Josh Guy: Silk Miller Scholarship - Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
Rotary Central Melbourne instigated the Silk Miller Scholarship in 2000, named in memory of two slain Police Officers, Sgt Gary Silk and Snr Constable Rodney Miller. Scholarships funded by the Club have now been awarded to over 20 police officers.
Our Club became involved when Rotary’s focus on health included the issues of youth suicide prevention and youth mental illness. The club accepted the potential of a link with Victoria Police as one of the relevant agencies involved with youth. Through broader education, trained Youth Resource Officers and other police officers, would apply a greater understanding of how young people “tick” and assist develop improved strategies in dealing with them.
It was considered that better interventionist strategies would assist the youth in our communities and potentially reduce youth suicide rates. This was in the context of the course aim to “improve young people’s life chances by focusing on adolescents at a critical life stage”. It includes the transition from childhood into adolescence and the transition beyond adolescence into adult life. Importantly, the club recognised that a key to improving young people’s health and wellbeing is to enhance the capability of practitioners in a variety of fields who work with young children.
Since the introduction of the Post Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in 1996, over 130 participants have benefited from funding by 27 Rotary Clubs. Participants are drawn from a wide range of sectors aside from Justice which is our club’s focus, including hospital, school and community health-based professionals, education and community professionals.
Invited guests include:
Victoria Police: Superintendent Kelly Lawson, Dr David Broderick, serving police members Josh Guy (2023 Scholar), Julie Woods (2022 Scholar), Ben McWilliam (2021 Scholar).
University of Melbourne: Dr Ani Wierenga