During 2010 Australian Rotary Health will fund eight Mental Health Grants, ten one year grants in a Mental Health Pilot Study, seven Ian Scott Scholarships to PhD students and two post Doctoral Fellowships into areas of mental health study. These will be accompanied by five Mental Health Evaluation Grants. In addition Rotary Clubs will contribute together with Australian Rotary Health and universities towards 57 Funding Partners and Research Companion PhD Scholarships and Grants. A Rural health Evaluation Grant, Rural Medical Scholarship and five Rural Nursing Scholarships will also be awarded. Seventy Indigenous Health Scholarships will be awarded to Indigenous Australians who can then use their education to benefit other Indigenous people.
This year will see the introduction of our Community Mental Health First Aid Courses which are a follow up to the over 500 Mental Health Forums conducted in all Districts over the past several years.
The cost of funding all of these programs will exceed $2.7m.
The money to fund this important work has been donated by Rotarians and members of the public. The amount available each year is enhanced by the careful management of assets and investments, a capable volunteer Board of Directors and by the efficient operation of our small group of Australian Rotary Health staff led by CEO Joy Gillett.
In order to enable the future funding of our important health research and associated programs Rotarians and Rotary Clubs must continue their past level of financial support of Australian Rotary Health. This year there has been a significant call on Rotary Club funds for many worthwhile projects. As a consequence of many disasters which have occurred during the year Rotarians have been called upon to donate significant funding to International Relief Charities. In addition Clubs strongly support our Rotary Foundation and community projects.
At this time, as your Club prepares to distribute money raised during the year can I ask that your board assesses the wonderful work of Australian Rotary Health and make a significant donation so that we can continue "Supporting healthier minds, bodies and communities through research awareness and education" just as we have done for the past 29 years.
Rotary Club of Strathmore
Chairman District 9790 Australian Rotary Health
Phone: (P) (03) 9338 3615
e-mail: arh@rotary9790.org.au
