The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award continues to grow from strength to strength at BCGS, with student participation and achievement reaching new heights following the introduction of the whole-school Award model at the beginning of the year.
BCGS leads the way in Australia as one of the first school’s to employ this approach which has seen the Duke of Edinburgh Award framework embedded into everyday school life, making the Award more accessible and meaningful for students. Through Home Group, students have been encouraged to set personal goals that align with the Award's key areas of Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Staff have worked alongside students to support goal setting, registration and ongoing participation, helping to create a culture where personal growth and achievement are celebrated.
As a result, engagement in the Award has increased markedly. More students than ever before are actively participating in the program, developing valuable life skills, contributing to their communities and challenging themselves beyond the classroom. This increased involvement has also translated into greater success, with a growing number of students receiving their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards during school assemblies throughout the year. At the recent assembly held on Friday the following students received their award.
Bronze: Chloe Munro, Kade Martin, Rithwik Parambathu, Tiare Dorizzi, Hamza Nasr, William Cunningham, Advaiti Atikam, Zac Loh with Evelyn Marshall, Michael Breese, Anna Lincoln and Elias Hovell expecting theirs to arrive any day now.
Silver: Sasha Prowse
A particular highlight also last Friday, was when five BCGS students were presented with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards by His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia, at Government House. The Gold Award is the highest level of the Duke of Edinburgh program and represents years of commitment, perseverance and dedication across all sections of the Award. Congratulations to Luka Good, Jamie Harrison, Leeuwin Prowse, Mitchell Wood and Bel Dabic (2025).
Mitchell Wood, was invited to speak on behalf of Gold Award participants during the ceremony. In his address, Mitchell reflected on his Duke of Edinburgh journey and the significant impact of voluntary service throughout the Award. He spoke about the opportunities the program had provided to make meaningful contributions to the community, develop skills and build confidence through serving others.
The achievement of these five students is a testament not only to their individual commitment but also to the success of BCGS's whole-school approach to the Duke of Edinburgh Award. By embedding the framework into daily school experiences and empowering students to pursue purposeful goals, BCGS is fostering a generation of young people who are resilient, community-minded and motivated to reach their full potential.
Congratulations to all students who have participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award this year, and especially to our Gold Award recipients for reaching this outstanding milestone. Their success serves as an inspiration for future participants as the Duke of Edinburgh Award continues to thrive at BCGS.