Vocational Projects

Vocational Service Director Kay Durrant introduced trainee Lucia Curti, a recipient of 2024 Karrinyup Rotary Special Recognition, and Vanessa Hayes from Electrical Group Training Perth. Kay described the club's partnership with the Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA), a Registered Not for Profit Charity. Our Vocational Service team provides practical support for outstanding apprentices/trainees with Special Recognition. Lucia spoke about her career, explaining how the club's support had assisted her in purchasing a laptop computer, an essential item for her work. Group Training Organisation (GTO) representative Vanessa explained the work of GTOs.

Members of the Karrinyup Rotary Vocational Service team recently attended the 2024 Apprentice Employment Network of WA Awards for Excellence gala presentation evening, where Carol O'Lone and Carolyn Prunster presented Karrinyup Rotary Club Special Recognition Accolades. This is the club's third year supporting this project, which is the result of Kay Durrant’s understanding and recognition of the importance of the need to support young people starting out in their careers. We will hear from some of our 2024 recipients during Vocational Service month, January 2025.

Members from the Scarborough and Karrinyup Rotary Clubs shared a vocational visit to the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground. Interim CEO, Justin Micheal provided a presentation on the WACA Ground Improvement Project. The WACA Ground Improvement Project refers to the redevelopment and modernisation efforts taking place at our very historic cricket stadium. The project is part of a broader effort to ensure that the WACA remains a significant part of Perth’s sporting culture while adapting to modern requirements and safety standards.

Members from the Scarborough and Karrinyup Rotary Clubs shared a special vocational visit to Western Power's Wellington Street facility. We were honoured to tour the Emergency Response Room, where emergency management personnel coordinate responses to network incidents such as severe weather, bushfires, and power outages. A unique insight into the critical operations that keep Western Australia's power flowing!

The RC Karrinyup Nurse of the Year Award was created in 1990 to honour outstanding nurses and midwives working at the Osborne Park Hospital (OPH). This annual Award recognises a nurse, selected by the hospital, whose daily dedication and care epitomises the highest standard of quality and personal commitment. The selection process now includes finalists in three categories. The overall winner of the 2024 RC Karrinyup Osborne Park Hospital Nurse of the Year Award, selected from the finalists, is Leo Wu. Congratulations Leo!

In Vocational Service month we welcomed Irene Walker, Executive Officer of the Apprentice Employment Network WA, (AEN WA) a Registered Not for Profit Charity. Irene described the work of AEN WA and the wonderful parternership with Karrinyup Rotary, instigated by President Kay. This year our Vocational Service team provided practical support for outstanding apprentices/trainees with Special Recognition Awards. Irene introduced the four award recipients present, who spoke on their career paths and explained how the club's support had assisted with the purchase of essential items for their work.

On 22 November, nine Club members, including our exchange student Karolina, visited the InfraBuild facility in Forrestfield. They learned how coils of steel wire and reinforcement rods are converted into the intricate configurations and shapes necessary for the construction of the reinforced concrete buildings and bridges we see around us every day. InfraBuild is part of the GFG Liberty alliance which, among other entities, owns and operates the Whyalla steel electric arc furnace (EAF) works in South Australia. The group found the visit most interesting and educational.

Members of the Karrinyup Rotary Vocational Service team recently attended the 2023 Apprentice Employment Network of WA Awards for Excellence gala presentation evening, where Tess Gardner and Carolyn Prunster presented Karrinyup Rotary Club Special Recognition Awards. This is the club's second year supporting this project, which is the result of Kay Durrant’s understanding and recognising the importance of the need to support young people starting out in their careers.

The RC Karrinyup Nurse of the Year Award was created in 1990 to honour outstanding nurses and midwives working at the Osborne Park Hospital (OPH). This annual Award recognises a nurse (or midwife), selected by the hospital, whose daily dedication and care epitomises the highest standard of quality and personal commitment. This year the hospital reviewed the selection process to include finalists in three categories. The overall winner of the 2023 RC Karrinyup Osborne Park Hospital Nurse of the Year Award, selected from the finalists, is Donna Wheeldon. Congratulations Donna!

Kay Durrant, from the Vocational Service committee, introduced Anne Donaldson, a volunteer with Dress for Success. Anne explained the concept of Dress for Success a registered charity, which aims to assist with enabling financial independence for unemployed and vulnerable women in Western Australia. Our club has supporred the charity, which is about much more than clothing, for several years. Anne updated members with news of further developments and expansion of services, and discussed connecting with other Karrinyup Rotary programs.

In Vocational Service month we welcomed Irene Walker, Executive Officer of the Apprentice Employment Network WA, (AEN WA) the peak employer association representing Member Group Training Organisations in WA and a Registered Not for Profit Charity. Irene described the work of AEN WA and introduced club members to Karrinyup Rotary's, wonderful new partnership with AEN WA, providing practical support for top apprentices/trainees in five important categories. Irene introduced three award recipients, who explained how the club's support had assisted their purchase of essential tools of trade.

The Rotary Club of Karrinyup is passionate about socially conscious leadership. We care about developing and supporting our community’s future leaders. Equally important to us is the question of equity. We want to ensure that our potential leaders of tomorrow have access and opportunity for development, regardless of their financial means. For this reason we have created Diversity Scholarships.

RC Karrinyup's major 40th anniversary project - the Earbus, was designed to work in the Kimberley region of WA. The purpose built vehicle was completed and handed over to the Earbus Foundation in April of 2017 and worked at first in other regions. The State Government committed $2.7 million over three years to enable the Earbus program to operate in the East Kimberley, the area for which it was intended, from May 2018. Earbus CEO Paul Higginbotham recently brought us up to date with the work of the Earbus since then.

RC Karrinyup's major 40th anniversay project, the Earbus, was designed to work in the Kimberley region of our state. The purpose built vehicle was completed and handed over to the Earbus Foundation in April of 2017 and has been hard at work in the Goldfields and other areas ever since. The State Government has now committed funds to expand the Earrbus program to the Kimberley with the official launch set to take place on 18th May in Kununurra. Our Earbus has finally 'come home' to work in the land for which it was intended.

Many people, and particularly Rotary Clubs throughout Western Australia, are familiar with RC Karrinyup's major 40th anniversay project, the Earbus, which was designed to work in the Kimberley region of our state. The purpose built vehicle was completed and handed over to the Earbus Foundation in April of 2017.

Up till now it has been hard at work in the Goldfields and other areas but, with the Earbus Foundation of WA recruiting for staff to attend interviews in Kununurra in the February newsletter, plans are now underway for service in the Kimberley Region, for which it was designed.

Many people, and particularly Rotary Clubs throughout Western Australia, are familiar with RC Karrinyup's major 40th anniversay project, the Earbus, which was designed to work in the Kimberley region of our state. The purpose built vehicle was completed and handed over to the Earbus Foundation in April. Up till now it has been hard at work in the Goldfields and other areas but plans are now underway for service in the Kimberley Region, for which it was designed.

Members of RC Karrinyup turned out in force for the handover and launch of WA’s first community-funded mobile ear clinic at the Stirling Farmers’ Market. The completed Earbus is the realization of a dream for Professor Harvey Coates AO, Clinical Patron, Earbus Foundation of WA, who three years ago envisaged a mobile 'go anywhere' clinic, capable of travelling to remote areas of the northwest of Western Australia. Thanks to the passionate 'fund, design and build' campaign of the RC Karrinyup, this dream has now become a reality. 

Over three years ago, Professor Harvey Coates AO, Clinical Patron, Earbus Foundation of WA, envisaged a mobile 'go anywhere' clinic capable of travelling to remote areas of the northwest of Western Australia. For patients unable to travel to a town clinic, it was necessary to take the clinic to them in the battle against the exceedingly high incidence of ear disease among the population of that area. Professor Coates is thrilled that, thanks to the efforts of the RC Karrinyup, this vision has now become a reality.    

Our major undertaking in Vocational Service involves working with the Earbus Foundation WA to design and purchase a suitable vehicle, which will be fit for purpose to operate throughout the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. It will undertake ear diagnostic tests to improve the health of Aboriginal Communities, particularly young children, who are most at risk.