Winmalee High School

A positive education and positive behaviour for learning school

Telephone02 4754 2822

Emailwinmalee-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Duke of Edinburgh program

Group of male school students standing and crouching around a makeshift campfire

The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Winmalee High School is a program in demand. The award is at the forefront of enrichment programs designed to bring out the best in young people who want to challenge themselves. A significant proportion of the school population participates in the program.

Participants challenge themselves in a range of activities including skill development, adventurous journeys, community service and physical recreation.

Winmalee High School typically has an annual intake of interested students at the beginning of Year 9 as the entry age to the program is 14 years.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards are graded as Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Students and kayaks on Duke of Edinburgh kayak trip with Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background
Staff and students sitting in cabin with eating utensils on Duke of Edinburgh snow trip
Students practising how to put tents up in school grounds for Duke of Edinburgh program

Students start at the Bronze level where they are required to demonstrate a commitment of 15 hours during Sport time where they learn, practice and refine essential skills related to the program. As they progress through the program they commit for longer periods of time and undertake more challenging activities, including practice expeditions usually overnight, so as to gain the maximum benefits from practice. Even though our main intake is in Year 9 students may join the program at any point beyond 14 years of age.

Participants get to experience a range of adventurous journeys as they progress through Bronze, Silver and Gold level challenges. Some of these include 2 and 3 day walks in the Blue Mountains, a 3-day kayak trip on Tallowa Dam in the Shoalhaven Valley, walking in the Budawang Range in the Morton National Park, kayaking on Myall Lakes and hiking for 4 days in the Snowy Mountains. 

For further information please contact David MacCormick (WHS Program co-ordinator) or visit the official Duke of Edinburgh website.

A line of students walking through a shallow creek while hiking.

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We would like to welcome you to the Dharug and Gundungurra land on which our school resides, acknowledging that though the surrounding environment has changed over time, the spiritual connection between the land and indigenous peoples remains. We would like to thank all those who gather and respect this connection. We would also like to pay our respects to elders both past and present and extend that respect to those with indigenous heritage within our school community. (Troy Zoernleib – Vice Captain 2022)

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