Extra Curricular Activities

Duke of Edinburgh Award

About the Award

The Award is a leading structured (non-formal education) youth development program, empowering all young Australians aged 14-24 to explore their full potential and find their purpose, passion and place in the world, regardless of their location or circumstance. The Award is a fully inclusive program and has no social, political, or religious affiliations.

How is an Award Achieved?

To achieve an Award, each young person must learn a skill, improve their physical well being, volunteer in their community and experience a team adventure in a new environment. All Participants are supported by a network of adult Award Leaders, Assessors, and Supervisors.

The key elements of our program are:

• Open to all young people aged 14 to 24.
• Three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold – each progressively more challenging.
• Four Sections: Physical Recreation, Skills, Voluntary Service, Adventurous Journey plus Gold Residential Project (Gold Level only).
• Achieving an Award recognises individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement.

Time requirements:

·         Bronze – minimum 6 months ($145)

·         Silver – minimum 6 months if completed Bronze otherwise 12 months for direct entrants ($155)

·         Gold – minimum 12 months if completed Silver otherwise 18 months for direct entrants ($165)

What impact does the Award have on a young person ?

Through this challenging journey of self-discovery, our Participants:

• Are equipped and empowered to achieve their personal best
• Learn to take responsibility for their goals and choices
• Become connected to and actively engaged within their immediate community
• Make a real difference to society through their positive contributions and involvement
• Learn to persevere and overcome barriers to success
• Learn important life skills
• Increase their career opportunities.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is an internationally recognised program for young people, building their skills to equip them for life and work. By creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure, the Award can play a critical role in their development.

The choice to do the Award is entirely voluntary and every Award is different. Each Participant chooses what activities they want to take part in for each Section. It is a very personal program that offers young people a structure to fulfill their passions and ambitions in a way that suits them. Apart from the requirements for each Section, and the safety training requirements for the Adventurous Journey Section, the activities a Participant chooses to undertake is entirely up to them. They have the freedom to progress through the Award according to their personal needs and abilities. There are no limits to watch you can achieve!

For further information about the Award, please see Mr Ruzek in the PDHPE department.  

Past BWSC Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions

Kokoda Expedition

BWSC to Mt Ku-ring-gai

Blue Mountains 2 day Hike

Bundeena to Otford Hike

Hornsby to Mt Ku-ring-gai

BWSC to Mac Masters Beach

Overland Track Tasmania