Vocational Service Award – Robert Pradolin
Last week, Wednesday 5th October, we presented Robert Pradolin with the 2022 Vocational Services Award with no less than seven past Awardees present. Robert gave members an inspiring insight into his work with corporations, governments and communities to raise awareness of the problems associated with homelessness and to instigate business-led solutions.
Robert drew our attention to an telling documentary relevant to his work. Follow the link to the trailer: https://documentaryaustralia.com.au/project/undercover/
Citation
The 2022-23 Rotary Melbourne Vocational Service Award recognises the service of property developer Robert Pradolin.
Robert Pradolin’s career mirrors the criteria for this Award. He has excelled in his vocation in real estate and residential property development and then gone on to use his skills to benefit the community.
A civil engineer and registered builder with a Graduate Diploma in Property and an MBA, Robert spent almost two decades working in senior executive positions with Frasers Property (formerly Australand) in residential property development.
Currently self-employed as a strategic adviser in the property business, he now uses his experience, skills and connections to help vulnerable Australians. He believes that without stable housing a person’s ability to contribute to society is greatly curtailed Robert is a Director of the Salvation Army Housing Boards, and Summer Housing, a service for the disabled. In 2019 he founded Housing for All Australians (HAA), a private sector initiative where Australia’s corporates come together to help the homeless. He sees social and affordable housing as an economic infrastructure issue requiring both public and private investment.
Robert’s development of HAA arose out of his realisation that many people, particularly women, were homeless, while there were thousands of empty buildings across the country that could be used for short-term shelter.
The HAA model first locates buildings that are slated for redevelopment and likely to be empty for two or more years while large-scale projects are designed, approved, financed and marketed. Next, he contacts a local housing charity that can identify vulnerable people who need shelter and provide them with appropriate support. Then, he uses his contacts in the property industry to encourage big firms to make the buildings habitable. Finally, he gets the buildings fitted out with second-hand furniture donated by upmarket hotels.
Ultimately Robert wants to develop a business-led revolution in the provision of affordable rental housing. As Governments cannot fund the problem alone, they must be persuaded to offer the appropriate financial settings to achieve the required returns by offering tax incentives or direct subsidies that will entice super funds and others in the private sector to invest in affordable housing. This would generate jobs in the construction sector and encourage innovations in prefabrication.
Robert’s concern for the homeless and innovative approach to providing solutions epitomises the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self. He joins a distinguished body of men and women who have been previous recipients of this Award.
View the presentation HERE.
