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the Global
Explorer award
Apply now FOR JANUARY 2027
Win a full scholarship valued up to $15,000 to go on exchange in Europe.
A structured, guided personal growth experience, not just a trip abroad.
Every applicant receives at least $1,000 off.
Applications Close on august 15 FOR January 2027 PROGRAMS
1 x $15,000 Scholarship (National)
10 × 50% Scholarships per state (WA, SA & TAS)
$1,000 off for ALL entrants
Any SCCE exchange student can join the Global Explorer Award.
Students can also apply for the scholarship, which recognises effort, initiative, and engagement.
Why become a Global Explorer?
Turn your exchange into an experience that means even more.
An overseas exchange is more than just travel – it’s a chance to grow, explore, and see the world differently. The Global Explorer Award gives you a clear structure and purpose so you can make the most of every moment.
This isn’t about just being there – it’s about fully engaging.
- Build confidence and real connections in a new culture
- Step outside your comfort zone – in a supported, structured way
- Develop skills that go far beyond the classroom
- Walk away with a recognised award and something tangible to show for it
join a global community
Connect with students around the world who are exploring, sharing, and learning from each other – a network that extends well beyond your exchange.
your global explorer mission
If you win, you don’t just go overseas.
You become a Global Explorer.
That means completing 6 core experiences while abroad.
the scholarship
This is your chance to turn a standard exchange into a fully funded life-defining achievement. Every applicant walks away with something.
DURATION
Semester or full year programs available.
ELIGIBLE DESTINATIONS
- France
- Italy
- Denmark
- Austria
- England
- Ireland
- Germany
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
- Scotland
- New Zealand
What You Earn as a global explorer
Complete all 6 missions and you come home with tangible recognition – and a foot in the door with Southern Cross Cultural Exchange.
GLOBAL EXPLORER MEDAL
A physical medal recognising your achievement as a certified Global Explorer.
Certificate + Reference
An official program certificate and a personalised letter of reference from the Southern Cross Cultural Exchange team – perfect for uni applications and job interviews.
Digital Diary
Your entire journey – every reflection, photo, video, and milestone – compiled into a permanent digital diary and showcase you can share with anyone.
A living record of who you have become.
Work With SCCE
Exclusive opportunities to represent Southern Cross Cultural Exchange in your local area – from school presentations to ambassador events.
Exclusive Merch
Branded Global Explorer merchandise – for the explorers who earned it.
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inside the program
Six Missions.
Each is designed to push you further.
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KINDNESS CHALLENGE Each month, you go out of your way to make someone’s day better – and you document it. A small act of kindness for a stranger, a host family member, or someone in your community. It sounds simple, but doing it consistently week after week builds something powerful: real empathy, genuine awareness, and the habit of noticing other people. You’ll complete an act of kindness over each month and log each one in the portal.
PERSONAL REFLECTION Each month, record a short video reflecting on what happened, what you felt, and what you learned. These reflections link to social media and form an ongoing visual storyboard of your journey – a record of your growth that you (and others) can actually watch back. Part diary, part documentary.
CULTURAL DISCOVERY This is a two-way cultural exchange – not just watching, but actively sharing. You’ll complete 10 culture swap tasks: 5 where you teach someone from your host country about a meaningful meal or tradition from home, and 5 where you genuinely learn one from them. Food, customs, stories – the things that make a culture alive. It’s one of the most memorable missions in the program.
SERVICE & CONTRIBUTION You log real volunteer hours in your local or host community. Every hour counts as a completed task – the target is 20 hours, but there’s no ceiling. The more you give, the more it shows. Whether it’s helping at a local event, supporting a charity, or contributing to your host school, every hour is documented and tracked. Students who go beyond 20 hours often find this is the mission they’re most proud of.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT You don’t just observe – you join in. Join a sports club, sign up for a school team, say yes to invitations even when it’s uncomfortable. For each entry, you rate your social engagement on a self-assessed 1–10 scale and document how it felt, what you pushed through, and what came out of it. This mission is ongoing, and it’s where most students surprise themselves.
SKILL DEVELOPMENT You commit to genuinely learning something new – a language, a sport, an instrument, a craft. Something you couldn’t do before. Each entry includes a self-assessed 1–10 progress rating so you can track your improvement over time. By the end of the program, you’ll have documented evidence of real growth – not just something you tried once.
HOW TO APPLY
The process is straightforward, but it requires thought and intention.
Show us who you really are.
CREATE YOUR 2 MIN VIDEO
Tell us who you are, why you want to go on exchange, and why you want to be a Global Explorer. Be authentic – we want to hear your real story.
LETTER OF REFERENCE
Secure a letter of reference from a teacher or school staff member endorsing you for this experience. Their support strengthens your application and shows you’re ready.
SUBMIT VIA THE PORTAL
Upload your video and complete your application details through the Global Explorer Portal. Applications close August 15, 2026 – don’t leave it to the last minute.
GET 20 ENDORSEMENTS
Get 20 endorsements from your friends, family, and teachers via your application profile. Their support shows us you’re serious – and that others believe in you.
JUDGING BY SCCE TEAM
A dedicated panel of judges from the SCCE team will review all applications and select the winners. The best stories, compelling reasons, and the strongest endorsements win.
We don’t need perfect students. We need curious students. Students who are ready to step outside their comfort zone & don’t want a ‘normal’ experience.
Most students will never do something like this.
YOU CAN.
Applications close AUGUST 15, 2026.
Full scholarship valued up to $15,000.
Every applicant RECEIVES A $1,000 DISCOUNT.
frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about the Global Explorer Award and scholarship.
The Global Explorer Awards is a program that recognises students who actively explore the world around them and build real experiences. Instead of relying on grades or a single application, students create a live portfolio of activities, reflections, and experiences that demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and global awareness.
The awards are open to all secondary school students aged 14–18 across Australia and New Zealand. Any eligible student can participate, build their profile, and be recognised as part of the Global Explorer community.
The full scholarship (valued up to $15,000) covers the program fee only, depending on the destination and duration. It does not include flights, travel insurance, visa or passport costs, or personal expenses. Runner-up scholarships ($5,000) also apply to program fees only and exclude flights. All applicants receive a guaranteed $1,000 discount off their program fee, regardless of outcome.
Everything revolves around 6 core missions – each one designed to push you outside your comfort zone, build real-world skills, and create a story worth telling. You’re not filling out a form. You’re building a living portfolio of who you are becoming. Complete all 6 and you earn your Global Explorer Award. See the ‘Inside the Program’ section above for a full breakdown of each mission.
Applying for the Global Explorer Awards is separate from applying for an exchange program. The award application focuses on you – your video profile, activities, and cultural engagement. The program application focuses on your eligibility to travel, including school, medical, and visa requirements. You can apply for the awards before, after, or at the same time as your program application. Winning an award or scholarship does not automatically mean you are accepted into the exchange program – to travel, you must still meet all program eligibility requirements and be formally approved through the standard application process.
If you are selected, your scholarship can be applied toward your exchange program fees – but you must still meet all eligibility requirements to participate. If you have already paid for your program, your scholarship will be applied as a refund. If you have not yet applied or paid, the scholarship will be applied as a discount when you proceed. If you do not win a full scholarship, you may still receive a partial award or discount. And remember: every applicant who completes the program receives at least $1,000 off their program fee, regardless of outcome. The awards are designed so that participation always provides real value.
Applications are completed via the Global Explorer Portal. You will need to create an account, complete your application form, upload a 2-minute video, and start logging your activities.
To be considered for a scholarship, you must submit a 2-minute video, receive at least 20 endorsements, and complete all required fields in the portal. All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm AEST on 15 August, 2026.
Endorsements are a vote of support from people in your network who back your participation in the program. Share your video and profile with friends, family, teachers, and supporters and ask them to endorse your application. Students applying for scholarships must receive at least 20 endorsements. Students not applying for a scholarship do not need endorsements.
All progress is tracked through the Global Explorer Awards Portal. Inside the portal, you can submit weekly video reflections, record your skills and cultural experiences, and upload photos, videos, and written entries. The platform acts as your personal journal and digital diary. The Global Explorer team reviews submissions, and once you have completed all requirements, your progress is formally signed off.
All applications are reviewed by Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. Selection is based on the quality and consistency of your activities, the strength of your overall submission, your level of initiative and engagement, and your video and profile. All decisions are final.
Scholarship recipients are expected to depart in the January 2027 intake, subject to host family availability and destination capacity. Destinations may be adjusted depending on placement availability.
If you receive a scholarship, you must complete all 6 Global Explorer Award experiences during your exchange and participate in a post-exchange presentation.
No. You can participate in the Global Explorer Awards without applying for a scholarship. The program is designed to help you build a strong personal portfolio, track your experiences, and be part of a community of like-minded explorers.
The platform is designed with student safety in mind. Personal information is protected, students control what they share, and content may be reviewed where required. Parents and guardians are encouraged to be involved.
For enquiries, please reach out to the SCCE team at scceaust@scce.com.au – we are here to help.
More questions?
Contact us at scceaust@scce.com.au.
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