Rotary Melbourne's Jeremy Oats has voluntarily dedicated most of his free time for over a decade leading a hand-picked team to save lives of women and babies in remote areas of Timor Leste that have horrific maternal death rates. Funded by 2 back-to-back Vocational Training Team (VTT) Global Grants, very strong outcomes have been confirmed through independent reviews and participant feedback. This commitment and a lifetime of helping mothers and babies through their chosen profession in obstetrics and gynaecology exemplifies service above self.
From 2011, Jeremy has led 17 volunteer VTT visits to remote regions of Timor Leste, typically of 6-10 days duration, to deliver up-skill training to 360 midwives/nurses and 162 doctors. Each team of medical/midwifery specialists deliver presentations and practical demonstrations through interpreters in local language. Jeremy has done significant work to develop and translate training and trainer programs.
As a leading Obstetrics and Gynaecology practitioner & distinguished academic, Jeremy has been appointed to numerous significant healthcare task forces, including Co-Chair National Pregnancy Guidelines Expert Advisory Group & Member National Covid Pregnancy & Perinatal Care Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Recipient of numerous awards: e.g. Medal of Distinction, Women's Hospitals nationally, for services to women's health & Member, Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to women's health.
Recent graduate midwives/nurses and doctors who have been up-skilled by Prof Jeremy Oats AM (sitting on far right)
Congratulations to Professor Jeremy Oats AM who has been awarded the 2023 Rotary International highest honour, the Service Above Self award, joining past Rotary Melbourne awardees, George Tippett, Mev Connell, Bob Glindemann and Ruth Carlos Martinez.
Rotary’s highest honour recognises Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive, and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide. Professor Jeremy Oats AM from Rotary Melbourne was confirmed by the January RI Board as being one of this year’s recipients.
Congratulations Jeremy!
