This year, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Australia will celebrate 60 years of empowering young people to find their purpose, passion and place in the world and equipping them for work and life. …in other words, making them WORLD READY!

Since it’s inception in 1959, over 775,000 young Australians have challenged themselves to take on the Award. The Award in Australia recognises that its success is primarily attributable to the contributions of the tens of thousands of volunteers over the past 60 years, including the current network of over 60,000 volunteers.

To celebrate the Anniversary, the Award will be particularly recognising volunteers and supporters with receptions held in each State and Territory.

In April, there will be an opportunity for Award Supporters and Alumni to join in the celebrations by taking part in a 60km Challenge – a concept that was conceived by the Australia’s first Gold Award Holder and internationally acclaimed cinemaphotographer, Michael Dillon AM. The goal is to undertake a 60km walk, one kilometre representing each year the Award has operated in Australia. This challenge can be taken by individual groups or by joining Michael himself in Victoria.

In September, the Award in Australia will host a National Gold Award Ceremony for young Australians, set to be the largest Award Ceremony in Australian history, as well as plaque unveilings at popular Award trails across Australia used by Award Participants doing their Adventurous Journey.

2019 will be a year of celebrations, and provide an opportunity to reach out to many more young Australians and enable them to take part in the Award no matter their location or circumstance.

A Moments That Matter campaign has also been launched to encourage past Award Holders and current Award Participants to share their stories of how the Award has impacted their lives, to help inspire others to challenge themselves and get involved with the Award and let it help them become #WORLDREADY !

Watch the video below to take a journey through the past 60 years of the Award in Australia!

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To keep up to date with our 60th Anniversary, keep an eye on our 60th Anniversary Webpage