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The Duke of Edinburgh's
International Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a positive and rewarding challenge of self-discovery. The program equips, engages and empowers students to explore their potential. Each girl who does the award learns a skill, becomes more physically active, volunteers in her community and undertakes a team adventure. Abbotsleigh’s supportive culture has seen many girls benefit from this co-curricular program and we celebrate their accomplishments at assemblies and Speech Day.

Abbotsleigh is proud to offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award as it aligns with the School values of Integrity, Respect, Courage, Compassion and Perseverance. It also offers students challenge, achievement and growth by placing them outside their comfort zones and providing new and exciting experiences. The Award is not a competition against anyone else, but rather a personal challenge. It offers the opportunity to work with others while focusing on individual abilities. Participation is entirely voluntary and is structured so participants can design their own unique program centred on their interests and passions.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award equips young people for life and work. It is the world’s leading achievement award. In 2013 more than one million young people around the world took part in the award, in more than 140 countries and territories. Since the award’s launch nearly 60 years ago, it has inspired more than eight million young people to transform their lives. 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 outside the classroom. It also allows their achievement to be consistently recognised worldwide, giving young people unique international accreditation of their experiences.

There are three levels, each progressively more challenging than the last. To start your award, participants need to be 14 years or older.

Each level requires participants to complete four sections: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Gold level participants must also complete a residential project.