Connecting young people with purpose-driven charities to power youth-led change

Introducing Duke 4Volunteering – a new partnership opportunity that connects young people with purpose-driven charities to power youth-led change…

If you’re an NFP or charity with volunteering opportunities for young Australians or, a Duke of Ed Framework User looking for inspiration on how to complete their Duke of Ed Voluntary Service Section, Duke 4 Volunteering can help close the gap!

Duke of Ed National CEO, Peter Kaye AM ESM, says “The Duke of Ed has long recognised the importance of Voluntary Service in shaping resilient, compassionate, and community-minded young people. Hence, Duke 4Volunteering is an exciting next step to connect young Australians with purpose-driven charities and not-for-profits, expanding on our other partnership categories: Duke 4Sport, Duke of Ed Employer and Tertiary Partnerships.”

In launching this week, we’re thrilled to welcome our first Duke 4Volunteering Partner, Red Cross Lifeblood! A national leader in life-saving healthcare, Lifeblood has created a dedicated 13-week program for young people 16 years and over, working toward their Duke of Ed Level.

“Having completed all Duke of Ed Levels through school, I know just how great the Framework is for young people. For Australian Red Cross Lifeblood to be chosen as the inaugural National Partner for the Duke of Ed’s first ever Duke 4Volunteering channel is an exciting partnership for us to be part of. We look forward to seeing many Duke of Ed Framework Users volunteering across our centres soon.” (Cath Stone - Executive Director Donor Experience, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood)

❓ Did you know❓
85% of those that have completed a Duke of Ed Level feel contributing to community and society has become more important to them since using the Duke of Ed Framework!
(Source – 2023 Impact Survey, Australia)

“By building a national, trusted network of volunteering opportunities, we’re proud to support young people in contributing meaningfully to their communities – while growing resilience, empathy, and real-world skills a part of their Voluntary Service Section of their Duke of Ed Level.” (Cathy McInerny – National Operations Manager, Duke of Ed)

Get involved! Discover more about Duke 4Volutneering and how your organisation can get involved:

Discover Duke 4Volunteering

How you can showcase these through your Duke of Ed achievements

LinkedIn's annual 'Skills on the Rise' list has been released and while AI literacy is ranking at the top, several human skills such as communication, adaptability, and problem solving were highlighted amongst the fastest growing areas a person should invest in to get ahead.

Young people using the Duke of Ed Framework are ahead of the game as it's many of these in-demand human skills they develop while completing a Duke of Ed Bronze, Silver, and/or Gold Level.

Additionally, key outcomes of completing a Duke of Ed Level include:

• Confidence
• Managing feelings
• Resilience and determination
• Relationships and leadership
• Creativity and adaptability
• Planning and problem solving
• Civic competence
• Intercultural competence
• Personal and social wellbeing
• Communication

The biggest game changer we recently introduced to help a young person showcase these human skills to future employers and tertiary education providers has been the recent introduction of Duke of Ed digital credentials. Through their digital credentials, a young person can showcase what they did to achieve their Duke of Ed Level, verified, in real time.

For more information on Duke of Ed digital credentials: https://dukeofed.com.au/digital-credentials/

For the 'Skills on the Rise' article: https://www.linkedin.com/.../linkedin-news-australia.../

Events

20-23 November 2023

• Visit timed during record year of Duke of Ed Award Program participants
• Visits to Duke of Ed Programs in community organisations
• Gold Awards Ceremony
• Volunteers & Program Leaders Celebration

His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, will visit Sydney between Monday 20 November and Thursday 23 November.

During the visit, His Royal Highness will engage in a series of events with Duke of Ed participants, volunteers, and community leaders centred on the positive impacts and outcomes a young person can experience through taking part in the Duke of Ed Award, as it is known in Australia.

During his visit, His Royal Highness will celebrate new Duke of Ed Award recipients, engage in non-formal education discussions with thought leaders; recognise the efforts of Duke of Ed Award volunteers and see first-hand the new initiatives The Australia Award is implementing to ensure the Framework is more accessible to all young people.

CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia, Peter Kaye said “We look forward to welcoming His Royal Highness on his first visit to Australia since taking on the role of Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award earlier this year.

“This visit is part of a significant chapter for the Duke of Ed in Australia as we celebrate a recent record in the number of young people using the Framework.

“While the Duke of Ed has been operating in Australia for over 60 years, our growing number of participants indicate this Framework is now more relevant than ever amongst young Australians seeking to build essential life skills, access higher education and gain employment.”

The Duke of Ed, known for its emphasis on personal development, community service, and outdoor exploration, aligns seamlessly on delivering non-formal education and learning outcomes for young people. Prince Edward is a passionate Patron of the Award, having achieved his own Gold Award in 1986.

“We know the classroom is not the only place for learning, which is why The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is dedicated to helping all young Australians realise their passions and develop important life skills such as building resilience, confidence, perseverance and; pushing themselves out of their comfort zones,” said Mr Kaye.

“The Award framework plays an important role in helping young people find their purpose, passion and place in the world and become world ready.”

Notes:

About The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the global leader in the organising and accrediting of non-formal education through its framework. For over 60 years, this framework has been used by education providers and community organisations to accredit the non-formal learning outcomes and achievements of young people.
• The Award in Australia was started in 1959. Over 800,000 young people have participated in the Award in Australia since it began. The Award is referred to locally as the Duke of Ed.
• It was founded by HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, in conjunction with German educationalist Kurt Hahn.
• There are currently more than a million young people globally completing their own unique Award programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offenders’ institutions.
• The Award is delivered around the world by schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs, and a whole host of other civic organisations.
• The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

For further information about the Award, visit:

For further information about media opportunities, contact:

Contact details:

Nicole Browne, Media Operations
T: + 61 414 673 762
E: [email protected]
Media Opps

Tahnee Dobson, Marketing Communications
T: +61 404 771 623
E: [email protected]
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Australia

'I am thrilled to announce that for the 2022-2023 year, we've achieved a milestone. We've received a record number of new registered users in Australia, and this is first time in history of the Duke of Ed, where we've achieved over 30,000 registrations from young Australians.'

'A big thanks and congratulations for helping us achieve this 12 month registration record. ' - Peter Kaye, National CEO.

Join us in celebrating this incredible milestone.

Please see a wonderful interview from Young Leader, Kristi Garratt from Gilson College, Victoria, by her Award Leader, Mrs Naude.

“In her capacity as Young Award Leader, Kristi Garratt has been an excellent ambassador for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Program. As she has done in every aspect of her Award completion, she has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, including initiative, diligence, admirable communication skills, and creativity. I am very grateful to Kristi for all her wonderful work in promoting the award. As a result of her efforts, we have seen the interest in DOE Award participation increase quite significantly at our school”

Mrs Naudé (Gilson College Award Leader)

Congratulations Kristi!

See Kristi's Interview here    Kristi's  Story

A few weeks ago Oxley College from Bowral NSW celebrated what would have been HRH Prince Philip’s 100^th birthday.

Award Coordinator, Timothy Dibdin advised  their Award Community at Oxley College enjoyed a lovely time celebrating Prince Philip’s 100th birthday by holding a special recess.  "The students sang with gusto and it actually started sleeting. Prince Philip would have been used to that kind of weather in his own Highlands school!" said Mr Dibdin.  He added "We even found a ceremonial sword among the History artefacts with which to cut the cake".

Congratulations to the Duke of Ed Award Community at Oxley College and thank you for commemorating the wonderful patriarch of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. He was extremely proud of this exciting international youth development program for young people 14-24 years.

A Committed Champion of Young People

As a global Award family, we are deeply saddened by the death of our Founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT, AK; a committed champion of young people. The Duke of Edinburgh’s unwavering commitment to young people began in 1956, when The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was established. Since it came to Australia in 1959, it has helped motivate more than 775,000 young Australians to set goals and challenge themselves to take control of their lives and futures.

“We have lost a great man who, over more than 60 years, gave inspiration to young people to explore their potential and achieve success via The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award,” National Chairman Gary Nairn AO said.

“Prince Philip leaves behind a wonderful legacy that will continue to benefit youth across the world. The National Board of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Australia is the custodian of his legacy in Australia and working with HRH Prince Edward, who has been leading the Award internationally on behalf of his father, will maximise the opportunities for young Australians into the future.

“On behalf of the National Board, all organisations delivering the Award in Australia and young Australians, I extend our deepest sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family on the passing of Prince Philip,” he added.

Over the 62 years the Award program has been in Australia, young Australians from different socio-economic groups including disadvantaged, Indigenous and disabled, have since benefited from the program. The impact of the Award on young people and their immediate community is extraordinary - it transforms lives. We also recognise the 60,000 volunteers active today supporting the 45,000 young Australians who are currently undertaking the challenge.

The Duke of Ed Award is now in 130+ countries and territories around the world. It is a cornerstone for accrediting non-formal education and learning, with more than a million young people involved today.

View the stories of six young Australians whose lives had been positively impacted by the Duke of Ed Award: https://youtu.be/GmCXhn_-ty0

Further information can be found on the website: www.dukeofed.com.au

Or contact:

The Hon Gary Nairn AO. National Chair on 0419 420 108

Peter Kaye AM, National CEO on 0418 617 357 (Gold Award Holder)

Download PDF version here

As a global Award family, we are deeply saddened by the death of our Founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh KG, KT, AK. A committed champion of young people; His Royal Highness leaves the world and its young people with an extraordinary legacy.

If you would like to share a message of condolence, or a memory of the Duke of Ed and what it means to you, please share them here.

We will collect these tributes to send an official letter of condolence from the Australian Award family to HM The Queen, HRH The Earl of Wessex, and their families.

Link to Book of Condolences

The Award in Australia has its licence renewed for another 6 years. The comprehensive licence review by The International Award Foundation included our governance arrangements and key policies such as safeguarding, Quality Assurance, brand management and training.

Have a read of our current policies? Take a look at the documents below:

Governance Policy Manual

Policies

Safeguarding