Duke of Edinburgh

The Award program began in 1956 in the United Kingdom. It was introduced as a means to encourage and motivate young people to become involved in a balanced program of voluntary self-development activities. It now operates in more than 60 countries. The program was introduced in Australia in 1962 and at Ballarat College in the early 1970s.

There are four mandatory sections in the Award program. These are:

• Service
• Expeditions
• Skills
• Physical Recreation

These sections may be undertaken at three levels: Bronze (for those over 14), Silver (for those over 15) and Gold (for those over 16).

The main criterion for gaining an Award is individual improvement through persistence and achievement, taking into account the participant's initial capabilities and without any element of competition between participants.