Cronulla High School

Telephone02 9523 4017

Emailcronulla-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Duke Of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh 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 key elements of the program are

  • It is open to all students aged 14 years and above.
  • Our school currently runs all three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, each progressively more challenging.
  • Each level has four sections: Physical Recreation, Skill, Service, Adventurous Journey plus a Residential Project for the Gold Level only.
  • Achieving an Award recognises individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement.

The choice to do The Duke of Ed 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 fulfil their passions and ambitions in a way that suits them. Students have the freedom to progress through The Duke of Ed according to their personal needs and abilities.

Skills

The Skills Section provides the opportunity for a Participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something new. As with the other Sections of the Award, a level of commitment is required over time to progress a skill. It leads to a sense of achievement and well-being, and possibly improved employability through the development of life and vocational skills.

Examples of Skills

  • Music – singing, learning to play an instrument, music event management
  • Sports related – sports officiating, umpiring/refereeing, sports ground maintenance
  • Arts and crafts – ceramics, embroidery, jewellery making, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography
  • Nature and the environment – agriculture, astronomy, bee keeping, conservation, fishing, forestry, gardening
  • Communication – film and video, languages, reading, writing, public speaking, journalism, website development
  • Games – billiards, snooker or pool, chess, darts, backgammon

Service

Participants are required to give service (volunteer) over a set period of time that enables them to experience the benefits that their service provides to others.

Examples of Service

  • Visiting and supporting people in need, such as the elderly, or those with disabilities
  • Volunteering at a hospital or local care home
  • Sports coaching
  • Charity work
  • First aid

More service ideas and local contacts can be found at www.dosomethingnearyou.com.au