Australian Rotary Health 2023
Peter Durrant introduced guest speakers Jerry Pilcher (RC Scarborough) and Warwick Smith (RC Heirisson) to give and update on Australian Rotary Health (ARH), one of the largest independent funders of mental health research within Australia. Warwick is District Chair of Programs & Projects for Rotary in Western Australia and an Australian Rotary Health - WA Team member.
ARH aims to support healthier minds, bodies and communities through research, awareness and education and provides funding towards research grants, fellowships and PhD scholarships, which are focussed on finding preventative and curative solutions for mental illness in young Australians. From 2022, the funding focus will narrow to the mental health of children aged 0-12.
Jerry described the history of ARH starting over 40 years ago in Victoria, Australia and the massive (80%) decline in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) worldwide due to its research. He listed the additional areas where ARH is working, including post-traumatic stress, anti-bullying programs in schools, teenager mental health first aid, youth suicide and mental health first aid.
Warwick described partnerships with commercial organisation (e.g. IGA and Bendigo Bank), indigenous suicide intervention programs, Rotary WA PhD alumni, domestic violence, marriage breakups and attempting to focus on prevention rather than cure.
ARH also provide funding into a broad range of general health areas, provide scholarships for rural medical and nursing students, as well as Indigenous health students. ARH provides funding into areas of health that do not readily attract funding, and promotes findings to the community. There are four focus areas: Mental Health Research, General Health Research, Indigenous Health Scholarships and Rural Medical and Nursing Scholarships.There are four focus areas: Mental Health Research, General Health Research, Indigenous Health Scholarships and Rural Medical and Nursing Scholarships.
ARH is a project of the Rotary Districts of Australia and is supported by Rotary Clubs throughout the country that have a broad vision to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australians. Karrinyup Rotary has long been a supporter of Australian Rotary Health through our community service funding.