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Charity CommitteeAllens Arthur Robinson derives enormous satisfaction and pride from its involvement and association with charities. Each year, a portion of the firm's budget is devoted to charitable projects identified by the Charity Committee. The firm's Charity Committee is chaired by Jim Dwyer and is made up of partners and staff from our offices around Australia, allowing a coordinated national approach. Resources are directed towards a small number of significant projects, whether through large, well-established charities or smaller organisations operating at a local level. Our aim is to directly help those in need, and we hope that each project we support makes a real difference to our community. For more information about the Charity Committee, please contact Amy Dobbin. You can download the pdf version of our Community Commitment brochure (2MB).
Allens Arthur Robinson Neurology FellowshipThe Allens Arthur Robinson Neurology Fellows have helped an estimated 5000 patients. Since 1999, the firm has funded the comprehensive training of a doctor in paediatric neurology at the Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick. The Fellowship enables a young doctor, selected from applicants throughout Australia and New Zealand, to work with leaders in the neurology field in treating children with a variety of brain, muscle and nerve problems, including brain tumours, epilepsy, mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Our relationship with the Sydney Children's Hospital is not limited to financial support. Each year, the Summer Clerks in Sydney travel to the Hospital to meet the Allens Arthur Robinson Neurology Fellow and some of the patients in the neurology ward. Although it can be confronting, it is also moving and uplifting to see first hand the dedication and enthusiasm of the Hospital staff and the courage of the children and their families. This annual visit has become a highlight of our clerkship program. This year's Summer Clerks in Sydney were so inspired by their visit that they organised an 'Allens Idol' event in the office to raise money for the brave patients in the paediatric neurology ward. With each department nominating their 'Idol', the six contestants sang and danced to encourage donations from the crowd. A raffle was held and, once nominated fundraising targets were reached, different partners and, ultimately, the firm's Chairman, Jim Thynne, gave solo performances on stage. The generosity of partners and staff saw a record amount raised for the Hospital, which will be used to establish an Allens Arthur Robinson Neurology Nursing Scholarship fund to allow nurses from the neurology ward to pursue further studies in nursing. Read our profile on Associate Professor Annie Bye, Neurology Consultant, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick
Camp Have a ChatCerebral Palsy League of QueenslandThe Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland provides services and support to people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities. Each year, the League organises 'Camp Have a Chat' in Brisbane, which provides training and support to 16 non-speaking children with cerebral palsy who require the assistance of specialised communications equipment. Children who struggle to communicate can lag behind their peers both academically and socially. The firm's funding over the past two years has allowed the children at 'Camp Have a Chat', along with their parents, teachers and carers, to learn to use different communication devices and to explore methods of self-expression. Allens Arthur Robinson staff volunteered to run a barbecue at 'Camp Have a Chat' and were delighted to be able to meet some of the children who benefit from the program. This year, the firm also facilitated the program's expansion to North Queensland by funding a simplified 'Chat Camp' for younger children.
Learning for LifeThe Smith Family, VictoriaThe Smith Family is a national, secular and apolitical Australian charity that has been operating since 1922. Less than four per cent of its funding comes from government and they predominantly rely on commercial enterprises, private donors and the support of volunteers. This year, Allens Arthur Robinson continued its long-standing support of The Smith Family by donating to the 'Learning for Life' project. 'Learning for Life' enables disadvantaged students to get the most out of their education by purchasing textbooks, school equipment and uniforms, and running a variety of tutoring and mentoring programs. 21,000 students around Australia benefit from 'Learning for Life' each year. This year, the firm provided scholarships for 60 disadvantaged students in the Broadmeadows area in Melbourne to participate in this important program.
Supporting the homelessMission Australia, Western AustraliaMission Australia is a community service organisation with a focus on helping families, children, youth, homeless people and communities, as well as providing an Australia-wide network of employment services. For the past 30 years, Mission Australia has run a special event called 'Christmas Lunch in the Park' in Perth, giving people affected by poverty, illness, addiction, homelessness or unemployment a chance to celebrate the holiday season. The firm supported Mission Australia's Christmas Lunch in the Park by providing funds for the purchase of meals, gifts and entertainment for more than 2000 people who would otherwise have been unable to enjoy a traditional celebration on Christmas day.
Supporting disabled childrenTechnical Aid to the Disabled, New South WalesTechnical Aid to the Disabled (TAD) NSW works to improve the quality of life of disabled people by designing and constructing specialised equipment to meet their particular needs. Allens Arthur Robinson funded the construction of 10 specially designed chairs to improve the balance and mobility of disabled children between the ages of four and seven. This enables many children to attend regular schools when they would otherwise not be able to do so.
National Indigenous projectThe Fred Hollows FoundationThis year, Charity Committee members in each state agreed to set aside funds to support a national Indigenous project: the purchase of a minibus to transport children in a remote Indigenous community to and from preschool. Preschool education provides disadvantaged children with a foundation for improved self esteem, social skills and academic performance at school. This in turn helps to reduce child homelessness, delinquency, drug and alcohol addiction. In Wilcannia, in the far west of NSW, 16 children regularly attend the Department of Community Services preschool when regular transport is available, but only five or six are able to attend without it. The firm has contributed towards the purchase of a minibus to ensure that these children have access to the early childhood education and vital social support that preschool can provide.
Scholarships for vision-impaired studentsVision Australia, VictoriaFor blind and low-vision students, the transition into tertiary education can be extremely challenging. Not only are they faced with a new learning environment which differs greatly from the structured environment at specialist schools and programs for the vision impaired, but these students also face substantial costs and other difficulties in obtaining the prescribed reading materials in an appropriate format. For the past two years, Allens Arthur Robinson has funded education bursaries through Vision Australia to assist two vision impaired students with the purchase of adaptive technology equipment. This equipment is essential to overcoming the limitations that a blind or low-vision person confronts when pursuing further education. Read our profile on Anna Briggs, recipient of a Vision Australia Further Education Bursary Award in Melbourne.
[Allens in the community: Introduction] 
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