 Physical Recreation -- encouraging improvement and fitness
 Skill Development – developing cultural, vocational and practical skills
 Volunteering – developing a sense of community responsibility
 Adventurous Journey cultivates a spirit of adventure and an understanding of the
environment
 For Gold a Residential Project broadens horizons through a worthwhile experience
Activities in the four sections are intended to provide a balanced program reflecting
different aspects of a young person’s development.
Participants choose their own activities for each of the sections and work to improve
their knowledge, skills and performances. They need to work with an adult assessor
who can discuss progress and sign off their completion.
The award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others. Each
participant’s program is tailor-made to reflect the individual’s abilities and interests.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is widely recognised by employers and
education providers so it can be added to a students resume or school leavers
statement. It is also accredited by the SACE board as units towards community learning.
Benefits to young people include developing self- confidence and self- reliance; gaining
a sense of achievement and responsibility; discovering new skills, interests and talents
and development of leadership; skills. They can also discover exciting opportunities,
make new friends, experience teamwork; problem solving and decision-making;
increase their motivation; enhance their self-esteem and develop their communication
skills. They will also have fun.
The award began in the UK in 1956 but it has spread around the globe because the
format and philosophy is adaptable to many cultures.
The Award provides young people with amazing opportunities, perfectly summarized by
Kurt Hahn, the co-founder of the Award:
“ we are all better than we know. If only we can be brought to realise this, we may
never again be prepared to settle for anything less”
“ I am a first hand witness to problems encountered by young people in our world
today: challenges of identity crisis, difficulties in choosing careers and drugs.
The Award helps young people to appreciate that there are challenges facing
them and equips them with skills to cope with these challenges” Olunga, Gold
Award holder Kenya
For further information call 1300 4 DUKES or visit www.the award.com.au
The impact of the Award programme on young people
The Research: We recently asked Gold Award holders about their Award experiences.
The research was carried out through a time-limited online survey to 324 Gold Award
holders
- 58% of respondents were female. 69% were aged between 26-35.
The research revealed the long-lasting impact that doing an Award programme has on
young people. It demonstrated how the Award develops the important ‘soft skills’ vital in
today’s society. These benefits are immense and this is ontop of the young people who
contribute volunteering work worth over 35,000 hours to their community in South Australia
every year.
Personal Development:
Confidence: 58% of young people believed the Award had improved their confidence.
Leadership: 79% stated they had learned how to work as a team leader and developed
greater leadership ability.
Teamworking: 83% stated that taking part in The Award programme taught then how to
work with different types of people.
Decision making: 78% of young people said doing the Award had taught them to make
decisions for themselves.
“ Doing my Award improved my self-esteem and motivation” “ I learned to aim high and
believe in myself”
Employability:
93% felt that by including their Award on an application form it would help secure
employment or places at preferred colleges.
58% believed that having achieved an Award had helped them in their job/career – the
most helpful section was Volunteering.
64% believed that having an Award helped them gained their most recent/current job.
“ My Award led me to my degree choice and current career.”
Other benefits:
83% felt they had a greater understanding of the importance of the environment as a result
of doing their Award.
87% still participate in the activities they took up for their Award programme.
61% stated that they still volunteer with their community after achieving their Award.
25% were now volunteering as The Award Leaders.
67% claimed that they had used the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as a benchmark.
Other feedback from young people on their experience
“ I discovered my emotional and physical limits are much higher than I thought. I learned to
stay calm regardless of the situation and that very rarely is anything as bad as it first
seems.”
“ I learned that however hard something is you can still finish it”
ACTIVITY IDEAS
SKILL
Art
Astrology
Debating
Boat license
Building
Car
Restoration
Cartooning
Chess
Choreography
Computing
Comunication
Skills
Coaching
levels
Cooking
Dog training
Drama
Drawing
Dress making
Driving
Farming
Film
production
Forestry
Fishing
Flying
Furniture
Restoration
Gardening
Geology
Gliding
Historical
projects
Home brewing
Horse riding
Juggling
Karate
Knitting
Languages
Independent
living skills
Jigsaws
Leadlighting
Leatherwork
Literacy &
numeracy
Metal/plastic
work
Music
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Bowls ( lawn
/pin)
Public
Speaking
Religious
Studies
Snooker
Sculpture
Singing
Scuba Diving
TAFE course
VET course
Video
production
Wine making
Woodwork
Writing
Yoga
Vehicle driving
and
maintenance
Dancing
Diving
Fencing
Fitness
program
Football
Golf
Grid iron
Gym Work
Handball
Hanggliding
Hockey
Iceskating
Jazz Ballet
Jogging
Judo
Ju-Jitsu
Karate
Kickboxing
Lacrosse
Marching
Mountainbiking
Netball
Orienteering
Rockclimbing
Rollerblading
Rowing
Rugby
Sailing
Scubadiving
Sculling
Skateboarding
Skiing
Soccer
Softball
Squash
Surfing
Tai Chi
Tennis
Ten pin
bowling
Trampolining
Volleyball
Walking
Waterpolo
Waterskiing
Wheelchair
sports
Windsurfing
Elderly care
First Aid
Fundraising
Helping at
homeless
shelters
Hospital visits
Library
assistance
Overseas
volunteer
Peer Support
Riding for
disabled
School Leader
Scoring
Special needs
help
Sunday school
Surf lifesaving
Tuckshop help
Umpiring
School Camps
Surfing
Snow trip
Interstate
sports trip
Fourwheel
driving
PHYSICAL RECREATION
Aerobics
Archery
Athletics
Badminton
Ballet
Baseball
Basketball
Bowling
Canoeing
Callisthenics
Caving
Cricket
Cycling
VOLUNTEERING
Animal
Shelters
Cadets/Scouts
CFS / SES
Coaching
Conservation
ADVENTUROUS JOURNEYS
Bushwalking
Cultural trip
Kayaking
Mountainbiking
Rockclimbing
Sailing
RESIDENTIAL ( GOLD AWARD ONLY)
Leadership training
Working overseas
Exchange program
Outdoor Adventure
Youth camps
OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAM
The Duke of Ed has three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each of these levels is made
up of four Sections: Physical Recreation, Skill, Volunteering and Adventurous Journey.
The Gold Award has an additional requirement – a Residential Project.
All Participants in The Duke of Ed must be registered with a Licensed Operator. The
Licensed Operator must approve activity Assessors
prior to Participants undertaking any Award activities with them.
Participants design their own program by selecting activities that interest them and
then set their goals according to the following minimum requirements (summarised in
the table below).
Full requirements for obtaining an Award are set out in more detail at
www.dukeofed.com.au
BRONZE
Physical Recreation
Skill
Volunteering
Plus
Adventurous Journey
SILVER
Physical Recreation
Skill
Volunteering
Plus
Adventurous Journey
GOLD
Physical Recreation
Skill
Volunteering
Plus
Adventurous Journey
Residential Project
3 months*
3 months*
3 months*
All Participants must complete another three
months in either Physical Recreation or Skill or
Volunteering
2 days + 1 night**
6 months*
6 months*
6 months*
Participants who have not achieved a Bronze
Award must complete an additional six months
in either
Physical Recreation or Skill or Volunteering
3 days + 2 nights**
12 months*
12 months*
12 months*
Participants who have not achieved a Silver
Award must undertake an additional six months
in either
Physical Recreation or Skill or Volunteering
4 days + 3 nights**
5 days + 4 nights
* These are minimum time requirements and are expressed in whole months, during
which there should be regular commitment.
As a guide, regular time commitment is at least one hour per week or two hours per
fortnight. In the case of Volunteering, this may be four hours per month (in block time
periods) dependent on Coordinator approval. Award Participants are encouraged to
continue their activities beyond the minimum time.
** Satisfactory completion of the Adventurous Journey Section includes training and
preparation appropriate for the journeys being undertaken and at least one practice
journey of a similar nature and duration to the qualifying journey
1. Any young person aged 14 to 25 can become an Award Participant.
− At Bronze level, if a person is 13 and 9 months, but is part of a peer group where the
majority are 14 years or older, then some
discretion is given to the Licensed Operator to allow that young person to start their
Bronze Award with the rest of the group
− A person may commence Silver at 14 and 9 months if they have completed their
Bronze Award. In practice, this means that
Participants who are given concession to start Bronze or Silver early will need to wait
longer to receive their Award
− Participants who commence their Bronze or Silver Award slightly earlier will need to
wait until they meet the minimum age for
completion before they can claim their Award
− No activity undertaken before a Participant’s 16th birthday may be counted towards a
Gold Award
− Please contact your State/Territory Award Office if you have any questions
about age range and commencing The
Duke of Ed prior to 14 years of age.
2. The Duke of Ed must be completed by the Participant’s 25th birthday.
3. Parent/guardian consent is required for Participants aged under 18 years.
4. All Participants must sign the Participant Agreement.
5. The standards of achieving an Award are individual effort, perseverance and progress.
6. The Duke of Ed is to be completed substantially in the Participants own time.
DUKE Of EDINBURGH’S AWARD AT PULTENEY GRAMMAR
WHY TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE
1. Gain new skills or Gain extra recognition for participating in activities.
2. Add to your resume, curriculum vitae or personal portfolio and school leaver’s
statement.
3. Gain a unit credit for SACE.
4. Recognized by many employers, businesses and teachers.
5. Meet new friends.
6. Develop your leadership, teamwork, communication, motivational skills and
independence
HOW THE SCHOOL CAN HELP WITH THE BRONZE LEVEL
VOLUNTEERING: Students need to complete 1 hour per week (or 4 hours a month) for
3 months where they are helping someone. For example coaching a junior sports team,
fund-raising, surf lifesaving, helping older people with shopping or conversation, present
music for charity, help the LAP, working in local national park.
EXPEDITION: Complete 2 overnight trips of similar activities, which could be the year 8, 9
and 10 Outdoor Education camps or Venture Club trips or activities with a local Scout
Group.
A report (written or PowerPoint) on the test trip is due within a few weeks of the trip and
this should include gear list, menu, and description of the days, route map and reflection.
INTEREST: Students develop a non-physical skill over 3 months with an assessor.
There are many activities at School (out of lessons) that can qualify such as Debating,
Chess, Music, Drama, extra Art, Photography, Reading, Creative writing, Cooking.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: Play a sport for school completing 1 hour per week over 3 months.
Then students need to complete an extra 3 months in one of the Service or Physical
Activity or Interest
If students start the scheme, there is an expectation that they will undertake to complete
the Bronze level within two years. Then they are welcome to go on with Silver and Gold
levels if they are interested. Although students have up to the age of 25 years to complete
their Gold level, it is an outstanding achievement to complete the Gold level at school and
anyone doing so will be presented at Speech Night and their name goes on an honour
board.
To start the award, students need to be 14 years or turn 14 within 3 months of starting so
they will be a similar age to their peers. Complete the application form with a cheque made
out to the award scheme or credit card details and return it to Mr Brown who is the
Operator for the Award Scheme at School. Any questions contact Mr Matthew Brown.