Welcome to the Australia District Website

We are an eclectic mix of ages, genders, occupations, backgrounds and interests. We are all passionate about making our community and the world a better place for children so they can thrive. We are devoted to serving the children in our local community and also children all across the country and worldwide through unique and innovative service projects and fundraising initiatives.

Governor 2025-2026
Steve Hughes

Join and help us improve the lives of Children
View a Snapshot of what our Club achieve

The motto of Kiwanis International is Serving the Children of the World. As Governor of Kiwanis Australia my main imperative is to increase the membership of Kiwanis.

#Kids need Kiwanis                >>>       #Kiwanis needs you!

We want to project a modern organisation where younger people want to help us and join. Members want Value and to that end Kiwanis can assist personal leadership development through their professional educational programs.

Last year Kiwanis members performed over seven million hours of voluntary work in our communities worldwide. Clubs choose the causes they help. The Kiwanis Children’s Fund (KCF) funds over $1.7 million in grants each year to support projects around the world. Our clubs add many millions of $ to this service.

There are 400,000 members in the family of Kiwanis in 82 countries in the adult and sponsored children’s clubs. We are proud of the worldwide service projects we have funded since the 90’s, which have addressed significant areas of disadvantage to children around the world.

The Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) Project funded and advocated for nations to add iodine to salt. This continues to save millions of children from reduced brain development (cretinism) and goitres.

The Eliminate Project raised US$120 million to allow the vaccination of over 60 million mothers against tetanus. Vaccination, training in safe birthing practices and advocating to governments for the continuation of the programs have saved tens of thousands of children and mothers every year from dying from maternal neonatal tetanus.

Our latest “The Possibility Project” aims to raise US$25 million over 5 years to fund grants to our Kiwanis clubs. These grants will address Health and Nutrition; Education and Literacy; and Youth Leadership Development for children all around the world. Already over US$8.6 million has been raised. This amount will at least double in service value as the grants are made on a club matching basis.

I have been associated with Kiwanis for 40 years. My wife and daughter are also active  Kiwanis members. I have moved with my work around Australia, and Kiwanis was an excellent way to make new friends and serve the different communities. I joined clubs in Maitland, NSW; Perth, WA: Melbourne, Vic and Sydney, NSW.

My wife and I have travelled to District Conventions all around Australia and New Zealand. We have travelled to international conventions in Taiwan, Malaysia, Nepal, Japan and the USA. On every occasion we have made many new friends and renewed old acquaintances. One of the Objects of Kiwanis is “to form enduring friendships” and we have found this to be the case.

We would welcome you helping us to serve the children, while making new friends and having fun.

Steve Hughes