Financial Services Council and the Community
The Financial Services Council has been a proud supporter of the Inspire Foundation since 2001. In 2007 we were delighted to welcome the Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI) as new partners, in addition to Inspire. The support the industry and the FSC has given to these two organisations reflects the importance we place in the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of Australians.
Fundraising
As in previous years, a component of the Conference dinner is raising money for the Inspire Foundation and the Schizophrenia Research Institute. The vast majority of funds are gathered by way of pledges made by FSC members at the dinner and throughout the conference. However, we also hold a fun and interactive fundraising activity to collect smaller donations from all delegates attending the Dinner. We are delighted to announce that at this year's dinner over $240,000 was raised, via a raffle and corporate pledges.
About our Partners..........
The Inspire Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1996 in response to Australia's then escalating rates of youth suicide. Our highly innovative and effective programs engage young people aged 14-25 and support them to improve their mental health and wellbeing. The programs use the internet as a setting for prevention and early intervention of mental health difficulties by increasing young people's mental health literacy, help-seeking, social connectedness and civic engagement. We believe that Inspire's programs have contributed to the 56% decrease in youth suicide rates since 1997 (ABS 2006).
Still, the need for Inspire's programs remains great. In every average Year 12 classroom, there is still one young person who will have attempted to commit suicide. Young people experience increasing levels of anxiety and psychological stress (AIHW 2007), and less than 22% seek professional help.
Inspire’s vision for 2020 is that every young Australian will know, trust and benefit from Inspire's programs when they need them. A 4-year strategic planning process is being implemented to increase Inspire’s reach, deepen its impact, improve its sustainability and build a community that cares deeply about young people and their wellbeing.
For more information please visit - www.inspire.org.au
About the Schizophrenia Research Institute (SRI)
The Schizophrenia Research Institute is the only national medical research institute whose sole aim is to discover the causes, prevention and a cure for schizophrenia.
2009 saw the launch of the Institute’s first clinical drug trial, led by Professor Cyndi Shannon Weickert, star of the ABC’s Australian Story. The trial aims to improve cognitive and memory functions for people with schizophrenia. One in one hundred people will develop this disease and 30 percent attempt suicide.
Established in 1996 as Australia’s only virtual Institute, the Institute combines schizophrenia research in hospitals, universities and research institutes across the country and internationally. With over 60 employees and more than 140 scientific affiliates, the Institute drives a proactive research agenda to find the best way to prevent this chronic teenage brain disease.
In 2007, the Institute launched the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank, the largest brain project in schizophrenia which is collecting dna, clinical data and brain scans on patients with schizophrenia and controls for use in future research programs.
The Institute is NHMRC accredited and is funded through Government grants and the generosity of NSW Health, corporate and private donations. A registered charity throughout Australia, further donations can be given by visiting www.schizophreniaresearch.org.au