About Us

About Rotaract

Rotaract is a global organisation that empowers students and young professionals to create positive change in their local communities and around the world. Rotaract provides unique opportunities that assist its members in becoming the business and professional leaders of tomorrow. We are an international network of 163,000 students and young professionals that span 163 countries worldwide.

Since starting in 1968 Rotaract spread rapidly across the world and Australia has the distinction of chartering the some of the first Rotaract clubs in the world. In the first five years of Rotaract, Australia had 288 of the 1,543 clubs worldwide. Rotaract continued to grow throughout the 70s and 80s, with 482 clubs in 1980, resulting in many metropolitan districts having over 20 clubs and hundreds of members at district events. The first Rotaract Club in Australia was the Rotaract Club of Essendon in, what is today, district 9800.

About Multi District Information Organisations (MDIOs)

Rotaract multidistrict information organizations (MDIOs) function as regional resource centers for Rotaractors. They comprise Rotaract clubs in two or more districts, within a country or across several countries. MDIOs are formed to disseminate information and facilitate communication among Rotaract clubs in the participating districts.

MDIOs in Europe, the Asia Pacific and South America have contributed significantly to Rotaract’s success by providing support and services that allow Rotaract clubs to flourish.

There are 16 MDIOs that support Rotaract clubs in the following parts of the world: North America and the Caribbean, Central Andes (Peru, Venezuela), Argentina and Uruguay and Paraguay, The Netherlands, Denmark, Europe, Korea, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines, Germany, Mexico, United Kingdom, France, Norway, South Asia.

The Rotary International Rotaract Committee recognises the importance of MDIOs and suggests Rotaractors and Rotarians take steps to establish MDIOs for their districts. Australasia is the only populated continent in the world without any MDIOs.

Rotaract MDIOs are excellent vehicles for communicating program updates, local and international news, and event bulletins, and for uniting Rotaractors from different clubs and districts within a particular region. MDIOs frequently offer Rotaractors information in the form of publications, Internet services, and direct links with RI staff.

About the Rotaract Australia MDIO

Rotaract Australia can:

Disseminate information and facilitate communication between Rotaract clubs in the Districts in the Area.
Provide assistance and support to the District Rotaract Representatives.
Assist with training for incoming District Rotaract Representatives in accordance with the policies of Rotary International.
Provide training to Presidents and board members at a regional level
To assist and support districts to promote Rotaract within their District.
Create and maintain a national database of Rotaract clubs in the Area.
Assist and support districts to maintain or increase membership in their district.
Coordinate an annual national conference for Rotaract members in the Area which is hosted by a member district. The Host district shall be selected at least 2 months before the preceding year's conference.
Help extend Rotaract to new areas.
Represent the Rotaract clubs and District Rotaract Representatives in the Area in communication with Rotary International.
Assist with strategic planning for Rotaract in Australia.

Joining

Districts are not automatically part of Rotaract Australia. To join:

2/3rds of Rotaract clubs must agree to join and agree to the constitution and bylaws.
The District Governor must have no objection.
The 2 RA join forms should be filled out and returned, the forms are located on the documents page.

Organisational Structure

Council of DRRs – Rotaract Australia’s governing body. The council is made up of the DRRs from member districts and decides which activities are undertaken by Rotaract Australia. Each DRR of a member district gets one vote on proposals put towards the council. The Council of DRRs elects the Executive including the President.

Executive - Responsible to the Council of DRRs for the implementation of Rotaract Australia’s activities. The Executive consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, President Elect and Immediate Past President. The Executive appoints the Regional Directors.

Regional Directors – Responsible to the Executive for supporting DRRs and clubs within each region and implementing Rotaract Australia's activities at a regional level.

District Rotaract Representatives – elected by the Rotaract membership to support Rotaract clubs in the district.

Regions of Rotaract Australia

Rotaract Australia is grouped into 4 regions to aid with communication, information dissemination and assist adjourning districts to work together.

Western Region: Districts 9455, 9465, 9500 and 9520

Northern Region: Districts 9550, 9570, 9600, 9630 and 9640

Eastern Region: Districts 9650, 9670, 9680, 9690, 9700, 9710 and 9750

Southern Region: Districts 9780, 9790, 9800, 9810, 9820 and 9830

Tools to realize the purposes of Rotaract Australia:

National Conference
Events calendar
National Directory
Editable marketing materials
Promotional merchandise
Regular Newsletter
Website
Best practice guidelines for Rotaract clubs
Regional training for incoming presidents and club officers

Funding

Rotaract Australia is funded by voluntary yearly contributions (for example $100) which can be paid by member districts. While districts are not required to pay this fee but it is recommended to ensure that essential administration and services can be provided. Payment of fees to Rotaract Australia is completely voluntary and the budget, including the fee amount, must be approved by the Council of DRRs before each year.

Benefits to Rotaract

Better marketing of Rotaract and recruitment strategies to attract new members to clubs.
Training to help clubs become more effective.
Better information about unique opportunities available to Rotaractors.
Mentoring, support and assistance through challenging situations.
Multidistrict events such as conferences and training.
Best practice guidelines compiled by experienced senior Rotaractors.
Raise the profile of Rotaract within the Rotary Family and to the public.
Communication between districts to help members feel part of something bigger.
Enhance the Rotaract experience for our members.
Allows DRRs to better focus on their districts knowing that advances are being made to support Rotaract on a national level.
Provide a framework for DRRs to make decisions on Rotaract at a national level.
Provide a support network for DRRs.

Benefits to Rotary

Strengthen Rotaract, increasing the number of potential Rotarians within the Rotary family.
Optimize the efforts of Rotarians who are investing their time to support Rotaract.
Assist to promote Rotary, Rotary ideals and Rotary projects to the younger generation.
Help Rotaract effectively serve as a membership catchment for graduated Interactors, returned Youth Exchange students, RYLA attendees and Ambassadorial scholars.
Increase Rotary's relevance to younger professionals.
Motivate Rotaractors to join Rotary - for each Rotaractor that joins, Rotary gains a member that is both new and veteran.
Provide a conduit from ACRG, Zone Director, Zone co-ordinators, Rotary co-ordinators to Rotaract clubs and districts.
Disseminate best practices from around the country to every district.
Co-ordinate national Rotaract support for Rotary projects such as PolioPlus.