MEETING REPORT – 19th JAN 2021

President Therese opened the first meeting for 2021 with Chair Sarah Overton proposing the toast to Rotary International.

We were joined by one visiting Rotarian today, ADG Kate Strain (RC Brighton North)

Sarah then introduced RCM member Rhys Williams to speak about international education. With 25 years’ experience in international education, Rhys provided us with an insight into this often misunderstood und under-appreciated industry.

In his presentation, Rhys spoke about the valuable transformational experience that this model provides for students at individual, social and bilateral levels. An internationalised curriculum offers opportunities for career development and on a national level, it assists with the management of a supply for foreign talent and migration.

Rhys briefly covered the four models of international education in Australia (onshore students, transnational education, student mobility/study abroad and collaborative research) and gave an overview of Australia’s share of a market that encompasses 8 million students globally. This is projected to grow to 30 million students globally by 2025, however as a result of COVID on-shore commencements in Australia have dropped by 30 % with students unable to get into the country.

Rhys also spoke about what RCM can do to enhance the international education experience for students, with options including mentoring, advocating to employers for internships and sponsorship opportunities and providing homestay accommodation.

While the number of Australian students undertaking opportunities to study abroad isn’t as high, there is slow but consistent growth, with 50,000 Australian students doing so in 2017.

Following questions from the floor, Rhys highlighted that there is plenty of opportunity for Rotary to become involved in the sector, especially in terms of creating solid support structures to enhance the international education experience of students

Milestone and celebrations

Allan Driver gave a shout-out to all of the members and partners with upcoming birthdays, wedding anniversaries and Rotary anniversaries. With four birthdays, three wedding anniversaries and two Rotary anniversaries, we have a lot to celebrate when we’re next together in person.

Announcements:

Unfortunately COVID restrictions mean the Peninsula bbq scheduled for 31 January has been cancelled.
Plans are underway for the 2021 Garden DesignFest, which will operate over two weekends in November with Youth Suicide Awareness as the headline beneficiary. Members are asked to help identify and make Anne King, Martin Langton or Roger Thornton aware of any potential sponsors and advertisers. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Frank advised that Neil Salvano’s father passed away recently and that he and Pauline had attended the funeral on behalf of the Club.
Sausage sizzles are back! Since their return on 6 December, the club has run Bunnings sausage sizzles and raised $5,000. Most recently, 19 club members and partners participated in bbqs held at Bunnings Collingwood and Port Melbourne. Frank still has vacancies for the 6 February event at Bunnings Collingwood, so please let him know if you can assist.
Please wear a silly hat to our Zoom meeting on 2 February to Lift the Lid on Mental Health. All monthly raffle funds will be going to the cause, with further information available from Rob Hines or Rohan Williams

For this week’s pocket positives, Mary Voice shared some inspirational poems by authors from the UK, Ireland and Australia, those being:

W.H. Auden – September 1, 1939
Kathleen Jamie – Lochan
Seamus Heaney – Postscript
Henry Lawson – On the Night Train

Finally, President Therese spoke about the Club’s proposed return to RACV Club meetings. Subject to restrictions allowing, it is proposed that the meeting on 16 February will take place at the RACV Club, followed by another in March. The possibility of running hybrid meetings (some members attending in person, others online) is being canvassed, however as this will involve upgrading technological equipment, a nominal fee may be applied to Zoom meetings to cover this.

Next Meeting:

Since Tuesday 26th January is a Public Holiday, our next meeting will take place on 2 February. RCM member Suvam Ganguli will be speaking about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and what it means for your organisation.