Rotarians were there in the beginning.

Interplast was founded through the partnership of Rotary and The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1983. For more than 40 years, Rotarians in clubs and districts throughout Australia and New Zealand have been helping us to change lives in the Asia and Pacific regions.

Rotarians serve on Interplast’s Board of Directors and 9 Past District Governors form the Rotarian Committee, which advises the Executive and Board on Rotary matters.

We want to match the enthusiasm Rotarians have for supporting Interplast. Here you’ll find everything you need to champion Interplast at Club Meetings, Conference Showcases and fundraising events.

When Moceiwai was born with a cleft lip, his mother Loata, was heartbroken.

In her remote Fijian village, there was no access to the surgery her baby desperately needed. She felt helpless, afraid of the stares, and what the future might hold for her son.

In countries within the Pacific and parts of Asia, children with cleft conditions often wait years for surgery, if they receive it at all.

They can struggle to eat, speak clearly or attend school, and they face heartbreaking stigma in their communities.

Without surgical care, these children miss out on so much more than their smile, they miss out on a future.

Your support can send volunteer surgical teams to remote places, to deliver life-changing surgery to children like Moceiwai.

Latest stories

Below are the newest stories featuring Interplast’s work and the stories of some of our patients. You are welcome to use these stories in your Rotary Club newsletters by copy and pasting the text and photos from the post. Please include a link back to the Interplast website when sharing these stories.

Please do not re-write, edit or alter text and images.

A young man smiles for the camera.
25th Jun 2025

Specialist surgery brings Karma hope

Karma looks forward to returning to his mountain home to meditate after his surgery. At 28…

A group of four people in surgical scrubs perform an operation on an unseen patient.
5th Jun 2025

Tailored support for safe, effective anaesthesia

Interplast are excited to work with many prestigious institutions and dedicated anaesthetists to strengthen safe anaesthetic…

Two people in surgical scrubs delicately perform surgery on the hand of an unseen patient.
28th May 2025

Success through collaboration in Papua New Guinea

In March, the Interplast team weathered some significant challenges to deliver life-changing health care to patients…

More Stories

Young boy with a bandaged hand hugs two teddies and smiles excitedly.

Request a speaker

Interplast representatives have an incredible story to tell. You can request for a volunteer or Rotary observer to speak about their first-hand experience on an Interplast program.

If you would like an Interplast representative to speak at your Rotary club or event, please send your Program Coordinator a link to the form below, or fill it out now.

Request form

Resources

Find all tools and documents to help you champion Interplast in your Club, District and community at your fingertips.

Resources

Find all tools and documents to help you champion Interplast in your Club, District and community at your fingertips.

Find out more

Find the answers to common questions we get at District Conferences and Club presentations, and learn more about Interplast and our work in our FAQ.

Interplast FAQ

Contact us

Interplast’s Rotarian Engagement Coordinator, Janette Etherington, is your first point of contact in the Interplast office for all Rotary matters.

To find out more about fundraising opportunities, guest speakers, or other Rotary Clubs and Districts who are supporting Interplast, please contact Janette via +61 3 7042 5472 or at janette.etherington@interplast.org.au.