The Albert Park Flexi School  (APFS)

The APFS is an alternative education centre for students who are unable to attend a mainstream high school. There are various reasons why students may be unable to attend a mainstream high school. Some reasons include: exclusion from school, school/family difficulties, substance abuse, absence from school for a long time because of illness, pregnancy, moving or they may just have special needs.

The APFS provides a supportive environment in which each student works at their own pace. This requires the students to accept responsibility for their learning. Through a coordinated approach the school provides academic, social, emotional and physical support to young people aged between 14 years and 9 months and 19 years.

In May 2006, our Club officially committed to establishing a long-term partnership with the APFS. Our partnership activities include:

• Regular working bees: These provide the type of support that a P&C would provide to a mainstream school but which the APFS does not enjoy as most of the students are disconnected from their families.

• Establishment of a bursary program to support promising students. Bursaries are awarded at the end of each semester.

Combined Brisbane Rotary Clubs Art Spectacular  

Brisbane High-Rise is one of the three Rotary clubs involved in the organisation of the annual Art Spectacular.

The Art Spectacular is our major annual fundraising event. Proceeds going predominantly to ROMAC and our partnership activities with the Albert Park Flexi School.

The Art Spectacular is held in the beautiful Atrium Lobby of the Riverside Centre, located on the banks of the beautiful Brisbane River.

ROMAC - Reaching Overseas with Medical Aid for Children - was established in  March 1985. ROMAC provides medical treatment to children from developing countries in the form of life saving and/or dignity restoring surgery.

Our club also has a strong and long-established association with ROMAC and has already supported one patient from Cambodia during this Rotary year.

The Rotary Foundation

Our club actively supported The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s own charity.

This year, our club actively participated in the Foundation’s Pancakes for Polio campaign through a series of events including two business breakfasts, a lunchtime sausage sizzle and several private family breakfasts.

Papua New Guinea

Our club has provided financial support for improvement works at the Kuriva District School, Papua New Guinea. Kuriva is an impoverished rural area with much of the local housing in the village being built from traditional materials.

The Rotary Club of Boroko is also supporting this project.  Together with donations of desks, books and consumables from DIK containers the project will result in a major improvement to the school.

YOUTH

PROGRAMS

Rotary Youth Programs

Rotary International has a range of youth programs in which our club enthusiastically participates. These include:

Student Exchange

This year our club has welcomed Jonna Svahn, from Sweden, and supported her exchange in Brisbane. Her host family and Counsellor, who are members of the club, and other members of the club have ensured that Jonna has experienced a range of cultural, social and recreational activities in addition to her school and Rotary commitments.

Our club is also sponsoring an outbound exchange student, Michael Trotter, who departed for Sweden in January 2007.

Both Jonna and Michael regularly attended our club meetings and other events organised by our club and Rotary.

To read about Jonna's Australian activities, see her Walkabout Report (2.2 MB)

To read Michael's latest report, see Bounder Report 8 Nov 2007

To read Michael's previous report, see Bounder Report 2 Aug 2007 (1.3 MB)

Other Youth Programs

Each year our club actively supports and sponsors the participation of young people in other Rotary youth programs such as RYLA, RYPEN and the National Youth Science Fair.

Storm the Stage (STS)

Our club supported the Queensland heats and finals of STS held on 7 and 21 October 2006, providing MC and "back of house" support.

In addition to specific Rotary International and club projects, our club also provides volunteer support to a range of other local community service events. These include:

• Smith Family Christmas Appeal

• Clean Up Australia Campaign