SPRING UPDATE 2019
Australian Rotary Health Districts of Australia
Research
Scholarships
Education
Awareness
Chairman’s Report Lift the Lid on Mental Illness Resonates It has been another year of positive responses to Lift the Lid; certainly at the many conferences, clubs and functions I have attended. Many Companion recognitions have been made to generous individuals by members of the Board. And from Bunnings, Caz Kerford, Community Gregory Ross Involvement Coordinator, wrote, ‘Bunnings will be happy to continue to support the great work Rotary does with Lift the Lid in 2019.’ Good luck to all Clubs in October, Mental Health Month. As one club member recently told me, ‘Lift the Lid gives us a focus and is easy to sell ... when they see the logo, people want to donate.’ Bravo Victor Harbor A perfect example of this was evident in the Rotary Club of Victor Harbor’s Ocean to Outback bike ride, from Victor Harbor to Broken Hill. The volunteers all wore white polo shirts on the ride with ‘Ocean to Outback’ on the back and the Lift the Lid logo on the front. Director Barbara Wheatcroft and I visited the Club and presented husband and wife team Mark and Leonie Cox with Companion Awards, in recognition of their leadership. They raised nearly $70,000 for mental health research, a brilliant effort. The evening was heightened even more by the members all wearing their Lift the Lid polo shirts.
The Ocean to Outback Ride raised almost $70,000 for mental health research
Governance challenges ... Board action taken In recent years the importance of good governance has been increasingly placed under the microscope, and we in the notfor-profit sector are in the forefront of that. I have been happy to espouse the quality of our administration, our grant selection procedure and our ability to give 100% of our research donations to research. Nevertheless, we as a Board need to continue keeping up-todate with the changes and to ensure we comply ‘in the best interests’ of ARH.
Associate Professor Allison Millner was killed walking to work in August
Tragedy It is almost impossible to adequately express the grief that we are feeling about Allison Milner’s death. To be killed by a falling century old elm tree as she walked to work in Melbourne’s Princes Park is ridiculously unlucky. To have a young family summarily deprived of their mother is tragic in the extreme. As an Ian Scott Scholar, Australian Rotary Health funded Allison’s initial PhD research on suicide prevention. Her study was the first to identify a relationship between globalisation and population-level rates of suicide. Allison was Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne’s School of Population and Global Health. Widely published across a range of research topics, including her book, ‘Suicide in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia,’ Allison became a leader and an extremely accomplished researcher in areas such as work-related stressors, disability and suicide. In disbelief we grieve. Purple House Four of our Directors, Kevin Shadbolt (Vice Chairman), Barbara Wheatcroft, Jane Cox and Brian Beesley, visited Alice Springs to attend the first Purple House Conference. They met up with Sarah Brown, Purple House CEO, and several District Governors. They also bussed out to a remote indigenous community to see first-hand what conditions were like and to determine how Australian Rotary Health may be able to promote better mental health in the outback, using our current indigenous health scholars. The concept has exciting possibilities and will be discussed further at our next Board meeting. Continued page 2
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • admin@arh.org.au
ARH UPDATE
Chairman’s Report Continued from cover
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder At a meeting of the Rotary Club of Preston (D 9790) in June, a $20,000 donation was made for PTSD research, half from the Club and half from Darebin RSL (where the Club meets). Great to see an ARH/RSL partnership at last and we hope that this liaison will expand in the future. ARH PhD Scholar Katrina Streatfield spoke at the meeting and Darebin RSL has committed to the same financial contribution again next year. District 9790 Chair Rosemary Freeman and Past ARH Chair and Ambassador Terry Grant have reported that the Victorian RSL State President Rob Webster has supported the Spirit of Anzac initiative and Katrina has been invited to speak at the RSL Victorian State Conference in July 2020. Well done Terry and Rosemary, and to Philip Clancy for his ongoing efforts.
Vicki Lawson, Chairman Gregory Ross, District 9630 Governor Ros Kelly, and CEO Joy Gillett.
Drought The effects of prolonged drought in many parts of Australia have taken the attention of many Rotary Clubs, all wanting to help our farmers and their local communities. Much money has been raised, families visited and vouchers for spending at local businesses given. I was moved deeply by a Club President from Narrabri who spoke tearfully of the wonderful hands-on support from so many Rotarians in the region. We are mindful of the depressing impact on mental health that the drought has brought to country Australia. With that in mind, three Rotary Clubs (Balwyn, North Balwyn and St Arnaud) ran Comedy for Drought Relief on 15 June. Held in St Arnaud, one of several drought affected towns in Victoria, 250 farmers and locals were entertained by three professional comedians, Marty Fields, Bev Killick and Elliot Goblet. I was fortunate to be the MC and to see first-hand the joy and friendship that was evident that night. It was a great boost for the town along with $50,000 plus of vouchers given out to the wider community in the weeks leading up to the event. Vale Sadness with the death in July of past ARH Director Des Jones. A PDG from District 9800, Des passed away after a debilitating illness. Our condolences and warmest wishes have been conveyed to his wife Beryl and the Jones family.
Jessica preparing for Lift the Lid in October
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Directors Retiring In September, two of our Directors finished their time on the Board. They have each served ARH very well, including both serving for a year on the Executive. PDG
Barbara Wheatcroft from Adelaide joined the Board in October 2014 and PDG Des Lawson from Brisbane, the following year. At the venue of our most recent Board meeting held in Wynnum West, Brisbane, we held a cocktail event to thank our generous supporters. Professor Michael Sawyer spoke briefly and impressively, as usual, but it was Des Lawson’s daughter Vicki who bravely spoke of her challenges living with schizophrenia that held everyone in awe. Happily, we have a close-knit and committed Board of nine at ARH who come from all over Australia to promote better mental health through Rotary. Barb told me that her ARH experience has been one of the best in her Rotary life and, in leaving, Des wants the Board to look at the value in running an ARH online raffle. Possibly watch this space. Thank you Barb and Des. Finally, while everyone knows our CEO Joy Gillett OAM and many have spoken with Jenny Towe, Cheryl Deguara and Terry Davies, I’d like to particularly highlight a newer and younger member of our small but wonderful staff. Her title is Promotions & Mental Health Research Manager and if you have a look at our ARH online material and news updates and see the quality of our publications, you’ll know what a wonderful job she is doing. Her name is Jessica Cooper. Wishing you good health.
Gregory Ross, ARH Chairman
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
SPRING 2019
Research Highlights Teen Mental Health First Aid Attracts the Attention of Lady Gaga Earlier this year, the National Council for Behavioral Health partnered with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation to launch teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) in the U.S., with a pilot program in eight high schools across the country. Over three hour-long sessions the tMHFA course covers problems such as anxiety and depression and eating disorders, and crisis situations like suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Australian Rotary Health awarded a Mental Health Research Grant to Dr Laura Hart from the University of Melbourne to trial the teen Mental Health First Aid program in 2014, which found excellent results and is now being rolled out internationally. “Students who receive teen Mental Health First Aid are nine times more likely to ask a friend about suicidal thoughts in a supportive way,” Dr Hart said. Laura’s colleague Dr Claire Kelly said:
Actress and Singer Lady Gaga endorses the teen Mental Health First Aid program.
“As the research is continuing, we have been awarded a larger grant, almost triple the amount of our original. We would never have gotten that grant without Rotary taking a risk with us.”
Chilled Plus Program for Teens Found to Be Successful The Chilled Plus program, the teen equivalent of the Cool Kids program at Macquarie University, has been found to be effective following funding support by Australian Rotary Health. Dr Carolyn Schniering was awarded a Mental Health Research Grant from 20142016 to test the feasibility and outcome of internet delivery of transdiagnostic cognitive-behaviour therapy for adolescent anxiety and depression. This is what came out of the research study: • Anxiety and depression are serious problems in adolescents, however very few people receive the right help to overcome these problems. This needs to change. Dr Carolyn Schniering, Mental Health Research Grant recipient from 2014-2016
• New treatments have been developed that target anxiety and depression
together in adolescents, such as Chilled Plus, at the Centre for Emotional Health, however to date these have only been available face-to-face with a therapist. • This study showed that the program for anxiety and depression, Chilled Plus, could be delivered to adolescents over the Internet with no significant loss in effectiveness compared to traditional treatments face-to-face. • Delivering the program over the Internet, with only phone support, has a lot of benefits for young people with emotional problems, including better access, increased flexibility and reduced cost. • Further efforts are needed to inform people in the community about the burden of anxiety and depression in adolescents, and the treatments that are available.
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
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ARH UPDATE
ARH Supporters Continue to Amaze Us Former member of the Rotary Club of Corowa (NSW), Don Burrowes set his mind (and body) towards an enormous challenge this year, and that was to take on 96km Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea. Don also saw it as an opportunity to raise money for a good cause in the process, and chose Australian Rotary Health as the beneficiary. Setting a target of $5,000, Don was keen to support research into men’s mental illness, particularly in the area of Schizophrenia, having known people in his own life impacted by the illness. “I’m inspired by the work of Australian Rotary Health and walking the 96km Kokoda Track is one way I can raise money to provide funding for vital research into men’s mental health illness and disorders,” Don said. On the journey, Don carried a photo of his wife’s father, who was involved in the Kokoda campaign during World War 2, as well as the some family medals. The Isurava Memorial was a special part of
Although Don expected 96km, the walk ended up being a total of 126km all up.
this will create change in me and I now believe that it has and will. Papua New Guinea is an amazing place, the people live a very grass roots lifestyle and the photos I have cannot demonstrate just what it is like to be on “The Bloody Track,” Don said.
“This was one of the most daunting, educational, exhausting and enlightening challenges I have ever done and in no way do I regret any of it. People have said that
We are amazed by Don’s efforts and thank him for choosing to raise money for Australian Rotary Health. Don ended up raising $5,432.82 for ARH research
the trip for Don, who took the opportunity to pay tribute to his family involved in the war.
Chairman Gregory Ross presented a Gold Companion Award to Val Henry from the Rotary Club of Boronia (VIC) in August. More than $10,000 was contributed to Australian Rotary Health research.
Our gratitude to the Rotary Club of Mornington's (VIC) PP Don Gordon, who has donated more than $20,000 to Australian Rotary Health. He was presented a Ruby Companion Award by ARH Chairman Gregory Ross.
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Loloma and Colin Puls have donated $10,000 to ARH research as well. ARH Director Jane Cox presented them with a Gold Companion Award at the Rotary Club of Horsham (VIC) changeover dinner.
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
SPRING 2019
Australian Rotary Health is proud to welcome His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth of Australia as our newest patron. “I am delighted to become Patron of Australian Rotary Health.” “With one in five Australians affected by depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or another illness, medical research into mental health has never been more important. That is why the work of Australian Rotary Health, its staff and supporters is so critical. By funding research into mental health as well as scholarships for PhD candidates, rural medicine and nursing, and Indigenous Health students, Rotary Health is helping to create a better Australia. “As Patron, I am looking forward to being involved with Australian Rotary Health, supporting their efforts and drawing attention to their magnificent work.”
With support from Rotary District 9790 and RSL Clubs of Victoria, we have been able to fund PhD Scholarships with a focus on PTSD in the military. One of the recipients is Katrina Streatfeild, whose project focuses on the psychological and behavioural features of children of Australian Defence Force veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. We thank them for their most recent donation of $20,000 for PTSD research! Pictured L to R President Darebin RSL Bob Cross, ARH Chairman Gregory Ross, PhD Scholar Katrina Streatfield and President of Rotary Club of Preston (VIC) Peter Byrne.
With the help of his club, the Rotary Club of Balwyn North (VIC), ARH Chairman Gregory Ross became an Australian Rotary Health Ruby Companion. In Greg’s name, the club has donated $20,000 to ARH for research.
The Rotary Club of Victor Harbor (SA) were recently presented with Companion Awards to acknowledge their efforts in the Ocean to Outback event, which raised more than $67,500 to support Mental Health Research.
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
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ARH UPDATE
Banish the Black Dog Ride The Rotary Club of Townsville Central (QLD) has raised over $25,000 from their Banish the Black Dog Charity Bike Ride event from May this year. The relaxed cycling tour covered 260km from Townsville to Ravenswood (QLD) over 2 days.
The IMPACT Deakin University research team supporting Hat Day in 2018.
Make this Year’s Hat Day the Biggest Yet Hat Day is fast approaching - so please consider supporting Rotary's own charity this year in October for Mental Health Month. Hat Day is your chance to help Lift the Lid on Mental Illness by fundraising for mental health research. This will go towards research focussed on prevention and early intervention, helping the 1 in 5 Australians who suffer a mental illness every year.
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The Rotary Club of Geraldton celebrated Hat Day in 2018
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
SPRING 2019
ARH Mental Health Symposium In its 9th year running, the Australian Rotary Health Mental Health Symposium was once again deemed a success, attracting up to 350 people in August at Bond University. The free event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Runaway Bay (QLD), aimed to raise awareness in the community about mental health, with this year’s theme focusing on Compassion in Mental Health.
Q&A Breakfast with Wallaby’s Coach
“We are very proud of our work we do in raising awareness in the mental health area,” said Chairman of the Rotary Runaway Bay Community Health Committee, PDG Brian Heaton. “Each year we cater for 300 to 350 delegates and have held those numbers for a full 9 years.”
On Wednesday August 7, the Rotary Club of Perth City East (WA) hosted a Q&A Breakfast with Australian Wallaby's Coach Michael Cheika. 200 people attended the breakfast ahead of that weekend's Bledisloe Cup against the All Blacks, with TV broadcaster Trevor Jenkins as the host. A signed Wallaby's jersey was auctioned at the event and sold for $1,500 to long term supporter PDG Ron Geary. Over $7,000 was donated to Australian Rotary Health to go towards mental health research.
“The feedback we got from the delegates was very positive.” Next year, the club will celebrate 10 years and have their sights set towards presenting a cheque to Australian Rotary Health for a Research Companion research project. The Rotary Club of Runaway Bay has previously supported three students in the ARH Indigenous Health program and we are very grateful for their continuous support.
Thank you to all who attended and showed their support.
Wallaby's jersey auction winner PDG Ron Geary (middle) with ARH Director Jerry Pilcher (left) and former-ARH Director Colin Thorniley (right).
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
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ARH UPDATE
2019 EVENTS
CALENDAR
Upcoming Australian Rotary Health fundraising events can be found at: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/events
OCTOBER 8 - ROTARY CLUB OF HAWTHORN FUNDRAISING HAT DAY LUNCHEON Join the Rotary Club of Hawthorn (VIC) to celebrate Hat Day at their fundraising luncheon! Leigh Woodgate "the Woman from Snowy River" will be guest speaker for the event. www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/rotary-club-ofhawthorn-fundraising-hat-day-luncheon/ OCTOBER 10 - HAT DAY 2019 You can help Australian Rotary Health to Lift the Lid on Mental Illness by hosting a Hat Day event on World Mental Health Day or anytime during Mental Health Month in October. Register at: hatday.com.au OCTOBER 10 - ARH GOLF DAY Play golf with a purpose to make a difference to mental health in Australia! Join Australian Rotary Health on World Mental Health Day at Camden Lakeside Golf Club. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/arh-golf-day-2019/ OCTOBER 12 - LIFT THE LID BALL 2019 The Lift the Lid Ball is on again in Victoria during National Mental Health Week and this year the event is focused on Youth Suicide Prevention and Research. All proceeds going to Australian Rotary Health. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/lift-the-lid-ball-2019/ OCTOBER 12 - LIFT THE LID SUNSET CRUISE The Rotary Club of Litchfield/Palmerston Inc. invites you to support Lift the Lid on Mental Illness by joining them on a 3 hour sunset cruise on board the Spirit of Darwin during Mental Health Month. Your support will help to raise much needed funds for mental health research. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/lift-the-lid-sunset-cruise-2/ OCTOBER 12 - ROTARY CLUB OF BRISBANE TAYLOR BRIDGE TRIVIA NIGHT 2019 The Rotary Club of Brisbane Taylor Bridge (QLD) is partnering with Clue Detective Puzzle Agency this year, to raise money for ARH mental health research. Come to their annual trivia night this October as your favourite Cluedo character or detective. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/rotary-clubof-brisbane-taylor-bridge-trivia-night-2019/ OCTOBER 13 - WALK FOR MENTAL HEALTH The annual Walk for Mental Health is on again this year in Mooloolaba (QLD), raising funds for mental health research through Australian Rotary Health, so save the date! More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/2019-walk-for-mentalhealth/ OCTOBER 23-27 - DIRT N DUST RUN Join the Rotary Club of South Bunbury (WA) on their Dirt N Dust Run, touring 1700km of outback roads throughout the southern half of Western Australia, camping under the stars. Funds raised will be donated to Australian Rotary Health for our Lift the Lid on Mental Illness initiative. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/dirt-n-dust-run/ APRIL 19-24, 2020 - 42ND AGFR GOLF TOURNAMENT Profits from the 42nd AGFR Golf Tournament, held in Barwon Heads (VIC) this year, will be donated to Australian Rotary Health in support of mental health research. More info: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/event/42nd-agfr-tournament/
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Terry’s Last Golf Day with ARH A well-planned golf day could be considered a favourite past time for some Rotarians, and after more than ten years organising these days for Australian Rotary Health, Corporate Manager Terry Davies knows how to get the ball rolling. Over the years, golf days have been held successfully at venues including Riverside Oaks, Korrinda Waters (Wyong), Royal Melbourne, Twin Creeks and Camden Lakeside Golf Club, averaging at about $10,000 raised for ARH research at each event. With Terry planning to retire at the end of this year, our upcoming Golf Day at Camden Lakeside Golf Club on Thursday, October 10 will be Terry’s last one. “2019 is special as the Golf Day is on World Mental Health Day. What a great day to play golf to raise money for mental health research,” Terry said. “Wakeling Motors and Rotarian Don Stein will sponsor the Hole in One motor car prize. This will test the players and raise some fantastic funding.” Professional golfer, Adriana Brent, will also be there on the day to challenge players to better her shot onto the green and raise some money for mental health research in the process. There is still time to register for the ARH Golf Day and Terry recommends to get in early. “It’s always a full house of 120 players so get in early. To finish the day, Wests at Lakeside Golf Course put on a great buffet lunch which includes seafood, with delicious prawns and oysters!” “Lakeside Golf Course in 2019 will be my 25th Golf Day organised for ARH. We probably averaged out at a minimum of $10,000 each. That makes $250,000 worth of satisfaction!” After finishing up with ARH, Terry will keep busy with his secretary’s job at the Rotary Club of Penrith Valley Inc. and may take on some opportunities to consult and assist. We thank Terry very much for all the hard work he has done for Australian Rotary Health over the past decade, and he will especially be remembered in high regard for his Golf Days.
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
SPRING 2019
Indigenous Health Scholar The Rotary Club of Drysdale (VIC) is very privileged to have a former Australian Rotary Health Indigenous Scholar in their midst. Many years ago, the Rotary Club of Adelaide East (SA) saw the potential in a young newly married man with a young family who had a desire to help his own Indigenous communities to have access to good feet healthcare through expert podiatry. The club sponsored James Charles for three of his four years at university, the financial support enabling him to follow his dream. Through this opportunity James has been able to build many connections and make a difference to these communities and beyond. The world-wide organization of Rotary International gave him the chance to participate in a Group Study Exchange to California, where he was challenged to build his confidence in all areas but particularly in Public Speaking. Due to this opportunity, James believes that it's important to give back to the organisation that has helped him achieve his goals plus more. He chose to join Rotary and now has the experience of speaking in many and varied clubs throughout Australia.
so happy to have James in our local Club.”
The Rotary Club of Drysdale (VIC) made this post on Facebook and said, “we are
Want to know about the other Scholarships or Programs that Australian
Former ARH Indigenous Scholar James Charles now shares his story with Rotary Clubs across Australia
Rotary Health can offer? Visit our website: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au/pro grams/indigenous-health-scholarships/
Bequests In the past, we have been very fortunate to have Rotarians and other Australians choose to bequeath their life’s earnings to Australian Rotary Health to go towards research. Earlier this year we received a $1 million bequest from the Estate of the late Josephine Margaret Redfern and the late Ross Edward Redfern, who was a member of the Rotary Club of Granville (NSW). The funds were chosen to go towards a perpetual PhD Scholarship in Dementia. The late Enid Farmer of the Rotary Club of Croydon bequeathed $374,538 to Australian Rotary Health in January. These funds will be used towards Diabetes, Cardiometabolic and Youth Mental Health research.
Districts of Australia
YOUR GREATEST GIFT ...
Support Health Research with
A BEQUEST TO AUSTRALIAN ROTARY HEALTH Contact the Australian Rotary Health office today on: (02) 8837 1900 or admin@arh.org.au to find out more.
www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au For more information about bequests, contact the ARH office on: (02) 8837 1900 or admin@arh.org.au
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
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ARH UPDATE
Q&A with Research Committee Member Professor Anthony Jorm
Professor Anthony Jorm receiving a Mental Health Research Grant plaque from ARH Chairman (Director at the time) Gregory Ross on behalf of Dr Laura Hart for the teen Mental Health First Aid project.
Professor Anthony Jorm is President of the Rotary Club of Carlton (VIC) and our longest serving member of the Australian Rotary Health Research Committee. Most notably, Tony was one of the brains behind the development and trial of Mental Health First Aid, with funding support from ARH. Most recently he was part of the research team that trialled the effectiveness of the teen Mental Health First Aid program. Tony will join 9 other members of the ARH Research Committee in October this year in Sydney to select our new Mental Health Grant recipients for 2020. Here is a bit more about Tony: How long have you been serving on the ARH Research Committee? I joined in 2000 - so that is 19 years. I was chair of the Committee from 2009 to 2012. What is your current role at your university, qualifications and what research areas are you interested in? I am now officially ‘retired’ from the University of Melbourne and have the title ‘Emeritus Professor’, but unofficially I work full-time in an honorary capacity. Let me explain. I had my salary funded by a competitive National Health and Medical Research Council Fellowship from 1984 to 2018. These Fellowships are very hard to get and had to be contested in open competition every 4 years. I was very fortunate to be able to hold one for so long. I am very aware of how insecure the salary funding is for researchers and how stressful this can be for younger researchers, with the success rates for Fellowship applications getting lower every year. Being aged 68 years, I have enough superannuation income to live on quite comfortably, so I decided to leave the Fellowship competition to the younger researchers who have greater need and to work as a self-funded researcher. You could call me a ‘Unisuper Fellow’. While I am a self-funded researcher for salary, I still apply for grants to support projects and am involved in a lot of research. My main focus is building the community’s capacity for prevention and early intervention with mental disorders. One example of this work is Mental Health First
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Aid training, which I began in 2000 with my wife Betty Kitchener. Funding from ARH was very important to the development of Mental Health First Aid and is now influencing training received across Australia and the world. More recently I have been involved in a trial of new program called ‘teen Mental Health First Aid’. This is a school-based training program for adolescents to learn how to better support their peers with mental health problems. This program was developed by two of my colleagues, Drs Laura Hart and Claire Kelly, both of whom have had salary support from ARH early in their careers. I am also involved in developing and evaluating training for parents in how to prevent depression and anxiety problems in their children. This work is in collaboration with my colleague Associate Professor Marie Yap at Monash University. We have also had ARH funding for this work. I can honestly say that a lot of what I have done in recent years would not have been possible without the support of ARH. Are there any other important roles in this field that you are involved in? I am Chair of the Board of Mental Health First Aid International. This is a not-forprofit charity that Betty and I set up in 2011, which runs Mental Health First Aid training nationally and in partnership with organisations in many other countries. I am also chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Prevention United, which is a new not-for-profit organisation dedicated to prevention of mental disorders. It is a fantastic organisation doing pioneering work and I love supporting it. Where do you see yourself professionally in the future? I was very fortunate to recently receive a
large National Health and Medical Research Council grant to advance my research on building the community’s capacity for prevention and early intervention. This will allow me to employ a number of younger researchers to carry out new projects over the next five years. So for the foreseeable future, I will be continuing as a full-time ‘retired’ researcher. Do you have any hobbies or interests that people might not know about that you’d be happy to share? I am a daily cyclist and also like doing longer rides for leisure. In some ways this is surprising, because I only learned to ride a bike as a 26-year-old adult. Earlier this year, Betty and I did a 1000 km ride from Innsbruck to Rome via Venice and Florence. Many years ago, Betty and I did the Adelaide to Melbourne leg of the Great Australian Bike Ride which raised money for ARH. My other leisure interest is Rotary. When I became Chair of the ARH Research Committee in 2009, I was told by Joy Gillett that I had to be a Rotarian to take on this role (this is no longer a requirement of Chairs). So I joined Rotary Club of Carlton, as did my wife Betty. I don’t think I would have joined had it not been from Joy’s prod, but I am very glad I did. Rotary contributes so much community service to the world, which I think few people outside Rotary fully grasp. It is only when you get inside Rotary that you see the extent of it. The other thing about Rotary is that the members are wonderful service-oriented people and I am continually inspired by what they quietly achieve. I have made many good friends through Rotary. This year I am President of the Rotary Club of Carlton and Betty is Secretary.
Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
SPRING 2018
Friends & Companions with Rotary Clubs Ruby Companions - $20,000 John Henshall Rotary Club of Edwardstown, SA Donald Gordon Rotary Club of Mornington, Vic. Colin Roy Acton Rotary Club of Salisbury, Qld. Peter McNeill Rotary Club of Walcha, NSW Janette Jones Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga, NSW Gold Companions - $10,000 James William Rudling Rotary Club of Liverpool West, NSW Diane Fisher Rotary Club of Templestowe, Vic. Val Henry Rotary Club of Boronia, Vic. David John Motteram Rotary Club of Adelaide, SA
Diamond Friends - $2,500 Jennifer Henshall Rotary Club of Edwardstown, SA Keith Roffey Rotary Club of Padstow, NSW Geoff Brennan Rotary Club of Ryde, NSW Joyce Ogden Rotary Club of Myrtleford, Vic. Barbara Wheatcroft Rotary Club of Maitland, SA Simon Rez Rotary Club of Concord, NSW Christopher Muir Rotary Club of Brisbane, Qld. Mark Schipp Rotary Club of Woden Daybreak, ACT Platinum Friends - $2,000 Jim Robson Rotary Club of Nunawading, Vic. Elizabeth Dunn Rotary Club of Eden, NSW Steven Aquilina Rotary Club of Southbank, Vic. Robert Brookes Rotary Club of Barossa Valley, SA John Leddy Rotary Club of Hamilton, Qld. Gregory Killoran Rotary Club of Jindalee, Qld.
Companions - $5,000 John Steven Rotary Club of Camberwell, Vic. Edgar Marchant Rotary Club of Toowong, Qld. Mark & Leonie Cox Rotary Club of Victor Harbor, SA John Seeliger Rotary Club of St Peters, SA
cumulative donations from March - August 2019
Russell Warmington Rotary Club of Nunawading, Vic. Dennis Hickey Rotary Club of Albury Hume, NSW Steven Wong Rotary Club of Lower Blue Mountains, NSW Andrew Geering Rotary Club of Queanbeyan West, NSW Stephen Humphreys Rotary Club of Camden, NSW Tony Castley e-Club of Greater Sydney, NSW Silver Friends - $1,000 Max Bryant Rotary Club of Cairns Trinity, Qld. Tony Monley OAM Rotary Club of Templestowe, Vic. Donald Franks Rotary Club of Kapunda, SA Mary Cruickshank Rotary Club of Belconnen, ACT Cameron Kirton Rotary Club of Laurieton, NSW Ron Clark Rotary Club of Jindalee, Qld.
$
$
Brian Irvine Rotary Club of Kempsey West, NSW Richard Farmer Rotary Club of Five Dock, NSW Stephen Blackwood Rotary Club of Central Launceston, Tas. Albert Pulie Rotary Club of Granville, NSW Rengarajan Chidambaranathan Rotary Club of Granville, NSW Shane Burette Rotary Club of Wetherill Park, NSW Michael Pearson Rotary Club of Bendigo, Vic. Francis Andinach Rotary Club of Boulder, WA Vicki Lawson Rotary Club of Port of Brisbane, Qld. Di North Rotary Club of West Wollongong, NSW Graeme Moorfoot Rotary Club of Nunawading, Vic
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Or donate online at: www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
Please fill in and return to address below: Australian Rotary Health • PO Box 3455 Parramatta NSW 2124 • Phone 02 8837 1900 • www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au
11
This October
celebrate
HAT DAY Lift the Lid to help
on Mental Illness Australian Rotary Health is celebrating Hat Day on the 10th of October, World Mental Health Day. You can host a Hat Day event on that day or anytime during Mental Health Month in October to raise money for mental health research. To find out more, visit: www.hatday.com.au
Districts of Australia
www.australianrotaryhealth.org.au Ph: 02 8837 1900
•
E: admin@arh.org.au
•
PO Box 3455, Parramatta NSW 2124