Rotary District 9570

COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS

AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH

Australian Rotary Health is a multi-district project of Rotary in Australia and is supported by most clubs and Rotarians. Australian Rotary Health has made available almost $20 million in medical/health research - in Australia. All donations are tax deductible.

Mental Illness Research

In 2000 Australian Rotary Health began its current emphasis on Mental Illness research and awareness. As part of this activity, research grants of more than $2 million each year have been awarded and a community awareness program, supported by the Commonwealth Government, has seen more that 500 community forums on mental health held by Rotary
clubs. Other activities of Australian Rotary Health:

Scholarships for Indigenous Australians

This program assists Indigenous Australians who are undertaking a health related university course.

Funding Partners – Research in all health areas

The Funding Partners program helps to provide funds for medical research PhD Scolarships in areas other than mental illness - chosen by a Rotary club or Rotary district.

Rural Health Medical and Nursing Scholarships

Scholarships can be awarded to medical students who are completing a rural placement as part of their under-graduate medical training. Nursing students who spend their final year in a rural placement can also receive an Australian Rotary Health scholarship. These scholarships are awarded in conjunction with a Rotary club or sponsor. Australian Rotary Health proudly continues to be a major community service program of the Rotary clubs of Australia.

For further information:
Contact Brian Prince email

Website: australianrotaryhealth.org.au

AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH INDIGENOUS HEALTH SCHOLARSHIPS

The program is a co-operative program between the Australian Rotary Health, Rotary clubs, some State or Territory Governments, the
Commonwealth Government and several corporate partners. The object of this program is to provide a scholarship, which can be
used to assist Indigenous students with their day-to-day expenses while they undertake a course in a wide range of health related
rofessions. The scholarship is paid in addition to the Government Abstudy allowance.

The purpose of the program is to assist students to gain an education which will in turn enable them to use this education for the benefit of other Indigenous people - possibly, but not necessarily, in some of our remote areas. This program commenced with the intention of training doctors to work amongst other Indigenous people, but the scope of the scheme was enlarged to permit the training, firstly of nurses, and now any health related professions. The value of each scholarship is $5,000 per year. A Rotary club contributes $2,500 per year and the State or Commonwealth Government provides a similar amount. The Commonwealth Government also provides funding for the administration of the program within the Australian Rotary Health office. Since its inception this program has spread and interested clubs and committees in each of the mainland states and in the Northern Territory are sponsoring students.

For more information:
Cheryl Deguara – Australian Rotary Health
PO Box 3455, Parramatta NSW 2124
Ph: (02) 8837 1900 • Fax: (02) 9635 5042
Email: cheryldeguara@australianrotaryhealth.org.au
Website: australianrotaryhealth.org.au

BOWELSCAN

Bowelscan is a Rotary Community Service program,developed in 1982 in District 9640 and now conducted by more than 300 Rotary clubs across Australia. These clubs issue approximately 150,000 kits during their annual colorectal screening programs.Since Bowelscan commenced more than 1500 people with bowel cancer and 5,400 with polyps have been detected. Bowelscan is essentially a public awareness program, seeking to increase community knowledge of bowel cancer and its symptoms with a view to its earlier diagnosis. The project also involves the distribution to the public of a simple scanning kit on which is collected small specimens of faeces for laboratory analysis to detect evidence of minute
traces of internal bleeding. Bowelscan is a program supported by Australian Rotary Health since 2003. Details of the
program’s administration are available from:

Lionel Phelps • Secretary of the National Bowelscan Committee
Telephone (02) 6624 2363 • Fax (02) 6624 4803 • E-mail lphelps@scu.edu.au
www.nationalbowelscan.org.au

ROTARY COMPUTERS 4 KIDS AND COMMUNITY

To enable provision of computers to disadvantaged students and needy community groups,this program links commercial providers with Rotarians skilled in updating and repairingredundant computer hardware. Where possible encouragement is offered to responsive older students to undertake
appropriate training in more advanced technical skills themselves, through workplace education, training and administration skills and recognised PC repair courses. The gaining of approved workplace experience, organisational skills and qualifications is seen as a strong motivational incentive to gain or regain vocational stability, as well as improving self-esteem.

Rotary Club members including Rotaractors, and volunteers university undergraduate students and professionals also help on working bees. The project has MS Approved Refurbisher status allowing installation Microsoft Windows XP operating system and Microsoft Office 2003 software for a token fee; or public domain ‘Ubuntu’, a Linux based operating system and Open Office software, free. They are donated on receipt of verified requests to individuals with disabilities ; special needs; unemployed people trying to regain or update employable skills; needy secondary students
(Yr 10/11/ 12 and occasionally at upper primary level) who would benefit academically but cannot afford a computer; and to Rotary International approved Educational, Community and Vocational projects locally and overseas.


Contact Dawn Watson (D.9800) • (03) 9337 4710 • Email: dawnwatson@yahoo.com

EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION BOOK

The “Emergency Medical Information Book” project has been extended to all states ofAustralia and New Zealand. This project allows Rotary clubs to actively support their local community by distributing books to all persons who may need to call an ambulance. Because the book contains specific information in relation to a person’s medical history or condition, list of medications or allergies and personal details, Paramedics are able to quickly identify a person’s condition with access to a patient’s medical history. This process allows emergency treatment to start immediately, which could save lives. Clubs wishing to participate in the scheme can purchase batches of 250 books bearing their own club details on the covers from the contact noted below. It may well be that individual clubs
may decide to defray expenses by seeking a small cash donation from interested parties.

Contact: Arthur Jeffries Ph 08 8264 2117 • Mob 0417 869 822 • E: arthur.jeffries@emib.org.au
NZ Districts Contact: whg.south.bulletin@ihug.co.nz • Web: www.rnzwcs.rotary.org.nz/

POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Initiated in Darwin as a project to acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by police officers in their daily commitment to community safety, this program has been adopted by a growing number of clubs across Australia. Its aim is to recognise outstanding acts of courage, compassion, understanding and devotion
to duty provided by police officers at the local level. Awards are made annually following an extensive promotional campaign to encourage citizens to nominate officers known to have served in some outstanding capacity. Organised and directed by Rotary clubs, the program is officially launched at a civic
function attended by local dignitaries, senior police officials, the press and other community organizations. Sponsorship is sought from business houses to cover awards, presentation evening and printing. Press announcements seek nominations from the public. Judging is usually a shared responsibility between the Rotary Awards committee and police commanders. A gala presentation evening with invited guests from the police department, senior management personnel of sponsoring bodies, award recipients and their partners, local community dignitaries and press representation, serves as the showcase for the project. Awards presented usually acknowledge all nominees with a framed certificate as well as the recognising the Police Officer of the Year with a plaque and replica of the perpetual trophy.

Contact:
David Bamford (R.C. Blacktown City)
Ph: (02) 9636 1397 • Email: drb@pnc.com.au
June Young (R.C. Liverpool Greenway)
Ph: (02) 9602 5204 • Email: jyoung1943@bigpond.com
Cathy Mason (Sutherland Group)
42 Wonga Road, Yowie Bay NSW 2228
Ph: (02) 9540 3503 • M: 0412 037 031 • Fax: (02) 9524 0885
Email: cathyrichardmason@hotmail.com or cathy.mason@det.nsw.edu.au

ROTARY DISTRICT PEACE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM (RDPCP)

The Rotary District Peace Communities program comprises two parallel initiatives:

1. Peace communities. The idea of Peace Communities was initiated in District 9700 in 1992 and later embraced by many overseas Rotary Districts
and Clubs. “Peace Cities” were designated in New Zealand, Japan, Philippines, Canada, South Africa, USA, Namibia, Zambia, France, Israel,
India, Mauritius, Northern Marianas, Argentina and Yugoslavia. In these countries, Rotarians committed to furthering Peace in the world, set up Peace symbols on suitable sites where Rotarians and local citizens could meet on special days such as Rotary’s World Understanding Day, and to celebrate Rotary’s birthday on 23rd February. On these days, awards are made to local citizens, students, schools and local organizations for their contribution to Peace in
action within the community.

2. Peace Projects. The second focus of the Peace Communities Program is on activating partnerships between Rotary Clubs and local civic authorities and organizations (e.g. Departments of Education, Health, Police). The purpose is to focus on the concept of Peace as it is applied in practical ways at the grass roots in local communities. Rotary Clubs are encouraged to initiate peace in action Projects involving partnerships with community groups (e.g. creating a garden for dementia patients, supporting Aboriginal conciliation activities, conducting a program for disadvantaged teens). Rotary Peace projects are those which successfully make a difference in the lives of individuals and groups and so contribute to Peace within the community. Rotary Peace Projects are
presented by Rotary Clubs and recognized as community “Peace Initiatives” at the District Conference and they are publicized as such in the media.
The Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal has prepared a comprehensive Peace Communities Kit to assist Rotary Clubs and Districts in Australia and overseas to develop a successful Peace Communities Program. The kit contains examples of Peace monuments and plaques that have been erected in Australian and overseas “Peace Cities” by Rotary to proclaim the importance of Peace in their own community. The kit also contains examples
and suggestions about Peace Projects that Rotary Clubs can undertake in partnership with other groups in their own local community. The Rotary Districts Peace Communities Program presents an excellent opportunity for Rotary to promote its image in Australia, and in overseas countries. It provides an incentive for Rotary Clubs to engage in Peace Projects within their own communities and for Districts to recognize these Projects as contributing to Peace in the community.

For further information contact:
PDG Fred Loneragan
P.O. Box 100 Urinquinty 2652
Phone 02 69229624 • Mob 0413277609
fredloneragan@bigpond.com.au

LITERACY

In 1985, Rotary declared basic literacy to be a pre-condition to the development of peace. Through this organizational emphasis, more than half the world’s 33,000 Rotary clubs address the full range of literacy and mathematical challenges for primary, vocational, and adult learners as well as teacher training.
Early Childhood Literacy Programs
Early literacy training is critical to the success of a child's later education. Rotarians work with children, parents, and educators to encourage and build reading skills at an early age

Adult Literacy Programs
Many adults in both the developed and developing world lack the skills they need to hold a job or perform basic tasks required by everyday life. The hardships caused by illiteracy, from the difficulty in finding employment to the constant pressure to cover it up, often lead to a host of other problems.

Literacy and Women
Because girls do not have access to education in many parts of the world, the illiteracy rate among women exceeds that of men. Studies of illiteracy rates in low-income countries have shown a 20 percent difference between the genders.
In District 9570, we have a range of Literacy programs your Club can support – Books For Babies, Books For Hospitalised Children, The Indigenous Literacy Project, and coming soon to our District – One Book, One Rotary District.
Each Club should take part in at least 1 Literacy Project every year – contact your District Literacy Officer for more information on how you can help.

For further information contact:
PP Sue Gammon email