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The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

What is the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award?

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (Duke of Ed) is an internationally recognised youth program that empowers young people aged 14 to 24 and encourages them to participate in their community, get physically active, and gain a variety of skills that can’t be acquired in a classroom. Every participant sets their own rules, runs their own journey, and gains skills such as leadership, perseverance, creativity, and time management.

Achieving the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a heap of fun – and it ties in so well with what you as a Scout will already be doing with your friends, so why not give it a go?

Duke of Ed Section Requirements

The Duke of Ed has three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level is divided into four sections: Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills and an Adventurous Journey as well as a Residential Project for the Gold level.

voluntary service
Give back to your community and make a difference.
Physical Recreation
Have fun, get active, and improve your health and wellbeing.
Skills
Unleash your talents or grow new skills and interests.
Adventurous Journey
Explore and get out of your comfort zone with your friends.

Bronze: 2 days/1 night
Silver: 3 days/2 nights
Gold: 4 days/3 nights

Residential Project
Get out and discover the world around you.

5 days/4 nights

Cross Crediting with the Scouts Australia Section Peak Awards

By registering for the Duke of Ed before commencing the Australian Scout Award, King’s Scout Award, or Baden-Powell Scout Award, Scouts, Venturer Scouts, and Rover Scouts can, with just a little more effort, earn both Awards.

Bronze Level

Minimum time: 3 months

Scouts can achieve this alongside the Australia Scout Award
Silver Level

Minimum time: 6 months

Venturer Scouts can achieve alongside the King’s Scout Award
Gold Level

Minimum time: 12 months

Rover Scouts can achieve alongside the Baden-Powell Scout Award

Ready to take the next step?

You can learn more with the Scouts Australia Venturer Scout and Rover Scout Guide or on the Duke of Ed website:

Scouts Australia Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Guide
Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Website

Testimonials

Achieving a Duke of Edinburgh Award is easier when you’re already a Scout

I achieved my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, which I worked on alongside my Baden-Powell Scout Award as a Rover Scout. The DoE and BPSA requirements, while separate from one another, were really easy to tie together. Special Interest Areas in the Achievement Pathway corresponded nicely with the different sections of the Duke of Ed. When it came to completing the Gold Residential Project, events like Jamborees or Moots easily fulfill that award requirement. As for the Adventurous Journey, having the training prerequisites in the DoE system meant that I looked at the planning of a journey differently than having only a Scouting context, which broadened my thought processes. I had a really fun time completing my Gold DoE, and it challenged me to keep up routines even while I have been travelling full time. These routines have since stayed with me, and I find myself using those skills I learnt while doing my DoE multiple times a week.

kalita Tomlinson

Rover Scout

Doing the Duke of Ed Award was a great fit with Scouts WA, since many of the activities I was already doing — like service, adventurous journeys, and physical recreation — counted towards it. It made the process much smoother. I’m currently working towards the Gold Award.

Samuel harris

Rover Scout

Duke of Ed is going well and I am really liking it, it was really easy to tie it in to what I am doing with Scouts. I have achieved my silver Duke [of Edinburgh Award] and am working towards my Gold [Award].

kaeden mccabe

Rover Scout