Australian Rotary Health Research Fund

The Vision to encourage and stimulate the promotion of good health in Australia. The programs: - Research Project Grants - The main focus for research is in mental illness where we have 24 Research Grants in all other health areas.  

Research Scholarships - 10 Ian Scott PhD Scholarships have been funded for Mental Illness as well as 20 PhD Scholarships for Funding Partners. 

Research Fellowships - 3 Post Doctoral Fellowships are given with research into mental illness. 

Mental Illness - Awareness - Have held over 450 Forums around Australia with Rotary Clubs in their Communities, Schools, Probus Clubs and Workplaces. 

Indigenous Health Scholarships - This program assists financially 68 indigenous students to gain an education to in turn enable them to use their skills for the benefit of the indigenous community. 

Medical Health Scholarships - To provide financial incentives to 27 medical students to complete at least one year in a rural area. 

Kidsmatter - Improve the mental health and well-being to 50 primary school students. Make a donation to ARHRF. Become a "Friend of the Fund" by donating $100. Donations are tax deductable. 

ARH- Australian Rotary Health - Bowelscan 

INTRODUCTION - What is Bowelscan? 

Bowelscan is a Rotary program developed in 1982 in New South Wales and now conducted by over 250 Rotary Clubs across Australia. These Clubs issue approximately 150,000 kits during their annual Colorectal Screening programs.  

Since Bowelscan commenced, it is estimated that more than 1,000 people with bowel cancer and 5,000 with polyps have been detected. In 1990, a National Committee comprising representatives from Rotary Districts operating Bowelscan programs was established to develop and maintain protocols. 

Bowelscan is essentially a public awareness program seeking to increase community knowledge of bowel cancer and its symptoms.  

The project involves the distribution to the public of a simple test kit on which is collected small specimens of faeces for analysis. The program is usually organised on a District basis with the District Governor appointing a committee to be responsible for its implementation. 

The information in this booklet is, however, pitched at Club level and seeks to provide a broad outline of the responsibilities involved in undertaking a Bowelscan program. Why Introduce a Program of this Nature? 

Cancer of the bowel is the commonest internal cancer to affect men and women in western society. Over 9,000 Australians will be diagnosed as having bowel cancer this year and over 4,500 will die of the disease .  

Innerwheel 

International Inner Wheel is most probably the largest women's Voluntary Service Organisation in the world. We hold Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) status with the United Nations and have representatives in its three centres of Geneva, New York and Vienna and are therefore able to play an important role in today’s world.  

Since its inception in 1924 Inner Wheel continues to grow as new Clubs form in many countries. Currently we have more than 100,000 members in over 101 countries and geographical locations and members enjoy working together making new friends and having fun whilst experiencing the sense of ‘belonging’ that Club life brings. Visiting members wherever we are in the world is a great joy and the start of lifelong friendships. 

However that is by no means the sole objective of Inner Wheel as Service to those less fortunate than ourselves - the vulnerable, young people and the elderly - both at home and in the developing countries is equally important. It is given in many ways from general long term support to providing goods, funds and practical ‘hands on’ help in emergencies and disaster areas and our members are among the first to respond. 

The IIW Newsletter, which can be found amongst these pages, will give you an insight into what is happening on a global scale and how our members work tirelessly to Communicate Our Vision. 

The IIW Social project for 2006/09 is the UNICEF Education programme for Girls. It is so important that girls, especially in the developing countries, receive an education, for when a girl is educated the whole family, and ultimately the world, benefits. More information about this can be found on this web-site. 

We are the sister organisation of Rotary International, and work closely with its members. 

Inner Wheel members are compassionate people but we are also enthusiastic and fun loving so if you are wanting to help others, have the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile and looking for firm and lasting friendships then please contact us – you will always be most welcome and remember that through FRIENDSHIP, SERVICE AND INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING Inner Wheel members really do make a difference and help to change lives for the better 

Interact 

I nteract is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.  

Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community.  

Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of 

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.  

Interplast Australia

Interplast Australia & New Zealand is a charity that provides teams of medical volunteers to undertake programs of plastic and reconstructive surgery and training in neighbouring Asian Pacific Countries. Interplast sends approximately 30 programs to approximately 16 countries each year and sponsors doctors and nurses to continue parts of their training in Australia.  

Help support the many motivated, professional and compassionate volunteers from Australia and New Zealand improve the access to health services in our neighbouring countries. All donations are greatly appreciated, judiciously used and tax deductible.  

Model United Nations Assembly 

MUNA - developing international understanding and goodwill 

The United Nations Association created MUNA to enable young people to simulate the workings of the United Nations Assembly by having teams of about three Year 11 students represent a particular U.N. country in debates on matters of world political and social concern.  

Stu dents are given the opportunity to improve their research, debating and public speaking skills by addressing a wide range of contemporary world focussed issues. 

The U.N. Assembly chamber is recreated replete with country name plates, national flags and where the students are encouraged to wear the national costume of the country that they represent. 

The Assembly is chaired by the “Secretary General”, and judged by Rotarians.
Prizes are awarded in various categories such as best overall representation and the best national costume. 

The first and second placed teams go on to represent the District at “National MUNA” in the Old Parliament House, in Canberra, in August. MUNA is about building bridges of goodwill for world peace and understanding through a personal involvement in the acceptance of situations that reflect the opinion of "adopted" countries 

National Youth Science Forum 

The National Youth Science Forum is a two-week programme for students moving into Year 12 who are thinking about a career in science, engineering and technology.. 

The forum is fully residential and takes place in January at the Australian National University.  

The cost includes travel to and from Canberra. All activities are fully supervised by student staff and resident Rotary counsellors. The programme is extremely intensive with little time for outside activities except for meeting those people already in the programme. 

The most important aspect coming from the NYSF is a network of friends, colleagues and support groups throughout Australia which will be of value to participants for the whole of their lives. 

The NYSF continues after January, first in the form of university seminars and industry site visits in March and April and afterwards as a long term personal network of people with common aims. 

Encouraging Excellence 

The NYSF helps students moving into Year 12, who wish to follow careers in science, engineering and technology by introducing them to research and researchers, by encouraging the achievement of excellence in all their undertakings, and by helping to develop their communication and interpersonal skills. It also fosters discussion of, and interest in major national and global issues and emphasises the importance of maintaining continuing active interests in sport, arts and music. 

In the January programme, the NYSF places equal emphasis on pure research, applied research and engineering in both the physical and biological sciences. However in the human biology fields the emphasis is placed on biomedical research and biotechnology rather than medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy or similar professions. 

PolioPlus 

Decades ago, polio outbreaks were a constant threat around the world. After the introduction of polio vaccines by Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin and a steadfast immunization effort, these outbreaks became part of history in most of the world.

Yet many still live under the threat of polio, which is why Rotary and its global partners are committed to reaching every child with the vaccine and ending this disease worldwide.

Major gains have been made in the global fight against polio:
In the 1980s, 1,000 children were infected by the disease every day in 125 countries. Today, polio cases have declined by 99 percent, with fewer than two thousand cases reported in 2006.
Two billion children have been immunized, five million have been spared disability, and over 250,000 deaths from polio have been prevented.  

Probus

The Probus Centre - South Pacific Inc., is dedicated to promoting the development of friendship and acquaintance and the advancement of intellectual interests of its membership throughout Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Islands.  

Probus originated in the UK in 1965. the first Probus Clubs were formed in New Zealand in 1974, and in Australia in 1976. Probus has filled a need for today's active retirees, so much so that the growth has been phenomenal. It is now a world-wide movement.  

Probus is an association of retired and semi-retired people who join together in clubs, the basic purpose of which is to provide regular opportunities for them to keep their minds active, expand their interests and to enjoy the fellowship of new friends. 

Pride of Workmanship

Pride of Workmanship Award is a Community Recognition of Outstanding Achievements in a choosen career - Vocational Service Programs of these are recognised by Rotary Clubs. 

Objectives of the progam 

Rotarians Against Malaria

RAM calls for:
Full coverage of all children under 5 with ITNs as soon as possible.
 
Continuous and adequate supply of appropriate anti-malaria medicines for both prevention and treatment.
 
Funding and logistic support that would lower the price and raise the affordability of ITNs and medicines to a state of easy and universal access, wherever needed.
These actions will save the lives of over a million children per year. Reduction of malaria dramatically increases the ability of the healthcare systems in Africa to deal with other diseases. These interventions create conditions for economic prosperity in areas currently debilitated by malaria. They set the stage for the rapid delivery of vaccines for other diseases, including eventual vaccines for malaria. In short, these interventions turn the tide on disease, on poverty, on despair and hopelessness. 

RAM is a voluntary organization of Rotary Clubs and Districts to work on malaria control. RAM is NOT Rotary International. Rotary Clubs and Districts independently select causes they work on.
Rotary International's focus cause is POLIO. Rotary International will not review another health effort until POLIO is eradicated.  

Nevertheless, the Rotary International Foundation generously provides matching grants and other support to RAM efforts along with other efforts by individual clubs and districts. 

How do we Plan to Achieve Worldwide Control of Malaria? 

Why Malaria?
Malaria is relatively easy and inexpensively preventable and treatable. Malaria control can have a dramatic impact on a economic development.  

ITNs (nets) alone will save 250,000 lives a year from malaria. It is estimated that approximately 700,000 to 1,000,000 other lives each year would be saved from other diseases from just the ITNs. If IPT (Intermittent Preventative Treatment) was added another 250,000 lives a year would be saved from malaria and who knows how many from other diseases. IPT would cost roughly 7 cents per year per person. This figure comes up to about 1 million US dollars per year. 

That is over a million lives saved each year by equipping African countries with netting to sleep under for a remarkably low cost. 

The battle against Malaria requires a global effort. Rotarians Against Malaria is focused on implementation and provides the means to have the largest impact for the dollars expended. 

What Will Malaria Control do?
Save 400,000 lives per year
Every 10% reduction in Malaria results in a 0.3% improvement in Gross Domestic Product. 

RAWCS

Rotary Australia World Community Service Ltd (RAWCS) is the Australian arm of Rotary International that assists Rotary Clubs with the development and management of international community service projects. 

Rotary Overseas Medical Aide Centre

"To provide medical treatment for children from developing countries in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery" 

Objectives  

 

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