🌱 Please read: Setting SMART goals for your Award
Kia ora 👋
I’d really appreciate you taking a few minutes to read this carefully.
This is an important part of setting your Award up well — and it will make everything easier for you later on.
🎯 Why SMART goals matter
For each section of your Award, you need a clear SMART goal.
These goals aren’t just paperwork — they help:
- you understand what you’re working towards
- your assessor see your progress clearly
- the Award recognise the development you’ve made
The Award is now checking SMART goals more closely, so having them set up well from the start really matters.
🧠 What SMART means
S – Specific
What exactly are you working on?
M – Measurable
How will you know you’re making progress?
A – Achievable
Is this realistic for you, with the time and access you have?
R – Relevant
Why does this goal matter to you and your Award?
T – Time‑bound
When will this goal be completed?
All five parts are important — together they show real intent and growth.
✍️ How goals and logs work together
When you write your Online Record Book (ORB) logs, you should be able to clearly connect them back to your goal and show:
👉 This is what I’m working towards — and this is how today helped me progress.
Your assessor should be able to read your goal and your logs and clearly see
your development over time. This makes assessment much smoother.
✨ An easy way to write your goal in ORB
A simple way to do this is to use SMART like a sideways acrostic:
- S: I will…
- M: I will measure this by…
- A: This is achievable because…
- R: This goal matters because…
- T: I will complete this by…
Clear, simple, and very easy to assess ✅
🔁 Reaching a goal early is a good sign
If you achieve your goal before your time period finishes, that’s a positive thing — it shows progress.
You can then:
- set a new goal, or
- extend your original goal a little further
The Award is about progress and personal development, not just repeating the same thing.
💛 A quick reassurance
If a goal needs adjusting to make it SMART, that’s completely normal.
It’s part of the process, and we’re always happy to help you refine it.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and set your goals up well —
it really does make a difference.
Ngā mihi,
Joanna
Auckland Challenge
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