Through a recent partnership with La Trobe University, we are excited to announce that the University will be recognising and rewarding Duke of Ed Volunteers with priority access to study via La Trobe’s Aspire early admissions program.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar recognised this alignment as well as recognising the important life and work skills young people develop through participating in The Duke of Ed Award.

“Leadership, effective communication and people skills are the types of characteristics we look for in our students,” Professor Dewar said.

“At La Trobe, we are committed to making a positive difference to the world in which we live, and the Aspire program enables us to support the efforts of these inspiring young people whose values and ambitions align with ours. We want to encourage these community leaders of the future to come and study at La Trobe University,” Professor Dewar said.

The values that underpin volunteering – community, selflessness, generosity, dedication – are what The Duke of Ed Award programs are all about.

Structured as part of the Award, the volunteering component encourages young people to develop a sense of responsibility and compassion towards others with the aim of creating a lifelong habit of community involvement and voluntary service.

Award Participants who have completed their Bronze level or above will automatically qualify for the community engagement criteria of La Trobe’s Aspire program.

If successful, Aspire applicants will get an offer to study at La Trobe in September this year, securing a place to study before they complete their exams. Aspire students are invited to take part in an enrichment program that supports them through the final stages of high school and prepares them life at La Trobe.

The enrichment program offers:

• VCE/HSC revision lectures to be held in the September school holidays
• Mentoring from a La Trobe student ambassador
• Access to the La Trobe Library on all campuses
• Invitation to a ‘Welcome to La Trobe’ event
• Various on-campus events and activities.

Applications for this year’s Aspire program are now open and will close on August 31, 2015. A wide range of other community work and volunteering may also qualify students for entry to the Aspire program. For more information, students can visit the Aspire website.

Check out an article in The Age this morning announcing the partnership.