Nineteen Year 11 students recently completed an extraordinary 12-day Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition in Central Australia. The trip provided a powerful opportunity for character development and made one thing clear: some of life’s greatest lessons happen beyond the classroom.
Students explored some of Australia’s most iconic and ancient landscapes, including explored Uluru, Kata Tjuta, Kings Canyon, the West MacDonnell Ranges and the Larapinta Trail. The expedition was demanding from start to finish. With early starts, full days of activity and very little downtime, the girls embraced every challenge. They walked around Uluru, hiked through the Valley of the Winds, explored meteorite craters, searched for the legendary Lasseter’s Reef, camped under the stars with dingos, and experienced rare Central Australian rainstorms. A memorable highlight was gathering at an outback roadhouse before dawn to watch the Socceroos together. Students spent four nights at Hamilton Downs Cattle Station, and experienced life as ‘Stockwomen’ – working in leadership roles such as Camp Cook and Firemaster. Living simply, they planned meals, cooked over campfires, learned navigation skills, cracked stock whips, studied Aboriginal rock art, and prepared traditional bush foods such as damper and kangaroo tail. The expedition concluded with a challenging two-day, 30-kilometre hike from Hamilton Downs to Standley Chasm on the Larapinta Trail. Determination and resilience were on full display.
Perhaps the most meaningful moments came during the evening yarning circles, where students reflected openly on their experiences. These conversations built trust and created a supportive environment for personal reflection. Stepping into the Australian Outback forces a rare kind of clarity and allows a break from busy lives. With no phones or devices, students took to journaling and reading.
The experience revealed a group of young women who lived out the school motto: Fortiter et Suaviter. They willingly embraced discomfort and supported one another with compassion through every challenge, showcasing strength in themselves and gentleness with others. The expedition gave a meaningful reminder of the value of outdoor and experiential education.
Enjoy this 90 second video about the trip.
Congratulations to the following students for the participation on this expedition: Caetlin Ashby, Gemma Basilisco, Sophia Benson, Ella Bruce, Neva Carpenter, Sybilla Conn, Ava Cran, Gemma Gannon, Scarlett Gerke, Angie Ho, Evie Howells, Sonia Lindell, Amelie McGuire, Elise Shanahan, Charlotte Trout, Mia Vale, Ava Wearne and Emma Williams
The following student reflections offer a glimpse into the personal growth, resilience and lifelong friendships fostered through the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award experience.
“I realised I am much more resilient than I thought, and that I am capable of handling challenges.”
“From this experience I learnt how resilient I can be and that I can push myself to achieve things… I will definitely take these traits and experience into my future, especially with studies, sport and life challenges in general.”
“I would love to continue the idea of always ‘taking the high route’, meaning doing the hard things… saying yes to things that may be new or scary at first, and knowing that I can do hard things when I put my mind to it.”
“I learnt that I find it easier to stay positive when surrounded by positive people. I would like to continue being positive and approaching every challenge with a good attitude.”
“She was there for me the entire trip, during the highs and the lows. She always knows what to say and I am so grateful to call her my friend.”
“I’m very grateful for her in this experience. Before this trip we were always friendly, but now we have created a really positive and close friendship that we can now continue to grow. I’m so grateful I found this new friendship that I will continue to be thankful for.”
Elle Carroll
Duke of Ed Convenor
