Vocational Projects

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.

Karrinyup Rotary's Vocational Service team funded two overlockers for use by students at Alta-1 Kimberley College. They have arrived safely and a letter of thanks has been received for them and the donations of fabric and thread from Rotary friends. The girls and the staff were very appreciative of the materials and the overlockers. Teacher Anita, who has a background in Home Economics, has set up a sewing station in the class. This has proved a wonderful tool for engaging the students.

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!

President Elect Kay Durrant introduced Paul Ward, WA Committee Chair of The Pinnacle Foundation. Paul believes that given the opportunity, everyone has the potential to succeed. The Pinnacle Foundation provides educational andd vocational support as well as mentoring opportunities to young Australians, for whom their gender identity or sexual orientation characteristics have prevented achievement of their career aspirations or personal development. The Pinnacle Foundation offers hope for these young people. This Vocational Service project comes under the RI and RC Karrinyup strategy of Diversity and Inclusion.

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.

Alta-1 offers learning pathways to disengaged students across Australia. Alternative education programs – in class and online – deliver solutions that include community involvement, therapeutic support and education outcomes. In recognition of the support Karrinyup Rotary provided to Alta 1 School in Mullaloo during the year, Tess Gardner and Geoff Inman were invited to attend the 2022 Graduation Night at the Mullaloo campus.

The Rotary Club of Karrinyup was proud to support the Apprentice Employment Network - WA 2022 Awards of Excellence (AEN WA) in a new initiative of Rotary Vocational Service. Congratulations to 2022 Apprentice of the Year - Campbell Italiano, 2022 Apprentice of the Year Runner Up - Alexander Harris-White, 2022 Trainee of the Year Alisha de Almeida, 2022 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Apprentice of the Year - Sidney Roberts, 2022 Women in Building and Construction Industry Apprentice of the Year - Corrine Bass and 2022 School Based Apprentice of the Year - James Burling.

Members of the Karrinyup Rotary Vocational Service team recently attended the 2022 Apprentice Employment Network of WA Awards for Excellence gala presentation evening, where Director Tess Gardner made presentations of support to the winners. This new project is the result of former Vocational Service Director Kay Durrant’s diligence and understanding of the importance recognizing the need to support young people starting out in their careers.

Alta-1 offers learning pathways to disengaged students across Australia. Children come into the Alta-1 program because they have been damaged by trauma. Teachers at the ConnectEd Middle School Campus in Perth felt there was a need for a day that provided practical skills and learning in a fun environment, as many of the students are in need of support with basic day to day living skills. Another Wellness Day was held recently with Karrinyup Rotary again providing support.

At Karrinyup Rotary's recent changeover event, 2021-2022 District Governor Dee Buckland announced RC Karrinyup's Vocational Service Director Kay Durrant as the recipient of the Rotary International District 9455 2021-2022 Vocational Service Award. In presenting the award DG Dee described the details of Kay's service, which led to her recognition. These included the instigation of Apprentice Employment Network of WA RC Karrinyup Awards in three categories.

Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) conference 'Bringing Children And Young People Into View' is designed to strengthen policy and practice responses for children and young people experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence. The Rotary Clubs of Karrinyup and North Perth have sponsored Pilbara social worker and coordinator counsellor Fay from the Nintarri Centre to attend.

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.

Our busy Vocational Director Kay and President Nominee Jenni recently visited the North Metropolitan TAFE Joondalup at McLarty Avenue. This campus houses Health Department training. Here they met with our partners in the Vocational Educational Scholarship (VES) program, which is for students enrolled in Aged and Disability Services Certificate III. Senior Lecturer Jane gave the visitors a grand tour of the amazing facility and together they celebrated the success of the VES program inaugurated in 2020.

The Vocational Educational Scholarship was a new initiative of our Vocational Service team during the last Rotary year. In conjunction with the North Metropolitan College of TAFE, the club supports persons seeking a qualification in the areas of Age or Disability Care.

Inaugural scholarship recipient Ryan, seen here with his partner Grace, expressed his gratitude to the Rotary Club of Karrinyup for enabling him to achieve his dream and complete his qualifications, despite the havoc which COVID-19 caused to the process. 

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.

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.