COVID-19 has impacted the entire Duke of Ed Award community and the Queensland Award Operating Authority (AOA) would like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Award Leaders and other volunteers who have continued to assist and guide Duke of Ed participants despite the challenges.
The International Award Foundation (IAF) has introduced temporary changes and further guidance to existing Award requirements to support the delivery of the Award during COVID-19. The changes are outlined in the Guide to Temporary Changes and Further Guidance of Award Requirements in the context of COVID-19. 

The tables below provide a brief summary of the temporary changes. Please refer to the full Guide for further clarity and boundaries for implementation.

 These changes are temporary and specifically time-limited for use during the COVID19 pandemic and are intended as a last resort i.e. they should be used once all other alternatives have been explored.
All the changes will apply for an initial period of eight months, from 1 may - 31 December 2020. The IAF and the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Australia will also continue to review the situation and will make further changes base on evidence, should the need arise.

 

Temporary changes to existing Award Requirements recognised by the IAF and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award - Australia

Only to be used between 1 May – 31 December 2020

How will this work?

Age Extension 25+
  • Participants due to reach their 25th birthday between April and December 2020 can apply for extension; granting them time to complete their Award
  • Award Leaders must contact the qld.award.office@qed.qld.gov.au and briefly outline the grounds for the request with an indication of how the participant intends to complete their Award within the extension period (up to 31 December 2021).
  • The AOA will advise the Award Leader via email of the outcome of their request.
  • The Award Leader must communicate the outcome to the participant.

Voluntary Service

  • Voluntary Service Section – Volunteering at Home. Participants can now volunteer for family members as part of their Award activities. Please note, this must not include their regular household chores
  • Participants should discuss their plans with their Award Leader and determine that other options are not possible (e.g. volunteering online).
  • Award Leaders should note they approved ‘Volunteering at Home’ in the Participant’s ORB with a brief explanation of why this was necessary.

Adventurous Journey
  • Award Leaders can waive the requirement for a Bronze practice journey OR where a practice has been previously completed, it can be counted as the Bronze qualifying journey
  • Instructions for logging the variation in ORB will be provided by the end of May 2020.
  • Recognising the Silver practice journey as the Bronze qualifier
  • Instructions for logging the variation in ORB will be provided by the end of May 2020.
  • Implementation of the Virtual Bronze Exploration (VBE)
  • This is still in development and full details will be shared in due course.
  • AJs may be organised in a familiar environment
  • Award Leaders/Adventurous Journey Supervisors should note the approval of the temporary change and a brief explanation of why this was necessary in the participant’s AJ report in ORB.
  • It is permitted for Participants to use a home, school gym, etc. as accommodation during Adventurous Journeys; or for a group's accommodation to be physically separated, e.g. Participants all sleep in separate tents or accommodation
  • Award Leaders/Adventurous Journey Supervisors should note the approval of the temporary change and a brief explanation of why this was necessary in the participant’s AJ report in ORB.

 

The following information provides explanation of how the existing Award Requirements outlined in the Award Handbook can be interpreted to support participants during COVID-19:

 

Further clarity and guidance on existing Award Requirements  - see corresponding sections in the Guide

Assessor information
  • 4.1 Award Assessors / Section Assessors

Award Progression
  • 4.2 Retaining Participants / Continuing to the next Level
  • 4.3 Minimum age requirements
  • 4.4 Breaks in activity for an extended period

Section information
  • 4.5 Changing activities
  • 4.6 Change of Major Section for direct entrants
  • 4.7 Voluntary Service in the community
  • 4.8 AJ preparation and provision of training
  • 4.9 Practice Journey's being  shorter than Qualifying Journey's
  • 4.10 Urban explorations

 

Additional resources

The following resources are available to further support our Award Leaders and Participants: