Rotary

Rotary is the world’s first service club organisation with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are widely recognised as volunteers who work locally and internationally to improve health, provide education and promote peace under the motto ‘Service Above Self’.

The active support and close involvement of Rotary is a fundamental aspect in the success of the RYDA road safety education program – there are over 1,100 Rotary Clubs with some 34,000 members (Rotarians) located in communities across all cities and rural towns in Australia. There are an additional 265 clubs and over 9,000 Rotarians in New Zealand and the Pacific.

Rotary provides the RYDA Program with access to a vast volunteer support base and introduction to many community groups including schools and local business organisations.

Contact with high schools to arrange attendance at a RYDA Program is often initiated by a local Rotary Club that may already have an existing relationship with the school through other Rotary youth programs. There are approximately 1,400 high schools across Australia and 350 secondary schools in New Zealand. It is typical that any particular Rotary Club would have 1-3 of these schools in their geographic area.

Rotary volunteers play an important role at RYDA days by acting as guides for each of the student groups participating in the six program sessions. Rotarians with good organisational skills and availability for a long-term commitment to the Program also assist by accepting a role as Day Manager at our various RYDA venues.

Rotary Clubs also provide direct financial support to the RYDA Program through donations from the community – identifying the RYDA road safety education program as the focus of a Rotary Club fundraising activity creates a positive image in the community and attracts good community support.

Very importantly, the involvement of Rotary assists us to minimise operational costs and therefore helping to ensure that the RYDA Program remains accessible and affordable for all young people in the community. RSE and Rotary Clubs across Australia and New Zealand are proud to be working together to help make our roads a safer place.

Visit the Rotary website