Minister Congratulates Young Endeavour Youth Scheme on Prime Minister’s Award

 THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel

November 26 2010

The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, today congratulated the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme, winner of the 2010 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management.

The Award is the pinnacle of recognition for public sector work groups, units and teams across all levels of public administration in Australia. The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme beat a field of 26 nominees to take out the Gold Award at a ceremony in Canberra last night.

“The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme has changed countless young lives over the years,” Mr Snowdon said.

“Since 1988 more than 11,000 Australians have undertaken a voyage in Young Endeavour. This award is a tribute to all those who work to provide young people with this extraordinary adventure at sea.”

The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme has been operating for 22 years, providing challenging voyages for Australian youth in the national sail training ship Young Endeavour. The ship was gifted to Australia by the United Kingdom on the occasion of the Bicentenary in 1988.

The Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane said the Young Endeavour Youth Scheme can be rightly proud of its award.

“The Scheme is at the forefront of Navy’s community engagement strategy. This Award recognises the excellent work they have carried out with Australian youth,” said Vice Admiral Crane.

The Young Endeavour Youth Scheme offers an exciting program of voyages for young Australians aged 16 to 23 years and a series of day sails for youth with special needs in Young Endeavour.

Led by members of the Royal Australian Navy, each 11 day voyage offers young people from all over the country the opportunity to push themselves outside their comfort zone and work as a team to sail a tall ship along the Australian coast.

The program empowers participants with a unique, challenging and inspirational experience at sea, increasing self-awareness, developing teamwork and leadership skills, and creating a strong sense of community responsibility. Visit the website at www.youngendeavour.gov.au