Duke of Ed, made easier to understand.
Whether you’re just getting started, working through your current Award level or supporting your child, you’ll find the essential information here in one place.
Learn how Bronze, Silver and Gold work, what each Section involves, how activities are recorded, what to expect on an Adventurous Journey and who is responsible for each step.
Quick start
What do you need help with?
I’m new to Duke of Ed
Understand how the Award works, what you need to complete and where to begin.
Start with the basicsI’m starting Bronze
Learn what Bronze involves, including the Sections, time commitments and Adventurous Journey requirements.
Explore BronzeI’m doing Silver or Gold
See how each Level builds on the last, with greater commitment, responsibility and independence.
Compare the LevelsI need an Adventurous Journey
Understand Practice and Qualifying Journeys, what’s required and how to choose the right option.
Explore Adventurous JourneysI’m a parent
Understand what your child will be doing, how the process works and what support is provided along the way.
Information for parentsI have a question
Find clear answers about registration, Award Levels, Adventurous Journeys, preparation, approval and more.
View common questions01The basics
More than one expedition.
The Duke of Ed is a youth development framework for young people aged 14 to 24. You choose your own activities, set goals and work towards them over time.
- 14-24
- Age range
- 3
- Levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold
- 4
- Sections at every Level
- +1
- Residential Project at Gold
Same structure, different Award
Two participants can complete the same Level in completely different ways.
Community-minded, sporty, creative.
- Voluntary Service
Volunteers at a community garden
- Physical Recreation
Plays football with her club
- Skills
Learns photography
- Adventurous Journey
2-day coastal hike with her team
One important thing to understand
The Adventurous Journey is only one part of completing a Duke of Ed Level.
Southbound specialises in delivering Adventurous Journeys. Your Duke of Ed registration, regular Sections, activity approvals and overall Level are managed through your Duke of Ed Centre and Duke of Ed Leader.
02What you’ll complete
Four Sections. Five at Gold.
Rather than treating the Duke of Ed as one large task, it helps to think of it as several different experiences happening alongside each other.
Give your time to something that matters.
Choose an unpaid activity that contributes to your community.
More detail
That might include coaching or tutoring, helping a community organisation, environmental care, volunteering with a sporting club or supporting a charity.
The focus is on regular contribution and understanding the difference your time can make.
Choose a way to keep moving.
Take part in a sport or physical activity and work towards improving your fitness, participation or ability over time.
More detail
It could be team sport, running, cycling, swimming, gym training, dancing, martial arts, bushwalking or another approved physical activity.
Learn something new or get better at something you already enjoy.
The Skills Section is about developing a non-physical interest, talent or practical ability.
More detail
Photography, music, cooking, coding, languages, digital media and creative activities are just some examples.
Plan it. Prepare for it. Do it together.
The Adventurous Journey is a team journey undertaken in an unfamiliar environment with an agreed purpose or Team Goal.
More detail
Participants prepare and train beforehand, then work together to navigate, organise themselves, share responsibilities, make decisions and complete their journey.
Depending on the Level and individual plan, Practice Journey requirements may also apply.
A different experience, with a new group.
Gold participants complete an additional Residential Project of at least 5 days and 4 nights away from their usual residence.
More detail
It involves joining people who are mainly outside your normal friendship group and taking part in a shared purposeful activity.
It is a separate Section from the Gold Adventurous Journey.
03The Levels
Bronze. Silver. Gold.
The same framework, with more responsibility as you progress.
Each Level builds on the same foundations, but the time commitment and Adventurous Journey requirements increase as you move from Bronze to Silver and Gold.
- Typical starting age
- 14+
- Minimum Level time
- 3 months
- Qualifying Adventurous Journey
- 2 days / 1 night
- AJ team size
- 4–10
- Practice Journey
- Optional
- Gold Residential
- Not applicable
- Typical starting age
- 15+
- Minimum Level time
- 6 months
- Qualifying Adventurous Journey
- 3 days / 2 nights
- AJ team size
- 4–7
- Practice Journey
- As required
- Gold Residential
- Not applicable
- Typical starting age
- 16+
- Minimum Level time
- 12 months
- Qualifying Adventurous Journey
- 4 days / 3 nights
- AJ team size
- 4–7
- Practice Journey
- As required
- Gold Residential
- 5 days / 4 nights
- Typical starting age
- 14+
- Minimum Level time
- 3 months
- Qualifying Adventurous Journey
- 2 days / 1 night
- AJ team size
- 4–10
- Practice Journey
- Optional
- Gold Residential
- Not applicable
BronzeLearn the foundations.
Bronze is usually the starting point.
The minimum Level duration is three months and, importantly, a Bronze Practice Journey is optional under the current framework.
Whether a Practice Journey forms part of your plan should be confirmed with your Duke of Ed Leader and/or Assessor.
SilverBuild consistency and independence.
Silver extends the regular Sections to six months and the Qualifying Adventurous Journey to three days and two nights.
Practice Journey requirements depend on the participant’s approved pathway and previous experience.
GoldTake greater ownership.
Gold involves twelve months across the regular Sections and a four-day, three-night Qualifying Adventurous Journey.
Gold participants also complete the separate Gold Residential Project.
If you enter Silver without completing Bronze, or Gold without completing Silver, additional time requirements apply. Direct entrants should confirm their exact pathway with their Duke of Ed Leader before planning activities or journeys.
Starting ages can have some permitted exceptions depending on the participant and school cohort. If you are unsure about eligibility, speak with your Duke of Ed Leader.
04Service · Physical Recreation · Skills
Choose. Set a goal. Keep going.
Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation and Skills are not one-off activities. They are completed regularly over the required period for your Level.
Once you have an activity in mind, speak with your Duke of Ed Leader before you begin recording it.
- 01
Choose an activity
Find something suitable for the Section that you are willing to continue over time.
- 02
Find an Assessor
Each activity needs an appropriate Assessor who can support and assess your progress. Assessors must be approved by your Duke of Ed Centre and generally should not be a member of your family.
- 03
Set a goal
Decide what you want to work towards. The aim is to be able to show progress, not simply attendance.
- 04
Get approval
Your activity and Assessor need to be approved through your Duke of Ed process before eligible activity can be recorded.
- 05
Record your progress
Your activities are recorded through the Online Record Book, commonly referred to as the ORB.
- 06
Complete the Section
Once the required period and activity have been completed, your Assessor confirms your progress before your Duke of Ed Leader completes the relevant approval process.
Don’t leave the ORB until the end.
Activities generally need to be approved before eligible participation is recorded. If you’re unsure whether something counts, check with your Duke of Ed Leader before relying on it towards your Level.
05The Adventurous Journey
A journey the team learns to manage together.
The Adventurous Journey is often the most visible part of Duke of Ed, but it is not simply a hike or camp.
It is a team journey in a challenging and unfamiliar environment with an agreed Team Goal.
Preparation and Training form part of the process, followed by the Qualifying Journey and, where required, Practice Journey experience.
The young people themselves are expected to take an active role. They plan. They navigate. They organise camp. They manage their time. They share jobs. They communicate when things don’t go to plan. And they work together towards their goal.
The adults around the journey provide appropriate supervision and support without doing everything for the group.
- 01Preparation & Training
- 02Practice where required
- 03Plan as a team
- 04Complete the Qualifying Journey
- 05Reflection / assessment
- 06Duke of Ed process continues
Practice Journey
A Practice Journey gives participants the opportunity to prepare and demonstrate that they are ready for their Qualifying Journey.
At Bronze, a Practice Journey is optional.
At Silver and Gold, Practice Journey requirements depend on the participant’s circumstances and approved plan and may be reduced or waived where permitted.
Qualifying Journey
The Qualifying Journey is the journey completed against the Adventurous Journey requirements for the relevant Level.
- Bronze
- 2 days / 1 night
- Silver
- 3 days / 2 nights
- Gold
- 4 days / 3 nights
Before booking any external journey
Always confirm your exact Adventurous Journey requirement with your Duke of Ed Leader before booking.
Your Level, Practice or Qualifying requirement and any approved reduced or combined arrangement should already be clear before you choose a journey.
It doesn’t have to mean bushwalking.
Adventurous Journeys can take different forms.
Hiking, paddling, cycling and other approved journey concepts may be possible, provided they meet the requirements and have been approved as part of the participant’s plan.
What matters is not simply the mode of travel. It is the purposeful team journey, preparation, shared responsibilities and decisions made along the way.
06From interest to completion
Start with your Duke of Ed Leader.
If your school or organisation runs Duke of Ed, your Duke of Ed Leader should be your first point of contact.
If your school does not offer it, you may be able to complete the program through an Open Duke of Ed Centre.
- 01
Register
Talk with your Duke of Ed Leader and parent or guardian, then register for the appropriate Level.
- 02
Plan your activities
Choose activities for Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation and Skills and find suitable Assessors.
- 03
Get your activities approved
Set up your activities in the ORB and wait for your Duke of Ed Leader’s approval before recording eligible activity.
- 04
Keep working and recording
Complete your activities regularly and keep your ORB up to date.
- 05
Prepare for your Adventurous Journey
Complete the required Preparation and Training and confirm exactly what Practice and Qualifying Journey requirements apply to you.
- 06
Complete your journey
Take part in the approved journey with your team.
- 07
Finish your records and assessments
Complete any required reflection or reporting and obtain the relevant Assessor sign-offs.
- 08
Final review
Your Duke of Ed Centre reviews your completed Sections and progresses the final approval process.
07Understanding the roles
You don’t have to work it all out alone.
There are several people involved in a Duke of Ed, and they have different responsibilities.
Participant
Chooses activities, sets goals, completes the requirements, records progress and takes responsibility for their part of the journey.
Parent or guardian
Provides required consent and supports the young person with the practical side of participation.
Duke of Ed Leader
Helps guide the participant, approves activities and Assessors, confirms requirements and oversees progress through the Level.
Duke of Ed Centre
Manages the participant’s Duke of Ed registration and administration. This may be a school, organisation or Open Duke of Ed Centre.
Activity Assessor
Supports and assesses progress in a particular Section or activity.
Southbound
Provides Adventurous Journey activities and journey-related preparation and support where applicable.
Where Southbound fits
Southbound is not the organisation administering your complete Duke of Ed. We provide Adventurous Journey activities.
Your Duke of Ed Centre and Duke of Ed Leader remain responsible for your registration, activity approvals and overall Level.
If you are considering an open Southbound journey, confirm with your Duke of Ed Leader that the journey is suitable before you book.
08For parents
Independence doesn’t mean unsupported.
A central part of the Adventurous Journey is giving young people genuine responsibility.
That means there will be moments when they need to make decisions, work something out with their team, manage being tired or uncomfortable, or adapt when their original plan needs to change.
Good support does not mean removing every one of those moments. It means preparing the group properly, setting appropriate boundaries around the experience and having experienced people and systems around the journey when support is needed.
Before a journey, you should be able to answer these questions.
01What journey is my child completing?
Level, Practice or Qualifying status, duration and mode.
02Where and when does it start and finish?
Check meeting information, times and transport responsibilities for the specific journey.
03What is provided?
Check the journey inclusions and any group or activity-specific equipment supplied.
04What do they need to bring?
Check personal clothing, food, equipment and any available hire options.
05How does preparation work?
Understand the training, planning and information required before departure.
06What happens if something changes?
Check the specific weather, cancellation and journey-change information applying to the booked program.
09Common questions
A few things worth knowing.
Do I need to register before doing a Southbound journey?
Yes. You should be registered at the correct Level through a Duke of Ed Centre and confirm the proposed Adventurous Journey with your Duke of Ed Leader before booking.
My school doesn’t offer Duke of Ed. Can I still do it?
Yes. Young people who cannot access Duke of Ed through their school or another local organisation may be able to register through an Open Duke of Ed Centre.
Speak with an Open Centre about registration and administration before choosing an Adventurous Journey provider.
Is a Bronze Practice Journey compulsory?
No. Under the current framework, the Bronze Practice Journey is optional.
Your Duke of Ed Leader and/or Assessor should help determine what is appropriate for your individual plan.
Does Southbound run my whole Duke of Ed?
No. Southbound provides Adventurous Journey activities.
Your Duke of Ed Centre and Duke of Ed Leader manage your registration, activity approvals and overall Level.
What’s the difference between a Practice and Qualifying Journey?
A Practice Journey helps participants prepare for the required Qualifying Journey.
The Qualifying Journey is the journey completed against the Adventurous Journey requirements for the relevant Level.
Bronze Practice Journeys are optional. Silver and Gold requirements depend on the participant’s approved pathway.
Is the Gold Residential Project part of the Gold Adventurous Journey?
No. They are separate Sections.
Gold participants complete both the Gold Adventurous Journey requirement and the separate Gold Residential Project requirement.
Do I need outdoor experience before an Adventurous Journey?
Not every participant begins with the same experience.
Preparation and Training form part of the Adventurous Journey process, and the journey selected should be appropriate for the participant’s experience and approved plan.
Individual journeys may have additional prerequisites, so check the specific journey information before booking.
What is the ORB?
ORB stands for Online Record Book.
It is the online system participants use to record and manage progress through their Duke of Ed Sections.
Who can be my Assessor?
An Assessor should be someone with suitable experience or knowledge of the activity who can support and assess your progress.
Your Duke of Ed Centre needs to approve your Assessor.
Generally, an Assessor should not be an immediate family member.
Who should I ask if I’m unsure whether something counts?
Ask your Duke of Ed Leader before relying on an activity, journey or arrangement towards your Level.
Your Leader is responsible for confirming what is appropriate within your approved Duke of Ed plan.
Keep exploring
Find the information you need next.
Silver
Understand the Silver pathway, journey requirements and progression from Bronze.
Explore SilverGold
Understand Gold, the longer Adventurous Journey and the separate Residential Project.
Explore GoldAdventurous Journey Planning
Preparation, packing, equipment, food, navigation and what happens before departure.
Plan your journeyParents
Practical information about preparation, equipment, support and helping a young person get ready.
Parent resourcesOfficial Duke of Ed Resources
For formal requirements, eligibility or unusual circumstances, refer to your Duke of Ed Leader and the current official Duke of Ed guidance.
Official resourcesReady for your journey?
Already know which Adventurous Journey you need?
If your Duke of Ed Leader has confirmed your requirements, you can explore Southbound’s upcoming open Adventurous Journeys.
View open journeysPlease obtain your Duke of Ed Leader’s approval before booking.
Information reviewed August 2026. Duke of Ed requirements can change. Participants should confirm individual requirements with their Duke of Ed Leader and refer to current official Duke of Ed guidance where necessary.