The Duke of Edinburgh’s AwardTHE INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

…now at ACU

Community Engagement at ACU

When the mind is stretched by new experiences It can never return to its former dimensions

Dr Kurt Hahn, German Educationalist 1886-1974(one of the founders of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award)

The Award is relevant to you because:

• looks great on your CV

• gives you and demonstrates a diverse base of experience

• you can tailor your Award according to your future aspirations

• it showcases your talents and skills

• it is recognition for your initiative and participation

• it is internationally recognised - run in schools and community

organisations in Victoria, Australia and in over 120 countries

worldwide

• it is now offered at your University

The Award is a leadership program in which you…

1. Choose your own activities in 5 Sections– these can be activities that you’re already doing– your course Community Engagement component can be one of

these

2. Choose someone to mentor you in each activity - can be your lecturer, coach, a friend who is more skilled or experienced than you in that activity

3. Set yourself a realistic but challenging goal in each activity

4. Undertake the activities for the minimum time required

5. Endeavour to achieve your personal best in all of these

6. On completion of each activity, note down your hours in your Record book and get your mentor to write a short Assessor’s

report

7. Once you’ve completed all five Sections, hand in your Record book to your Award Coordinator to be sent to the Award Office

for approval

8. Turn up to be applauded and adored at the Award Ceremony

Towards the end…

You are not comparing yourself with anyone; you are not competing with anyone; what you are actually doing is creating yourself.

Brendan Kelly, Irish poet

The Award is…non-competitiveit is about achieving personal excellence not meeting any set benchmarks

flexibleyou have until your 25th birthday to complete your Awardso you decide:

•what activities you want to do and when•how many Sections you want to undertake at any one time•how you want to approach the program

available to all

•any student aged under 25 years is eligible to register for The Award

•this includes international, study abroad and exchange students

Use The Award to demonstrate…your personal qualities and your professional skills

• Community engagement• Experience• Communication• Critical thinking• Negotiation skills

your CV more likely to survive an employer’s first cut

Overall Structure

Note: All Sections must be completed by your 25th birthday.

If all Sections are undertaken concurrently, minimum time to complete this level is 18

months (if you have not completed Silver) or 12 months if you are a Silver Award holder

Gold Award requirements

Service

● Volunteer technical or specialised skills

eg tutoring at Atherton Gardens

● Coach or Referee

● Volunteer at your University

● Club/Society Committee membership

● Tutor migrants/ refugees

For example you could:

SkillA passive recreation to gain or increase knowledge

● Add value to professional

capacity with enhanced

proficiency in:

- Presentations & public

speaking

- Computer & web use &

design

- Office & business skills

- Management skills

● Learn a second language

● Learn team-building activities

● Film Production

For example you could:

Physical Recreation

Focus on your physical wellbeing:

Choose activities that cause:

increased heart rate, flexibility, muscle tone, sweat etc

Regular Participation

Participation in each of Service, Skill and Physical Recreation

must be regular: about 1 hour per week

what does “about 1 hr a week” mean?

                  2 x 30mins/ week

-                     1 hr/ week

-                    2 hrs / fortnight

 not more irregular than fortnightly

Adventurous Journey

AJ requires you to:

Work in a team

Plan an expedition or exploration

Prepare & train for it

Undertake : at least 1 Practice Journey of 4 days 3 nights

+ Qualifying Journey of 4 days 3 nights

Residential Project

5 days 4 nights

● attend professional conferences/ seminars

● assist at school camp

● undertake International/ interstate

internship/ Work placement

● Youth Parliament

● undertake a residential Leadership training

course

● attend Inter-faith/ Inter-cultural conference

For example you could:

Section Activity Ideas

Where to now?

www.iace.acu.edu.au/dukeofed

The Award is now offered at

Australian Catholic University

St Patrick’s Campus

Community Engagement