The Lions Youth of the Year Quest is a project of
Lions Clubs International of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Quest is designed to encourage student interest in leadership and the qualities required to take an active and constructive role in the community. It does this by selecting an outstanding young person from candidates throughout Australia to travel overseas and act as an ambassador for Lions Clubs International Multiple District 201. The international travel is conducted under the auspices of Lions Clubs International.

Students from many nations meet to discuss a wide range of international issues. They also have the opportunity to learn leadership, management and community service skills from groups of professional men and women throughout the world.

The Quest seeks a high level of academic, leadership, sporting, public speaking and citizenship achievement in its potential winners. By emphasising these qualities it hopes to provide outstanding role models for the youth of Australia and an overall increase in the confidence of young men and women.

The Quest is an excellent means of assisting Australia's youth and promoting the essential role of leadership development and community service organisations in maintaining Australia's high standard of living.

The Quest process

The main activities involved in the running of Lions Youth of the Year Quest include initial promotion in schools and local communities; judging of candidates; selection and announcement of the national winner; arrangements for the winner's overseas travel and attendance at an International Youth Camp and other finalists travel throughout Australia.

The Quest begins in June/July and culminates with final judging and the announcement of the winners at the Multiple District Convention, normally held in May.

Levels of judging

Club judging
Zone judging ( in some Districts only )
Regional judging
District judging
State finals
National final

National final

The final judging for the Quest will be held at the Lions Multiple District Convention next May.

Prizes

The Quest offers an outstanding opportunity for entrants to vie for major prizes including an international tour for the National Lions Youth of the Year Champion and national tours for all State finalists.

All State Champions will win a trip to the National Convention to compete for the title of National Lions Youth of the Year.

In addition the National Lions Youth of the Year Winner is awarded an overseas trip to represent Australia at an International Youth Conference + other countries of choice or undertake a specific overseas study tour.

A separate prize is also awarded to the Public Speaking Winner who receives a Youth Exchange trip to New Zealand.

All National Finalists including the winner from Papua New Guinea will each receive an organised group tour of Australia during the Christmas holidays ( approx. 35 days ) plus $ 500.00 allowance for any out of pocket expenses they incur on the trip around Australia.

Certificates of recognition are awarded at all levels of judging for the overall heat winner and the Public Speaking Section winner.

Any of the trip prizes must be taken within the next financial year (June to July) immediately following the finals.

Aims

The Lions Youth of the Year Quest is designed to encourage, foster and develop leadership in conjunction with other citizenship qualities in our youth, at the age when they are about to enter the fields of employment or higher education, and provides students with the incentive to pay greater attention to the general qualities, so vital in developing our youths into first class citizens. The qualities sought, apart from academic attainments are those of leadership, personality, sportsmanship, public speaking and good citizenship.

The students meet in fellowship and have the opportunity of open discussion, exchange of ideas and meet professional people of a community service Club organisation.

Will be open to

The Quest year will be the Lions year (1st July to 30th June) and the Quest will be open to:-

Youths who are attending or have attended a high school or secondary school or equivalent standard of school in any other educational establishment, including correspondence school, in the Lions year in which the National Final is to be conducted, who are over the age of 16 and under 19 years of age at June 30th, in the year of the Quest.

Note - Students of Colleges of Advanced Education, and equivalent instructions are eligible to participate in the Quest if undertaking secondary studies.

Other than the above all other conditions governing participation apply.

It is mandatory that entrants cannot compete at more than one Club level judging in any one Quest year.

A Quest for secondary school students and young people about to join the workforce.

Do you seek to gain experience in:

Leadership
Personal Improvement

Sportsmanship
Citizenship
Community Involvement

Public Speaking

If you do and are aged between 16 and 19 years of age ( up to 21 years in Papua New Guinea ) enter the Lions Youth of the Year Quest and allow Lions to help you gain experience. Awards are made at all levels of judging. The main prizes are an overseas trip for the National winner, and a around Australia tour for each State winner, plus $ 500.00 allowance for any out of pocket expenses they incur on the trip around Australia.

The Lions Youth of the Year Quest is aimed at all young people who seek to improve their skills before entering the workforce or other endeavours.

For further particulars please contact your local Lions Club, District Chairman, State Coordinators or the Quest Chairman for Australia, Adrian Miles - Email  admiles@iprimus.com.au