OZQUEST ADVENTURES is a project conducted under the auspices of Awards Victoria, the peak body responsible for the delivery of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Victoria (DOE), a non-profit world-wide youth program, The Compass Award, The Bridge Award and The Challenge Award.
 

Its mission is to support and deliver positive, challenging, educative and safe expeditions that ensure participants meet Award requirements. It will also offer some opportunities for those beyond Award ages to be included to encourage role modelling, leadership training, mentoring and professional support.

The development and provision of OZQUEST ADVENTURES in this ‘new’ model builds on the history of 40 plus years of Expedition support with The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award where thousands of young people have undertaken expeditions throughout Australia and overseas. Since 2000 Ozquest has conducted major expeditions to countries such as, Borneo, Cambodia, Fiji, Namibia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu, and Vietnam. These have included participants from secondary schools, tertiary institutions, specialised professions and the wider community across Australia.

OZQUEST ADVENTURES will address the varying needs of young people by offering a unique opportunity compared to other providers.
 

Specifically, OZQUEST ADVENTURES …

• Meets Award program requirements for all Adventurous Journey aspects
• Many options will also meet the Residential requirement for Gold Award participants
• Provide adventurous activities that challenges and stretch the ability of the participants both mentally and physically
• Has a pool of experienced expedition staff – both volunteers and professional staff
• Builds on 40+ years of experience, contacts, resources and knowledge
• Expedition and group leaders are required to attend the required training to equip them for the required knowledge and skill to fulfil their roles
• Encourages all participants to undertake their experiences in an environmentally friendly way – tread lightly, ‘take only photos’, carry out your waste
• Has a range of complimentary services to support the expedition participants, for example - travel information, insurance, risk management procedures, manuals, etc.
• Is supported by key organisations such as Douglas Workplace and Litigation Lawyers for pro-bono advice, retail stores for equipment and clothing support, and project partners for detailed activity management.

Our Local Expeditions

• Offer advice, support and training to Licensed Operators of Award programs
• Able to provide advice on a wide range of expedition options through Victoria and interstate
• Has access to volunteers able to help, plan, lead, support and train
• Able to have independent young people engaged in meaningful and accessible experiences.

Our International Expeditions

• Provide a unique, invaluable experience to Australians, from all ages and backgrounds, whilst helping those in need in developing countries.
• Not only does the expedition provide benefit to local communities, but allows it to be undertaken in an environmentally friendly way.
• Each expedition will include environmental, adventure and community service activities.
• Have existing strong relationships with other international communities, including a wide range of ‘in country’ NGO’s

Operational aspects

OZQUEST ADVENTURES is overseen by the State Award Board with the Chairman of the voluntary Committee of Management on that Board. All staff in the State Award Office are responsible to support the provision of OZQUEST ADVENTURE experiences. This will be through administrative, promotional and advisory activity.