International Award
Outdoor education led by outstanding teachers. Meaningful engagement with the natural world. Challenging and rewarding outdoor adventure.
Personal Development
Since its launch 60 years ago, the Award has inspired millions of young people to transform their lives. The Award can play a critical role in a young person’s development and is achievable by any fourteen to twenty-four year old who wants the challenge.
Citizens of the World
The Award equips young people for life and work. Not all learning happens in the classroom. Young people need experiences outside the classroom to become committed, responsible and fulfilled citizens of the world.
Leading Award
The Award is available to all fourteen to twenty-four year olds and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It equips young people for life regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests.
About the Award
The International Award is an exciting self-development program available to all young people worldwide equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their world. To date over there are some 1.1 million young people from over 140 countries participating in the Award.
The Award is flexible and can be done by anyone aged 14–25 in their own time: mental or physical ability or social circumstances should never be a barrier. Moreover, the individual chooses what activities to do depending on his/her interests and resources.
Here at Prem, we encourage all grade 9 (soon to be grade 8) students to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. All students aim to complete the Bronze Award by the end of the academic year, with the intention of commencing their Silver award in grade 10 (soon to be grade 9 & 10). The Gold award is an optional extra to be completed during the Diploma years (Grade 11 & 12). All students complete their compulsory CAS activities during grade 11 & 12 and therefore it is a sensible option to complete the IA Gold award in parallel with this. We at Prem believe that students who complete the international award develop an excellent, well rounded personality, which, portrays resilience, determination and understanding for the wider world.
More about The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award here.
Contact Asia Pacific Office
Regional office
The nearest Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation regional office:
Asia Pacific (Sydney, Australia)
The Asia Pacific office represents The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation in the region. The Asia Pacific team work with leaders and Award Operators to develop the Award in their country.
National Award Operators
There are currently 14 National Award Operators in Asia Pacific.
Independent Award Centres
There are a further 140+ Independent Award Centres in 14 countries delivering the Award in this region.Award Operators meet regularly within their region to share experience and best practice. Meetings and events are organised to promote and support regional Award activity.Find the Award near you
Contact the Asia Pacific regional office
- Sue Walker, Asia Pacific Regional Director
- Rob Oliphant, Asia Pacific Regional Manager
- Sanzeeda Ali, Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator
- Joel Grant, Asia Pacific Independent Award Centre Manager for the following countries: China, Indonesia, Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan
- Thanuja Wijesinghe, Asia Pacific Independent Award Centre Manager for the following countries: Brunei, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu and Vietnam
- Susy Coslovich, Asia Pacific Regional Finance Manager
Suite 403, Level 4, 105 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
T: +61 2 9299 5454
F: +61 2 9299 5460
The Award
How is an Award achieved?
The Award is a program of activities. Each young person who takes part in the Award learns a skill, improves their physical fitness, volunteers in their community and experiences a team adventure in a new environment. Success in the Award is measured by regular participation over a fixed period of time while showing commitment and progress in each activity. All participants are supported by a network of adult Award Leaders, Assessors, Supervisors, and mentors.
The key elements of the program:
- Open to all between the ages of 14 and 24.
- Three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold, each progressively more challenging.
- Four Sections: Physical Recreation, Skills, Service, Adventurous Journey, plus Residential Project (Gold Level only).
- Achieving an Award recognizes individual goal setting and self-improvement through persistence and achievement.
Adventurous Journey
An enjoyable experience designed to cultivate a spirit of adventure and discovery; an understanding of the environment, and the importance of working together in a team with a common purpose. The Expedition may be by foot, bicycle, boat or horseback, or alternatively it may be an equally challenging exploration. Proper training and preparation, self sufficiency, self-reliance and the exploration of new surroundings are the key elements.
A longstanding global network
Founded in 1956, today over 140 countries and territories have adopted the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program and more than one million young people are actively participating in the Award.
Fundamentals of the Award
- Regular participation in activities is required to meet the time requirements of each Award Section and Level.
- Focuses on capacity building by encouraging all young people to make independent decisions and to negotiate priorities through participation.
- Provides a framework that works with all young people in any conceivable situation. This includes youth at risk, marginalized youth, young people in regional and remote communities, and young people with disabilities.
- Assists with the provision of social infrastructure in the community and draws together and connects people, institutions and generations with the common purpose of youth development and inclusion.