Our Causes
All Rotary Clubs aim to provide service to their local community and globally around the world. There are three key ways we achieve this -
- Fundraising for charitable organisations which in turn provide services where they are needed;
- Volunteering time on Boards and organising committees for club or multi-club projects and initiatives; and / or
- Direct participation in community projects.
Listed below you will find a little bit more about the different ways in which we support our local and global communities. A number of the groups we support accept direct donations and links are provided below if you wish to do so. However, if you are unsure and interested in donating to a cause please do not hesitate to contact us and we will ensure that your generosity is directed appropriately.
Supporting our Local Community
Wounded Service Personnel Holidays
The Ken Bromley Association is setup to provide holidays on the Gold Coast for wounded service personnel and their families. A wounded serviceperson is any serving or past serviceperson who has physical or psychological issues and could use an all-expenses paid holiday on the Gold Coast. Many of our recipients have been Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) sufferers who could benefit from a holiday.
This scheme and its associated Trust account is administered by the Rotary Club of Gold Coast.
Low Cost Pensioner Accommodation
We provide quality, low cost accommodation for pensioners at our Rotary Village located in the suburb of Labrador.
The complex contains 14 self contained units in a garden setting.
Environmental Education
In partnership with the Gold Coast City Council, our Rotary Education Pavilion and interpretive signage enhance environmental education at the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens.
A Sensory Garden provides a unique experience for all visitors. It is specifically designed for disabled visitors to interact with nature in a safe environment. Using a range of plants that stimulate the five senses, the gardens are raised to allow ease of access for all.
Assisting the Local Homeless
There are hundreds of people who are homeless on the Gold Coast each night.
Our club is proud to support, both financially and through volunteering, a range of organisations that support homelessness amongst local youth and adults, including -
Youth Programs & Scholarships
Through our our District Youth Programs, we sponsor young people in our community to attend leadership and development programs.
Through our Ernie Hicks Scholarships and Ken Baguley Bursaries we also provide scholarships to allow students facing adversity to achieve tertiary success.
To find out more about our Youth Programs, please email us.
Other Projects
- Pride of Workmanship Awards - through our Pride of Workmanship Awards we help local business to recognise and acknowledge the efforts and contribution of an employee who consistently achieves an overall high personal standard and work performance.
- Flood & Drought Relief - our Club provides support for local flood and drought relief programs as needed.
- Sick Kids - contributions to groups such as Give Me 5 for Kids and Ronald McDonald House assist sick kids in our community.
- Drug Education - Our support for the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign helps educate local youth about the dangers of drugs and how to beat addictions.
Supporting Global Communities
The Rotary Foundation
Our Club is a major contributor to the work of Rotary's own charity, The Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation is one of the world's leading charity and, since it's founding over 100 years ago, has funded over USD 3 billion in life saving sustainable projects around the world in six key focus areas -
- Promoting Peace
- Providing Clean Water
- Saving Mothers & Children
- Supporting Education
- Growing Local Economies
- Fighting Disease
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in The Philippines in 1979.
Malaria Vaccine Project
This project, established in our Rotary District was established to financially support the clinical trials of a malaria vaccine developed by the Institute for Glycomics at Griffith University on the Gold Coast.
The vaccine has recently entered clinical trials and the goal of the project's fundraising is now $2m with around $1m+ having already been raised.
ROMAC
Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC) provides surgical treatment for children in Australia and New Zealand from developing countries from our Pacific region in the form of life giving and/or dignity restoring surgery not accessible to them in their home country.
ROMAC in New Zealand and Australia enlists assistance from medical experts, hospitals, nurses, physiotherapists, pathology and radiology services, airlines, sponsors and other supporters. Today ROMAC is providing surgical treatment to around 50 children from Oceania every year – we are making a huge difference in their lives.
Disaster Aid Australia
Every year we sponsor a Family Survival Pack through Disaster Aid Australia. These packs are air freighted to assist displaced families within hours of a disaster occurring.
School of St Jude, Tanzania
The mission of The School of St Jude is to educate disadvantaged, bright students from the Arusha District in Tanzania to become moral and intellectual leaders in their country.
St Jude's provides a free, high-quality education to 1,800 students at a primary and secondary campus and has a program to also support its graduates through higher education. St Jude's graduates, supported by the school, are also teaching over 10,000 government school students each year.
Other Projects
Our Club also provides support to disadvantaged children in Cambodia & Laos.
A recent project fund by our Club was the installation of new ceilings and lights in 3 dormitories at the Suan Luang Orphanage in Laos.