Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award comes to ACU National

Students at Australian Catholic University will have the chance to try anything from jewellery making to trekking the Kokoda Trail as part of the newly introduced Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award.

Amy Campbell, an ACU National Bachelor of Psychology graduate, is currently completing the gold level.

"The Award is great because it offers a framework for you to focus your interests, learn, improve your abilities and do something you've always wanted to do," she said. "Most importantly, its not a competition but rather a personal challenge, giving you the opportunity to work with others while focusing on your individual abilities."

For her adventurous journey, Amy walked the Kokoda Trail, and for her residential project, she coordinated a holiday program for children affected by last year's Victorian bushfires.

"Besides being a lot of fun, the Award says to prospective employers that you are a person with leadership qualities, integrity, a social conscience and a willingness to take on a challenge," she said. "It can really give you that competitive edge when seeking employment."

Taking part in the Award at ACU National is especially rewarding thanks to the wide range of community engagement projects students have access to through the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement.

"The basic idea of the Award is that its more about what you learn during the process rather than just the end result," Amy said. "It lets you showcase your talents and skills, but what you ultimately gain from being involved is life experience."

Click here for more information about the Duke of Edinburgh Award.