Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Adventurous Journey

A group of young people canoeing down a river.

Adventurous Journey encourages a spirit of adventure and discovery in an unfamiliar environment.

There are three types of journeys within this section:

  1. An expedition has journeying as its main component. Time is spent on route-finding, navigation, travelling, pitching tents and striking camp. The journey can be over land, in the air or on waterways.
  2. An exploration involves some journeying (see expedition) but its main focus is on investigating or researching. Examples of explorations are natural, geographical or historical surveys and physical activities such as diving, caving or climbing.
  3. An adventurous project does not fall within the specified requirements for an expedition or exploration, but is of an equally or more demanding nature. To undertake an adventurous project you need approval from the State Award Office. Such a project may still be of an expeditionary or exploratory nature.

Choosing your activity

The following are examples of activities other young people have undertaken:

  • exploring art galleries in a capital city
  • experiencing and comparing a festival in another town
  • learning about operating a farm in rural Queensland
  • hiking at Dolphin Heads, Elmeo via Mackay or Blacks Beach
  • cycling through Cunningham's Gap or from Brisbane to Toowoomba
  • canoeing along Wivenhoe Dam or the Brisbane River
  • sailing around Stradbroke Island
  • experiencing the culture of Fiji
  • studying the effects of tourism on Horseshoe Bay
  • travelling to, and attending, a music festival in another town or state
  • going on a fishing trip at Fraser Island

Requirements

Bronze:

Two days and one night away plus at least one practice journey of an equivalent standard.

Silver:

Three days and two nights away plus at least one practice journey of an equivalent standard.

Gold:

Four days and three nights away plus at least one practice journey of an equivalent standard.

Preparatory Adventurous Journey training is very important and you must have sound basic knowledge before setting out. All training must be carried out by Adventurous Journey Supervisors.

You must do preliminary training and at least one practice journey of an equivalent standard to your qualifying journey before planning and completing the qualifying journey. All journeys must have a clearly defined purpose.

Travel may be on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, by water, on a motorbike or in a four-wheel drive, and the means of travel must remain the same throughout the journey.

Where relevant to the chosen activity preliminary training must include:

  • camp craft
  • care of the environment
  • first aid
  • group skills
  • navigation
  • observation and recording
  • planning and preparation
  • safety
  • use of equipment