YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM SERIES 2010
Introduction
We have just concluded the 2010 DEFENCE 2020 Youth Challenge program. Fifteen Youth Challenges were held from April through June in all states and territories throughout Australia. The Defence 2020 team look forward to the National Youth Challenge later in the year.
The 2010 Challenge program brought together young Australians, politicians, ADF personnel (many with recent peacekeeping experience) and community representatives to explore many of the issues surrounding defence and Australia’s future.
The special theme for 2010 was - Is the Spirit of ANZAC relevant to the ADF today? This theme was chosen to coincide with the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, and proved very popular.
Some 150 secondary schools participated in the program and many of the capital city events were over subscribed. We apologise to those schools that missed out. Hopefully you can be involved in 2011.
More than 91% of participants in 2010 rated this year's program Excellent/Very Good which is a fantastic result.
The Defence 2020 team enjoy staging the programs, meeting young Australians, putting them together with the many wonderful ADF representatives and seeing how enthusiastically everyone responds to the challenges on the day.
Three individual assessments of the 2010 program cover it all:
ADF member, Perth
This is the first time I have been involved in the D2020 Youth Challenge and I found it very rewarding. Not only was I impressed with the concepts behind the Challenge, making youth of today understand and get a better appreciation of the role of the Australian Defence Force, together with the less obvious side-bar hopeful of recruitment, I was surprised at the effect it had on myself personally.
We take our role in the Defence Force in our stride as that is our chosen profession, however when we are forced to stop and articulate that role and responsibility, I was awoken with renewed sense of pride as I realised that what we take in our stride and accept as our duty is quite remarkable and very important in today's community.
The youth representing their High Schools were quite remarkable in the enthusiasm in which they undertook their tasks and it was encouraging to see them take an interest in the ADF.
The Presenters and facilitators were very skilled and entertaining. They invoked thought, emotion and provided balance throughout the day — I was very impressed.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate and I'd be a willing volunteer for further likewise projects.
Student, Launceston
The best thing about the day was learning and gaining knowledge of the past and present, involving things that impact on our lives, in an environment that was challenging and unfamiliar to us. We learned that the ANZAC spirit lives on. It was great to know that ADF personnel are light-hearted and funny and are passionate about what they do. Mixing with new people was also terrific.
Teacher, Albany
I was impressed. There was an awareness of the importance and value of the ANZAC spirit — values that have developed over time that are still displayed in our ADF and wider Australian society. It was fantastic for young Australians to take from the past to ensure our future.
This program is an example of ‘best practice’ in teaching. The day was structured with engaging and creative activities that carefully scaffolded students through the steps of inquiry learning to engage everyone irrespective of background and learning abilities. All teachers should attend one of these days!
We hope that many of you will enter the National Participation Task.
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Overview of the 2010 Program
Each Youth Challenge is a whole-day program commencing at 9.00am and ending at 2.45pm.
Prior to coming to the Challenge students are sent some pre-Challenge reading to help them prepare for the day so that they can make an informed and active contribution.
Through the program students have the chance to:
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Study a video to decide if modern ADF members show the spirit of ANZAC in their behaviour and activities |
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Interact with a multimedia decision-making presentation to learn decision-making and implementation skills and see that their choices have consequences – Can you overcome the hidden traps and dangers to find the mysterious 'Spirit of ANZAC'? |
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Meet the Minister or his representative and some of Australia’s peacekeepers to ask questions and find out first hand a variety of experiences, especially the role of peacekeeping |
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Workshop their response to the video hypothetical with fellow students and community representatives |
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Role-play their findings and demonstrate the civics and citizenship processes they went through to reach their conclusions |
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Win prizes for their performances and receive certificates of participation |
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Find out more about the ‘Spirit of ANZAC’ Participation Task that will qualify the winners to represent the youth of Australia at the National Youth Challenge to be held in Canberra during September 2010. |
Teacher Participation
Each year we invite a teacher from each school to attend the Youth Challenge. Through the provision of resource materials and involvement in the civics and citizenship processes, teachers have the opportunity to enhance their skills and implement a similar program (whether defence related or not) in their own classrooms and local communities.
Teachers are also presented with their own copy of the educational resource kit DEFENCE 2020: Is the Australian Defence Force a Responsible Citizen?
We urge you to involve your school in the DEFENCE 2020 Youth Challenge Program. It is a very valuable opportunity for your teachers and students to represent their school and local community in a lively, exciting and very important educational program that focuses on Australia’s future.
For further information about the program and curriculum units in STUDIES Magazine please go to links and resources.
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YC 2010 Galleries & Individual Evaluations
Select from the links below to see photos from each of the Youth Challenges in 2010.
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Special Event: Defence 2020 Indigenous Youth Challenge
Alice Springs -
Friday 4 June
The DEFENCE 2020 team held a special Youth Challenge for Indigenous students at the Chifley Alice Springs Resort, Alice Springs on 4 June 2010. The theme for the day was - COULD YOU BE A MODERN WARRIOR?
Schools from the Alice Springs area and as far as Tennant Creek and even South Australia attended this special DEFENCE 2020 Indigenous Youth Challenge Program. This is part of an important educational program (being rolled out around the country) that focuses on Australia's future and the part we could all play as informed and responsible citizens.
The students represented their schools and local communities. They engaged with one another in a lively manner throughout the day. This was mostly evident in the exciting and fun role play performances that we witnessed. Well done to the winning students and groups.
The DEFENCE 2020 team wish to congratulate the students that took part in this special program. We also wish to acknowledge and thank the teachers and ADF personnel especially for your invaluable contribution to the day.
Click the link below to view the photo gallery from this event.
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Defence Technical Scholarships (DTS) are available to Year 11 and 12 students intending to pursue an ADF general entry technical trade career. A selected number of Scholarships will be offered each year, with successful Year 11 recipients receiving $2,000 and successful Year 12 recipients receiving $3,000. 
The ADF Long Tan Leadership and Teamwork Awards are available annually to every school in Australia with students in Years 10, 11 or 12. They are awarded to recognise students who demonstrate leadership and teamwork within both the school and the broader local community. Year 10 winners receive $100, Year 11 winners receive $250 and Year 12 winners receive $500. 