As part of the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria (YACVic) Future Proof project, the Corryong Neighbourhood Centre (CNC) will be offering local young people the opportunity to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

It allows them to get out of their comfort zone, develop initiative, self-esteem and a sense of adventure and empowers them to develop skills such as resilience, adaptability, creativity, problem solving, decision-making and communication.

The CNC will be offering the initial Bronze level of the award in 2023 with Silver and Gold levels available in the future.

There are three activity components – Physical Recreation, Voluntary Service and a Skill of Choice.

Young people will also work as a team to plan a two-day adventurous journey to complete their submission.

The award recognises and rewards young people for the activities that they may already do outside of school and only requires a commitment of around three hours per week for six months.

Award co-ordinator, Josh Viljoen, who participated in the program as a teenager, said “The award brought me out of my shell, taught me things I am so grateful for and made me connections for life.

“I got one of my first jobs simply because my boss had done the award as well and knew how transformative it was for a young person.” The CNC is hosting an Information Night at the Youth Space (next to the Post Office) on Wednesday 30th August from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.

Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend, ask questions and sign-up.

For more information call the CNC on 02 6076 2176 or email adele@corryongnc.org.

Future Proof is a collective project led by YACVic, in response to the 2019-20 bushfires.

This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 24 August 2023.