DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:55): My question is to the Minister for Youth. Will he tell us how students with disabilities have been participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:55): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally recognised development program for young people aged between 14 and 25. It is a prestigious award and encourages young people to push their boundaries, step out of their comfort zones and expand their personal horizons by exploring potential talents and interests. The award comprises three levels, each requiring different levels of commitment and effort. Young people can start at the bronze, silver or gold levels, depending on whichever level they have been prepared for.

On Wednesday 21 March I attended and presented the silver awards at the first scheduled bronze and silver awards presentation for 2012. It was a very special ceremony to honour 186 young participants' impressive achievements. Ms Sue Wallace, the Executive Director for Communities and Social Inclusion, also attended the ceremony to present the bronze awards. Among this year's winners 45 of the award recipients were from regional South Australia; another 13 young people identified as having a disability of some description.

Eight students were from the Hamilton Disability Unit and five from the Riverland Special School. As Minister for Disabilities and Minister for Youth, it is heartening to see young people with disabilities achieve such outstanding results. This included a young man from Findon High School who volunteers with the Australian Air Force Cadets, studies computer communications and participates in swimming. Many young people give back to their communities in a number of ways, including volunteering their time to many worthwhile local and international causes.

A student from Kura Yerlo helped in a soup kitchen and students from Murray Bridge created birthing kits for Uganda. A highlight of the evening was a speech presented by Ms Victoria Cox, who is a holder of a gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, which she received in 2009. Ms Cox is studying her fourth year of medicine at the University of Adelaide and was awarded first-class honours for her work in the prediction of strokes using MRI scanning. This year Victoria will also represent Adelaide University on the national AMSA Medical Student Council, as well as the AMA(SA) Doctors in Training Committee.

Aside from her academic pursuits, Victoria is a keen swimmer and has represented South Australia at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games trials. Victoria Cox and the other award recipients are outstanding examples of how the Duke of Edinburgh Award is encouraging South Australia's young people to challenge their individual abilities, help communities and gain a sense of achievement and have fun whilst doing so.