Take up the

CHALLENGE

INTRODUCTION TO THE AWARDThe 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 GoldFor 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 KenyaFor 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 IDEASSKILLArt 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 FishingFlying Furniture Restoration Gardening

Geology Gliding Historical projectsHome brewing Horse riding Juggling Karate Knitting Languages Independent living skills Jigsaws Leadlighting

Leatherwork Literacy & numeracy Metal/plastic work Music Painting PhotographyPottery Bowls ( lawn /pin) Public Speaking Religious Studies

Snooker SculptureSinging Scuba Diving TAFE course VET course Video production Wine making WoodworkWritingYoga Vehicle driving and maintenance

PHYSICAL RECREATIONAerobics Archery Athletics Badminton Ballet Baseball Basketball Bowling Canoeing Callisthenics Caving Cricket Cycling

Dancing Diving Fencing Fitness program Football Golf Grid ironGym Work HandballHanggliding HockeyIceskating

Jazz Ballet JoggingJudoJu-Jitsu KarateKickboxingLacrosseMarchingMountainbikingNetballOrienteering RockclimbingRollerblading

RowingRugbySailingScubadivingScullingSkateboardingSkiingSoccerSoftballSquashSurfingTai ChiTennis

Ten pin bowlingTrampoliningVolleyballWalkingWaterpoloWaterskiingWheelchair sportsWindsurfing

VOLUNTEERINGAnimal SheltersCadets/ScoutsCFS / SES CoachingConservation

Elderly care First Aid FundraisingHelping at homeless shelters

Hospital visits Library assistanceOverseas volunteerPeer Support

Riding for disabledSchool Leader ScoringSpecial needs help

Sunday schoolSurf lifesavingTuckshop helpUmpiring

ADVENTUROUS JOURNEYSBushwalkingCultural trip Kayaking

MountainbikingRockclimbing Sailing

School CampsSurfing Snow trip

Interstate sports trip

Fourwheel driving

RESIDENTIAL ( GOLD AWARD ONLY)Leadership trainingWorking overseasExchange program

Outdoor AdventureYouth camps

OUTLINE OF THE PROGRAMThe 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

BRONZEPhysical Recreation 3 months*Skill 3 months*Volunteering 3 months*Plus All Participants must complete another three

months in either Physical Recreation or Skill or Volunteering

Adventurous Journey 2 days + 1 night**

SILVERPhysical Recreation 6 months*Skill 6 months*Volunteering 6 months*Plus Participants who have not achieved a Bronze

Award must complete an additional six months in eitherPhysical Recreation or Skill or Volunteering

Adventurous Journey 3 days + 2 nights**

GOLDPhysical Recreation 12 months*Skill 12 months*Volunteering 12 months*Plus Participants who have not achieved a Silver

Award must undertake an additional six months in eitherPhysical Recreation or Skill or Volunteering

Adventurous Journey 4 days + 3 nights**Residential Project 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 CHALLENGE1. 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.