What we do

The Zonta Club of Perth is a member of Zonta International. Zonta International was founded on 8th November 1919 and in 1972, the Zonta Club of Perth became the first club in Western Australia. Zontians say ‘yes’ to gender equality and ‘no’ to violence against women and ‘now’ to climate action.

Zonta International is a human rights organisation. Our club works at local, district and international levels to end violence against women and empower women and girls worldwide through activities such as the Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women and Zonta Says NOW to gender equality and climate action advocacy campaigns, service projects and awards.

International Activities

Zonta International is associated with the United Nations and has representation on many UN committees including the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Zonta works closely with these agencies on programs dedicated to empowering and preventing violence against women through service, education, awareness and advocacy.

A proportion of funds raised by clubs around the world is used to finance the Zonta Foundation for Women that is used to fund the International Awards and Service Projects that are selected by the membership at International Conventions held once every two years.

Zonta International’s Service projects for the 2020-22 biennium include working with UN agencies:

Let us Learn Madagascar: Empowering Girls through Education Phase III will create opportunities for vulnerable and excluded girls to realise their rights to an education in a secure and protective environment—with UNICEF
Ending Child Marriage: A program to accelerate global action Phase II in 12 countries: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia – with UNICEF
Adolescent Girls’Health and Protection in Peru aims to improve the capacity of services to prevent violence in schools in the regions of Huancavelica and Ucayali.
Delivering survivor-centred response to gender-based violence survivors in Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste so they use quality essential services for long-term recovery from violence.

Zonta International’s awards for women include:

Amelia Earhart Fellowships for postgraduate students in aerospace-related sciences and engineering;
Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarships for women studying a business-related degree;
Women in Technology Scholarships for women pursuing a technology degree or closely related program, who demonstrate outstanding potential in the field; and
Young Women in Public Affairs Awards for high school students to encourage them to enter careers in public affairs, public policy and positions of leadership.

District Activities

For administrative purposes, Zonta International has created 32 Districts. Western Australia is part of District 23 which also includes the Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. Each District is divided into Areas. The Zonta Club of Perth is in Area 3, which includes the five clubs in Western Australia: Perth, Perth Northern Suburbs, Bunbury, Peel (Mandurah), and Dunsborough. In addition, our club has founded a Golden Z Club for tertiary students at St Catherine’s College, University of Western Australia and school-based Z Club at Shenton College for High school students.

Our club actively supports two District 23 service projects:

Birthing Kits Project: a woman dies in childbirth every 90 seconds somewhere in the world due to giving birth in an unclean environment. Birthing kits are assembled by clubs and partner organisations and used by birthing assistants in developing countries. Kits include a plastic sheet, soap, cord, gauze squares, scalpel blade and surgical gloves. The project is administered through the Birthing Kit Foundation (Australia). Over 2 million kits have been sent to developing countries and training is also provided to eliminate female circumcision and improve health.

Z Club members putting together Birthing Kits

Breast Care Cushions Project: these are used by women (and men) around Australia recovering from breast surgery. The cushions provide physical support and let recipients know that other people are thinking of them.

Local Activities

The Zonta Club of Perth actively raises funds so it may support International and District programs and also support local women through our own Club’s service projects, advocacy activities and awards.

Local Service and advocacy projects include supporting:

Ishar: by providing mentorship, friendship and assistance to refugee and migrant women, who are victims of domestic violence;
Zonta House Refuge: by providing financial and professional support, toiletries, clothes and furniture to help women rebuild their lives;
Zonta House Refuge’s Positive Pathways program that provides life skills training for vulnerable women; and
Starting Over Support that provides household items for families in crisis to help them rebuild their lives. This program is administered through People who Care.
Supporting the WA International Women’s Day (IWD) Collaboration of women’s service organisations to administer the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and other IWD activities.

Please see our advocacy leaflet for more information.

Our Club’s Awards include:

Jane M Klausman Women in Business Scholarship – District 23 Area 3 scholarship – for a young woman studying business at a WA University
University Education Award for a mature aged second-year university student;
Woman of Achievement Award to recognize a quiet achiever in the community;
Young Woman of Public Affairs Award to encourage young women to consider careers in public policy; and
Yvonne Burgu Scholarship to encourage an Aboriginal woman studying in WA to complete her first university degree or TAFE college diploma.