The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is a global youth development program, empowering young Australians aged 14-24 to explore their full potential
Completing the Award is entirely voluntary, every Award is different, and each Participant can choose the activities they want to participate in for each section of the Award. The Award is a program of individual challenge that offers young people a structure to fulfil their passions and ambitions also allowing the flexibility to progress based on their personal needs and abilities.
Benefits of participating in the Award
- Experience a sense of adventure and learn outside the classroom
- Adapt the Award to suit your interest, passions and ambitions
- Be recognised for your extracurricular and sporting activities
- Challenge yourself
- Gain employability skills and make your applications stand out
- Award recognised for adjustment factor ATAR points (bonus points) at some universities
- Meet new people and have fun
- Global Award recognised in more than 130 countries
- Learn important life skills to become #WorldReady
Where can I do my Award?
- Find an Award Centre near you.
- State wide – YouthAdvance or Outward Bound
- Far West, Central West and Orana regions only – Western Student Connections
Award sections
The Duke of Ed Award is made up of three regular sections - Voluntary Service, Skills and Physical Recreation, plus the Adventurous Journeys. For the Gold Award there is an additional Gold Residential Project section.
Check out the section examples below and discover how you can adapt the Award to suit your passions. A great way to complete the three regular Sections at one organisation is with a sporting club. Beyond playing a sport you can learn to umpire and officiate or volunteer for positions on and off the pitch. Talk to your local club or one of our Duke 4Sport partners about their opportunities.
| Voluntary Service | Physical Recreation | Skills |
| Umpiring and officiating | Training and playing sport | Sport game scoring |
| Coaching / tutoring | Gym or fitness training | Languages including Auslan |
| Sport and Community groups | Dancing / Yoga | Photography |
| Emergency services (SES / RFS) | Motorcycling / Karting | Cultural activities and traditions |
| Community club canteen / BBQ | Running / jogging | Coding |
| Animal care (RSPCA / WIRES) | Cycling | Digital media production |
| Environmental care | Bushwalking / hiking | Music |
| Fundraising | Rowing / kayaking | Sewing and cooking |
| Youth Leadership | Martial arts | Meditation / mindfulness |