With the aim of fostering a close-knit community of scholars, realising scholar potential and giving back to the community, the recipients of the UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholarships founded the UWA Fogarty Scholars’ Association (FSA) in 2006.  The FSA has developed into dynamic group organising many activities and building strong relationships amongst the Scholars.

The FSA are passionate about promoting education equality.  As a group of young community leaders, they are passionate about bringing to fruition every student’s leadership potential and ability to drive change.  The FSA follow the Fogarty Foundations motif of the ripple effect of positive change, hoping that by developing such leaders, there is a positive effect that spreads throughout the community.

In 2010, the FSA developed an in-house education charity called Fogarty Futures.  This foundation has provided scholarships and grants for high school students to participate in educational programs.  In 2013, the FSA have developed the Fogarty Futures leadership conference, to pass on their leadership experience to secondary students.

Following the notion of the ripple effect, the conference was launched to provide inspiration and skills to high school students with excellent leadership potential.  The conference aims to deliver a practical leadership experience, entrepreneurship skills and key opportunities for networking and mentoring.  Attendees will also gain the invaluable opportunity to work through a real-life application of leadership in small groups with a Fogarty Scholar facilitator, and receive ongoing support for their projects.

The conference will be held at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp from the 28^th – 30^th September, 2013.  Applications are now open for year 10-11 students with outstanding leadership potential and a keen interest in their community.  Applications close on Friday 6^th July (the last day of Semester 2).  There is a $100 conference fee, which may be waived for students with exceptional circumstances and can be discussed with the Conference Convener (see details below).  Travel bursaries may also be available on a needs basis.

To find out more about the Fogarty Futures Conference, please email Conference Convener Karen Bromley (futures@fogartyscholars.org.au)

For more information about the FSA, visit their new website: http://www.fogartyscholars.org.au/

Written by the Department of Education WA

Schools, community services and local businesses have joined forces in a new initiative that is set to benefit more than 1,300 students in Perth’s eastern suburbs.

The Swan Hub project, which aims to support local children and their families by bringing community services and activities into schools, was launched officially on Tuesday and comprises four schools: Middle Swan Primary School, Swan View Primary School, Clayton View Primary School and Swan View Senior High School.

Executive Director, Innovation Performance and Research Peter Titmanis said services would vary to meet the needs of the school communities and may include parent workshops, playgroups, after-school sporting activities, secondary school transition programs and initiatives to foster employment and career pathways.

“This is a wonderful initiative that has the potential to improve education outcomes for children and young people in the area, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Mr Titmanis said.

“The project also aims to get more students attending schools regularly, improve literacy and numeracy skills, and keep more students at school to Year 12.”

A strong focus for the project had been the development of partnerships with philanthropic organisations, local businesses, government and non-government agencies.

Middle Swan Primary School principal Matt Jarman said he was overwhelmed by community support for the project, which had been almost two years in the planning.

“This project reflects the ownership and willingness of many interested groups to provide the best services we can for students and their families,” he said.

The project is currently jointly funded by National Partnerships School funding, The Smith Family and the Fogarty Foundation.

UWA Fogarty Scholars with Patrick Hollingworth

On Thursday 11 April, the UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholars and Alumni had the opportunity to hear from Patrick Hollingworth.  Patrick is a speaker, leadership consultant and UWA graduate who climbed Mount Everest in 2010.

Patrick’s talk focused on Leadership at the Edge, and linked what he learned whilst training and climbing Mount Everest to leadership skills required for ‘everyday’ work and life.  His presentation included captivating video footage and photographs taken on the journey up Mount Everest.  Patrick’s story was both inspirational and emotional.

For many, this was the first time even contemplating the concept of climbing a mountain of this scale.  The resounding message throughout the presentation was that everybody is able to achieve what they set their mind to, and with a clear vision anything is possible.  Patrick continues to lead expeditions and guide treks.

For more information on Patrick, visit www.patrickhollingworth.com

UWA Fogarty Scholars

Written by Jordan Lockhart, UWA Fogarty Scholar

After a successful bonding retreat earlier in the month, the FSA once again gathered for a conversation with Egyptian author and political commentator Ahdaf Soueif. Prior to delivering the opening address of the Perth Writers Festival, Soueif fielded scholars’ questions on her career, experiences as a participant in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and her perspectives on politics and social change. As a reporter for The Guardian and other media, Ahdaf Soueif spent two weeks in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, documenting the tumultuous events, citizens’ reactions, and the correlation between the revolution and art. She recounted how the suspension of internet and telecommunication services forced ground-based mobilisation, led by a group of powerbrokers who were able to collectively dictate the actions of over two million protestors.

Soueif was coy when faced with questions on the future of democracy in Egypt. She accepted that democracy is becoming the system of choice for the majority of emerging and re-emerging nations, but admitted that she did not know at which point Egypt would be ready to make the transition. The scholars were eager to pursue the topic, however they begrudgingly released her to deliver the Perth Writers Festival Opening Address. The address, entitled ‘On Art and Politics’, was a unique and memorable presentation that explored the evolution of street art in Cairo throughout the revolution, a topic that lay virtually untouched by the news media. The address enriched several of the topics discussed in the conversation, in addition to providing a compelling insight into the complex relationship between violence and culture.

Annie Fogarty AM

The sustained and outstanding contribution of Annie Fogarty, Executive Chairperson of the Fogarty Foundation, has been recognised in the 2013 Australia Day Honours.

Annie Fogarty, who co-founded the Fogarty Foundation with her husband Brett in 2000, was made a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for ‘significant service to equity, access and advancement of education in Western Australia’.

Over the last thirteen years, Annie and the Fogarty Foundation have partnered with a range of organisations that deliver projects and education opportunities that support people to achieve their potential and inspire community leadership.  The Foundation provides philanthropic funds to support these projects and offers connections and knowledge to further leverage supported projects and partnerships.

In 2011, the Fogarty Foundation established a new education initiative called Fogarty EDvance.  Fogarty EDvance aims to improve the educational outcomes of children attending schools located in low socio-economic communities, by providing a three year program offering high quality support to build the capability and increase the effectiveness of the Principal and the school.  Last year, the first cohort of Principals participated in the program, all from schools that are based in Girrawheen/Balga/Mirrabooka in Perth, Western Australia.

Annie serves on a number of boards and committees, including Roseworth Primary School (Foundation Member), The Fremantle Press, The Centre for Social Impact Advisory Group, Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) Advisory Group, the Centre for Public Education, the ECU Fogarty Learning Centre and The University of Western Australia’s Senate Development Committee.

In 2008, Annie was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters from The University of Western Australia.  In 2012, Annie was invited by the Commissioner for Children and Young People to become an inaugural Ambassador for Children and Young People in Western Australia.

2012 Christmas Lunch in the Park

25 December 2012

Wellington Square Park, East Perth, Western Australia

2012 marked Mission Australia’s 37^th Christmas Lunch in the Park – an annual, state-wide invitation to the people of Western Australia who may find themselves homeless, isolated, lonely and/or disadvantaged to come together and enjoy support and companionship on Christmas Day.

Mission Australia strives to ‘equalise’ Christmas, to ensure all people can enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch and receive an appropriate gift in a caring, supportive and fun environment.

2012 was no exception with Mission Australia catering for approximately 1,800 people, providing them with a delicious lunch, entertainment throughout the day, a donated gift specific to gender and age and of course friendship, support and a strong sense of community spirit.

The generosity of the people of WA saw Mission Australia take possession of more than 2,000 donated gifts as well as the support of over 500 volunteers, helping out with gift wrapping during the entire month of December as well as providing assistance setting up and decorating our marquee on Christmas eve and providing direction and support to our guests on Christmas day.

Perth’s Christmas lunch in the Park is an iconic event in Western Australia and recognised as one of the largest Christmas charity events nationally.  Congratulations to the team at Mission Australia for helping to make Christmas Day a very special day for so many less fortunate people in our State.

Neil Thomas

UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholar Neil Thomas has been selected as one of 20 Australian undergraduate students to receive a 2013 Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Award.

The Prime Minister’s Australia Asia Awards aim to develop internationally-aware, skilled future leaders and to establish enduring education and professional linkages between Australia and Asia.  The Awards provide scholarships for the best and brightest university students from Australia and Asia, and provide the opportunity for students to undertake not only international study, but also internships.

The award will enable Neil to spend the 2013/2014 Chinese academic year at the School of Public Administration and Policy at the Renmin University of China.  In the second year, Neil hopes to undertake a variety of internships that correlate with his academic studies.

In the Zone Conference

Post written by Kate Fitzgerald, UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholar

On the 26^th and 27^th of November, a group of Fogarty scholars had the privilege of attending the In the Zone conference held at UWA. The theme of the conference was The Geography of Global Prosperity. Prominent local and world leaders delivered insightful presentations and participated in panel discussions on several topics related to Western Australia’s position in the development of the leading economies within the Asian zone.

Dr David Gruen, Executive Director, Macroeconomic Group, Australian Treasury said “By 2025, Asia will have four of the top 10 economies in the world. China will be No. 1, India No. 3, Japan No. 4 and Indonesia No. 10.” Western Australia is both geographically and strategically positioned to capitalize on the opportunities arising from this. It is an exciting time to be a part of this development, and even more so for us as students, as we are at the forefront of this growth.

A huge thank you to Rio Tinto and the In the Zone conference organisers for providing us with this incredible opportunity.

Post written by Thomas Durkin, UWA Fogarty Foundation Scholar

As part of an initiative sponsored by Rio Tinto, I was fortunate enough to attend the In The Zone conference alongside five other Fogarty Scholars. The In The Zone Conference was initiated by UWA in partnership with business and community organisations to address the effects of the shift in global power towards the Asia-Pacific region for Western Australia. With an abundance of natural resources and a geographical proximity that lends itself to deep links to Asia, the conference aimed to address the unique opportunities and challenges this position presents.

The conference featured an impressive array of speakers including the Honourable Premier Mr Colin Barnett, Dr. Michael Chaney who spoke to the Fogarty Foundation earlier in the year and the CEO and Managing Director of Woodside, Mr Peter Coleman. There were many interesting discussions including particular analysis of the Federal Government’s Australia in the Asian Century White Paper. Other topics included the nature of the global economy, the capacity for philanthropy partnerships in the region, resource sustainability and cultural pursuits. As a young person, the conference provided a great opportunity to interact and engage with the business leaders who are shaping Western Australia’s place in the coming century.

The experience was inspirational as it demonstrated the view held by many about Western Australia’s capacity to become a truly influential and globally acting state. However the opportunity the conference provided to interact with the leaders shaping our State’s future was an invaluable experience.

Read more about In The Zone here.

In the same week that the WA Business News released the GivingWell Guide, the paper has also included a story on the Fogarty Foundation, entitled ‘Fogarty Foundation spreads through ripple effect’ (22 Nov 2012).

Click here to read ‘Fogarty Foundation spreads through ripple effect’.

Click here to view the WA Business News GivingWell Guide.

Annie Fogarty

On Tuesday 20 November 2012, Annie Fogarty’s opinion piece appeared in The West Australian, entitled ‘Community input vital to giving kids best start’.  Annie’s article featured in a series relating to her role as an Ambassador for Children and Young People.

To read the article, click here.

For more information on the Ambassadors for Children and Young People, click here.