Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh award is an exciting worldwide self-development program for young people 14-25. Through a series of personal challenges you will gain valuable skills and discover you really can make a difference.
About ‘THE DUKE’
As an award participant you will join over 5 million young people in over 100 countries. The Duke of Edinburgh’s award has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each of these levels has four sections – Skill, Service, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey.
The award is voluntary, flexible, non-competitive, balanced, progressive, challenging and most of all enjoyable, providing an opportunity for young people to achieve personal excellence and build self-esteem, confidence, self-reliance, motivation and respect for others.
Selection Process
Students wishing to apply will need to complete the ADVANCE application form. This form asks students to tell us why they should be selected for the course and asks for a parent/guardian signature. The second selection stage will be an interview.
Cost
The course is partially funded through contributions from the College and the ADVANCE Government grant. A fee of $375 covers all activities and registration to the Duke of Edinburgh office.
Possible Activities
(to be selected by the students)
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Bike Riding
- Rock Climbing
- Fencing
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Orienteering
- Initiatives
- Camps
- First Aid Course
Required Components
Students need to complete the following components to gain their award:
| SKILL | PHYSICAL RECREATION |
| To encourage the development of personal interests, creativity or practical skills. Anything from refereeing, to DJing to learning a musical instrument, to jewellery making. | |
| ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY | COMMUNITY SERVICE |
| We will complete this requirement as a class. Two 3-day expeditions to the Cathedral Range and Wilson’s Promontory National Park or the Surf Coast. | We will connect with our community as a class. This could be through re-vegetating bushland, or assisting in primary schools or aged care centres. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the course cost?I have attempted to keep the costs as low as possible but still expose the students to a broad range of outdoor activities. The cost of $375 covers this registration fee and all equipment, accommodation and activities. (However the additional cost of food for the two expeditions is purchased and determined by each individual student).
How many students can be selected? Unfortunately we can only select 24 students for the course. This is due to the restrictions on bus sizes and equipment available to us.
Where do we go on our expeditions? Our first expedition will take us to Cathedral Range State Park, with the second expedition held at Wilson’s Promontory National Park or the western Surf Coast.
What equipment is required? You are not expected to purchase any expensive equipment to complete the course. The College has enough trangias (stoves), tents, sleeping mats, backpacks, maps, compasses, bikes, helmets, safety vests and maintenance gear for each student. Appropriate clothing and good walking shoes would ensure students are comfortable and safe while on the camp. Additional gear is sourced by external service providers.
What skills will the Duke of Edinburgh Award give me? Throughout the course students will get a chance to develop skills that can assist them later in life. These include:
- Leadership
- Cooperative skills
- Independence
- Teamwork
- Forward planning
- Responsibility
- Initiative confidence
- Budgeting
- Sense of achievement
How will this help me in the future? In the near future students may be looking for some part-time employment. The Duke of Edinburgh Award can look fantastic to an employer looking for a young, responsible, enthusiastic employee. In terms future careers, TAFEs and Universities don’t require either the Duke of Edinburgh or Sports Leadership course. However, they could be a good way to discover interests that could lead to further study.
How do I select the Duke of Edinburgh Award on my course selection form? The course runs for the length of the year, therefore takes up 2 of your free choice selections. Please ensure you hand the form in on time, as late forms can’t be considered for the course.
What is the difference between the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Sports Leadership?
| DUKE OF EDINBURGH | SPORTS LEADERSHIP |
| Internationally recognised course First Aid Qualification Expedition to Cathedral Range State Park Expedition to Wilson’s Promontory National Park3-6 months Community Service (students choose from assisting in primary schools or aged care centres, etc)3-6 months learning a new skill in own time3-6 months Physical Recreation in own time Possible activities:
(all activities will require students to complete relevant theory included in their Duke of Edinburgh workbook) |
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