Gold Duke of Edinburgh's International Award
Complete your Award challenge
Outward Bound Australia is proud to deliver the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's International Award to all young people 16-24 years-old in the ACT, NSW and Victoria. This might be a continuation of your Silver Award, or it might be the beginning of your journey, where nature will inspire you on your Adventurous Journeys and you will inspire others during your Voluntary Service.
Are you ready to take the next step into your future?
Completing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award isn’t easy, but it is simple to get started.
You can continue with activities you are already taking part in, such as sports or volunteering, and count these towards achieving your Award, or your Award could be an opportunity to try something new and develop a passion for something different. After all your time and effort you will have achieved something special, which you can be proud of and universities and employers rate highly.
It will be a challenge though. You need to complete your required hours every week. It takes commitment. If it was easy, everyone would do it. That’s the whole point. It’s a challenge. Are you up to it?
As an Award Participant you will have the chance to:
- Design your own Award program
- Set your own goals and record your progress
- Make a positive impact on the lives of others through Voluntary Service
- Learn valuable practical and social skills for career development
- Take up the challenge of an Adventurous Journey
- Connect with other Award Participants at home and abroad
The Gold Award is the final level of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, but your journey doesn’t have to end here. You could choose to continue being involved by promoting and supporting the Award within your life’s communities. Find out more by read the full Award Guide for Gold Participants.
The Award Structure - You need to choose an activity in each of the first four Sections, plus complete a Gold Residential Project.
Voluntary Service
Be a responsible, caring member of the community. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months Voluntary Service, at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Voluntary Service
Be a responsible, caring member of the community. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months Voluntary Service, at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Physical Recreation
Improve your health, fitness and performance. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months Physical Recreation at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Physical Recreation
Improve your health, fitness and performance. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months Physical Recreation at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Adventurous Journey
Challenge yourself to journey and explore the world around you. You will need to complete appropriate and relevant Preparation & Training before then undertaking two Adventurous Journeys, both with duration of 4-days / 3-nights.
Adventurous Journey
Challenge yourself to journey and explore the world around you. You will need to complete appropriate and relevant Preparation & Training before then undertaking two Adventurous Journeys, both with duration of 4-days / 3-nights.
Skills
Learn a new skill and expand your capabilities. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months learning a new skill at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Skills
Learn a new skill and expand your capabilities. You will need to complete a minimum of 12 months learning a new skill at an average of one hour a week, PLUS an extra 6 months in either Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation or Skills if you did not previously complete the Silver Award.
Gold Residential Project
Undertake a unique experience by completing a purposeful project with people who are not your usual companions, working towards a common goal. Find a project that aligns with your values and complete your Award with a sense of personal achievement, enhanced social connection, and a truly life changing experience. The Gold Residential Project has a minimum duration of 5-days / 4-nights.
Gold Residential Project
Undertake a unique experience by completing a purposeful project with people who are not your usual companions, working towards a common goal. Find a project that aligns with your values and complete your Award with a sense of personal achievement, enhanced social connection, and a truly life changing experience. The Gold Residential Project has a minimum duration of 5-days / 4-nights.
Suggested Activities for your Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Voluntary Service
- Environmental service: tree planting, Bushcare, Landcare, Streamwatch
- Supporting people in the community: elderly, disabled or those in need.
- Youth work: help those less fortunate than yourself
- Community education and health education
- Charity work: fundraise for a cause you admire
- Supporting a local emergency service: RFS, St John’s Ambulance
- Patrols at your SLSC
- You could help us administer the Award in your school, college, or university.
Physical Recreation activities
- Athletics
- Baseball and softball
- Cycling
- Dancing
- Fitness activities
- Football: Aussie Rules, League, Rugby, Soccer
- Gymnastics
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Martial arts
- Mountain biking
- Netball
- Snow skiing and snowboarding
- Surfing
- Swimming and water polo
- Tennis and squash
Skills activities
- Animals: learn how to care for your pet
- Arts and crafts: painting and drawing
- Cooking
- Games: learn to program games
- Life, technical and vocational skills: start your journey to becoming an Outdoor Leader with Outward Bound!
- Media and communications: learn to build websites
- Music
- Navigation: learn to read a map and compass
- Performance Skills: dance, stand-up poetry
- Sports-related: learn to coach or referee your favourite sport
Adventurous Journey
- Hike, paddle or ride your way through the natural world.
- Challenge yourself physically, mentally and emotionally.
- Explore the coastline, river valleys or mountains studying plants, birds, insects or other animals
- Explore historic land use: ancient Indigenous Australians and early colonial Australians
- Exploring human impact: visitor pressure in national parks, pollution
monitoring, surveys of numbers of walkers in remote areas - It’s the only team-specific component of the Duke of Ed Award, have some fun with it!
Gold Residential Project
Personal training courses
- Residential language courses
- Leadership training
- Youth camps / parliaments
Environment and conservation projects
- Environmental clean up
- Ecology study
- Volunteer work with national parks
Service to other people and communities
- Provision of facilities or construction projects
- Assisting as a leader at a camp for young people
- Providing care or aid through a charity
Activity based
- Outdoor adventure courses
- Sports coaching or skills development camp
- Crew member on board a Tall Ship
Kosciuszko nsw
Gold Adventurous Journey – Kiandra to Kosciuszko
This 9-day program will complete all your Gold AJ requirements. Available in April school holidays. Take your Adventurous Journey commitment to the next level. Challenge yourself with an epic Gold Adventurous Journey along one of Australia's classic multi-day routes.
9 days
16-24
