Grand Prior's Award

The Grand Prior Award

The Grand Prior Award, named after the Grand Prior of the Venerable Order of Saint John, is the highest award that a cadet in the St John Ambulance Youth Program can achieve. 'To receive the Grand Prior Award is recognition of committed learning that has led to a self-motivated and capable young person who has an ethos of continual personal growth, leadership, giving and encouragement of others.' It is recognized and awarded internationally throughout the different branches of the program. The Grand Prior Award is recognized in many countries including:

• England and the Islands
• Canada
• Malaysia
• New Zealand
• Australia

History

The Grand Prior Award was established as St John's Principal and Senior Cadet Award in 1931 by the Grand Prior of the time, the Duke of Connaught. The Grand Prior took an intimate interest in the award and even helped to develop the initial program criteria.

The First Grand Prior awards were presented on the 17th of February, 1933, to two ambulance cadets in England and a nursing cadet in Australia.

The Award is in the form of a badge, the Badge of the Order embroidered on black felt. Surrounding the badge is a wreath of St John's Wort or hypericum, a medical plant used by the Hospitallers of the medieval Order of St John. Surmounting the wreath is the Grand Prior's (a prince's) coronet.

The Award has now been given a new prominence by the international governing body of the Order, the Grand Council.

The Grand Council has issued an Instruction concerning the award. The Instruction restates that the Grand Prior Award is the highest award, other than for bravery, which the Order can confer on a Cadet.

Because the Grand Prior Award is an Order award, it is sealed with the Priory Seal.

England and the Islands

After the Membership award, Cadets begin work on the highest award a Cadet can achieve, the Grand Prior Award Scheme. The award scheme was named after the Grand Prior of the Order of St John, the Duke of Gloucester. This award scheme involves Cadets completing 24 subjects at different levels. Eight subjects must be completed for the bronze level, a further eight for silver, and then a further four for gold. After completing another four subjects, the Cadet will be awarded with their Grand Prior Award. Cadets can continue to work on this award up to their 21st birthday.

Canada

The Grand Prior Award, named after the Grand Prior of the Venerable Order of Saint John, is the highest award a cadet can achieve. The Cadet Proficiency Scheme involves cadets completing twelve subjects over a period not less than three years, to encourage them to take an interest in subjects outside their normal curricula and widen their horizons by carrying out these studies in their leisure time. Beyond SJAM Cadets, a recipient of the Grand Prior Award is allowed to retain the Grand Prior Award badge on the uniform if he or she chooses to advance his or her status into a full member of SJAM.

Malaysia

Recipients of the Grand Prior Award in Malaysia

In its early years, the Scheme had a slightly different subject group (i.e. Cycling, Camping, Tracking, etc.). These groups were removed and merged to make the Scheme which is currently used today. The twenty six badges are split into five different groups according to the nature of the activities. These groups are: Care, Emergency Care, Leisure, Communication and Life and Social skills. Cadets who successfully complete The Grand Prior Award receive the Award from the Order Secretariat in London, England. Cadets who obtain the Grand Prior Badge are known as ‘Grand Prior Cadets’ and can wear the badge as adult members throughout their service in St John Ambulance.

Badge Requirements

• Complete The Knowledge of the Order (badge)
• Complete 20 badges in total
• Complete at least 1 and no more than 3 badges from each group category

Age Requirements

• The individual must be less than 20 years old on the date of assessment for their last badge

Available badges

• Knowledge of the Order

Care:

• Animal Care
• Care in the Community
• Caring for the Sick
• Caring for Children
• Anti Drug Abuse

Emergency Care:

• Accident Prevention
• Fire Fighting and Prevention
• Casualty Simulation
• Civil Defence
• Personal Survival and Life Saving

Leisure:

• Outdoor Pursuits
• Fitness
• Craft
• Map Reading and Navigation
• Musician

Communication:

• Communication to the Impaired
• Administration Skills
• Computer Skills
• Signalling
• International Friendship

Life and Social Skills:

• Citizenship
• Home Skills
• Cookery and Nutrition
• Do-It-Yourself
• Cadet Training Course

New Zealand

In New Zealand, all of the proficiency badges are split up into three levels: Green (8–10 years), Blue (11–12 years) and Gold (13–18 years). Different level badges have different coloured frames and have an altered learning criteria to suit the age range, Gold Level being the most difficult. Only the Gold Level badges count towards the Grand Prior Award. A cadet must achieve the 6 compulsory badges and 6 badges of their choice to be awarded the Grand Prior Award.

Badge Requirements

• Complete 6 Gold Level compulsory subjects
• Complete 6 other Gold Level badges

Age Requirements

• The individual must be less than 21 years old on the date of assessment for their last badge
• The first Gold Level badge must be completed prior to their 19th Birthday

Available Gold Level badges

• Accident Prevention
• Animal Care
• Camping
• Caregivers °
• Casualty Simulation
• Child Care
• Civil Defence
• Communication °
• Community Awareness °
• Drill °
• Environment
• Faith
• Fire Safety
• First Aid °
• Fitness
• Hauora (Health)
• Hobbies
• Home Technology
• ICT (Information Communication Technology)
• Leadership
• Maoritanga
• Road Safety
• St John °
• The Arts
• Ventureship
• Water Safety

°Compulsory Badges

Australia

This is the highest award that a cadet can receive and is awarded to cadets who have earned 12 proficiency badges, including the Knowledge of the Order Badge and the Family Care Badge. The first Grand Prior's badges in the world were awarded in 1933 to three cadets - two from the United Kingdom and the other from Australia; Marion Higgins from Marrickville Cadet Nursing Division The award is worn on the left sleeve for as long as the cadet remains a member of the Operations Branch - even if they become an adult St John Ambulance Australia Cadets#Grand Prior's badge