Thank you to the 362 SISEAP members who took the time to complete our 2026 Member Survey. Your feedback gives us valuable insight into what members value, what challenges they experience, and where we can focus our efforts for the future.

One message came through clearly: members remain passionate about making a difference. Service projects and community impact were the leading reasons members continue to be involved, followed by advocacy, friendship and fellowship.

You also told us that there are opportunities to strengthen SISEAP. The key areas identified include attracting younger members, increasing awareness and visibility of Soroptimist, supporting membership recruitment and retention, and making our systems and communications simpler and more accessible.

Communication was another important theme. Members want to hear more about club projects and their impact, practical programme resources, project ideas and advocacy opportunities. While email remains an important way of communicating, many members also asked for communications to be shorter, better coordinated and less repetitive.

The Board is incorporating the survey findings into SISEAP’s current strategic-planning process. These findings will help shape priorities and practical actions to support clubs and members, strengthen our visibility and improve communication. Members will be updated as the plan and next steps are confirmed.

What we are doing

• No membership fee increase for a second successive year.
• Introduction of the official WhatsApp communication channel. The Board has approved an official SISEAP WhatsApp Community to strengthen communication and connection among members. Details on how to join will be provided soon.
• A Board Subcommittee reviewing technology platforms to improve member experience.
• A review of eSPAN and The Bulletin to simplify and better coordinate communications.

Thank you for helping shape the future of SISEAP. Your feedback is informing our plans, and action is already underway. We will keep you informed as this work progresses.

Anthea Penny
SISEAP 2026-2028 President 

president.anthea@siseap.org

Kerry Beer
2026-2028 Membership Convenor

membership.kerry@siseap.org

2027 Capitation Fees

PAYMENT OF 2027 SISEAP CAPITATION FEES FROM CLUBS WILL BE COLLATED AND PAID TO HQ BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND AUSTRALIAN REGIONS
 
You will be pleased to know that the SISEAP Directors have set the 2027 capitation fees at the same rate as for 2026. 

Simplified forms will be sent to clubs in October from their National Association or Australian Region which will show the capitation fee payable to SISEAP as well as any fee for their respective National Association or Australian Region.  A new category has been created for members over 85 years. 

Clubs within the National Associations / Australian Regions will be required to pay their full fees for members and submit their club annual returns no later than 31 January 2027 to their respective National Association / Australian Region in order to benefit from the early payment discount.

National Associations / Australian Regions will pay the collated club capitation fees to HQ in Australian dollars and this should alleviate the cost issue of currency exchange rates for clubs.

Recruit & Reward - Claim your 2027 Discount

Did you recruit a new member between 1 January and 30 June 2026 as part of our Recruit & Reward initiative? You may be eligible for a partial refund on your 2027 membership fee.

To be eligible, the recruited member must have included your name as their recruiter on their new member form when their membership was submitted to and processed by HQ. The recruited member must also remain financial throughout 2026 and renew their membership in the 2027 annual returns.

Clubs will submit their completed 2027 annual returns to their National Association or Australian Region as usual. Individual members wishing to claim their Recruit & Reward discount will need to complete a Recruit & Reward claim form, which will be sent with the annual returns paperwork.

Your claim form should be submitted once the annual returns have been completed. HQ will process Recruit & Reward claims after the club’s annual returns have been processed. Once eligibility and the required paperwork have been confirmed, eligible members will receive their 2027 membership fee discount by refund.

Members can claim the reward for up to four new recruits, with a maximum discount of AUD $40*.

Updated Company ByLaws

A new version (Version 15) of the Company Bylaws,  this V15 can be downloaded and viewed from the website downloads area.

CSW71 Scholarships Now Open

SISEAP is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the CSW71 scholarship and self funded delegate applications. 

This scholarship and self funded delegate positions are open to all SISEAP Soroptimists.

CSW 71 will be held in New York between the dates of  8 to 19 March 2027.

Soroptimist may apply for both the scholarship and to be a self funded delegate. 

You must be approved by SISEAP to attend CSW71, as only accredited delegates may attend side and parallel events. 

Grant of Friendship - Aotearoa New Zealand

SIANZ is offering a Grant of Friendship during March 2027, providing an opportunity for a Soroptimist, two Soroptimists travelling together, or a Soroptimist accompanied by a spouse or travelling companion to enjoy up to 21 days of home hosting among Clubs across the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The successful applicant will also be invited to attend the SIANZ National Conference in Wellington from 19–21 March 2027, at their own expense.

Applications close 15 November 2026.

For full details, eligibility and application information, please see the attached Grant of Friendship notice via the button below.

SISEAP HQ Update: Maternity Leave & Recruitment Opportunity

At the end of January 2027, Jessica Aylward will be taking maternity leave to welcome her third baby! 

During her maternity leave, SISEAP HQ is seeking an Australian-based person with full working rights to provide remote support across HQ communications and administration.

Interested, or know someone who may be a great fit? Please send a resume/CV to Jessica Aylward at hq@siseap.org.

See the attached HQ Communications & Administration Job Description for full details.

SISEAP Company Secretary Position Available

A vacancy is now available for the SISEAP Company Secretary.

We are delighted to congratulate our current Company Secretary, Theresa, on her appointment as the next Soroptimist International President. This wonderful achievement means that SISEAP now needs to appoint a new Company Secretary to take on this important role.

The position must be filled by an Australian. A notice has been circulated to Australian clubs; however, if you know an Australian Soroptimist, colleague or contact who may be interested in the role, please encourage them to consider applying.

The Company Secretary Roles & Responsibilities are provided below for your information. Please share this opportunity with any suitable Australians who may be interested in supporting SISEAP in this important role.

SISEAP is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the CSW71 scholarship. 

This scholarship is open to all SISEAP Soroptimists.

CSW 71 will be held in New York between the dates of  8 to 19 March 2027.

CSW71 Themes

Priority theme: Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Review theme: Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the context of climate change, environmental and disaster risk reduction policies and programmes
Critical area of concern or cross-cutting issue: Poverty and the economic empowerment of women

Soroptimists may apply for both the scholarship and to be a self funded delegate. 

You must be approved by SISEAP to attend CSW71, as only accredited delegates may attend side and parallel events. 

You must apply to be a self funded delegate.  Up to 10 self funded delagate positions are available.

Soroptimists considering applying for the Scholarship or to be a self funded delegate.  Should consider the following:

If applying for the Scholarship, please apply for your visa to enter America and have this approved prior to applying for your scholarship.   This does not apply for self funded delegates.  

• Be able to obtain a visa to enter the United States of Ameria. Link to apply for your visa 
• Have a valid passport
• Have travel insurance, and sufficient funds to cover Accomodation, travel and food. 

SISEAP Women’s Health Forum & Campaign Launch

Saturday 24 October 2026, 2pm AEDT.

Women’s health matters. And it is time to move from awareness to action.

Join Soroptimists from across the SISEAP Federation for the Her Health, Our Wealth Women’s Health Forum & Campaign Launch on Saturday 24 October 2026.

This 80-minute online Forum will officially bring Soroptimists together around the Federation-wide Her Health, Our Wealth campaign, exploring the health challenges affecting women and girls across our region and, importantly, what we can do about them.

The campaign itself focuses on improving women's and girls' health and wellbeing through awareness, prevention, support, advocacy and community-led action.

From Awareness to Action

The Forum is designed to inspire Soroptimists to look beyond identifying health issues and consider how we can create meaningful change in our communities.

Through expert perspectives, lived experience and examples of Soroptimist projects, participants will explore how we can move from awareness and knowledge to action, access and improved health outcomes.

Not every project will reach every stage of the continuum. What matters is identifying the change we want to create and understanding what changed because of our intervention.

What to Expect

Why Her Health, Our Wealth?
Explore why women's health is fundamental to health, human rights, gender equality, economic security and sustainable development.

Women's Health Across SISEAP
A snapshot of women's health across the Federation, highlighting common challenges while recognising the different contexts of our 13 countries.

The Human Story
Hear a compelling lived-experience story highlighting the realities of women's health, with a focus on endometriosis.

Expert Panel: From Awareness to Action
Hear from four perspectives exploring the visibility, access, experience and change gaps in women's health.

Soroptimists in Action
Discover examples of health projects and explore what meaningful Soroptimist action can look like at a local level.

The Campaign Toolkit
Learn about the resources available to support clubs, Regions and National Associations in developing their own health initiatives.

The Call to Action
Discover a simple pathway for turning an identified health issue into meaningful action:

Identify → Connect → Act → Measure → Share

Expert Panel 

How do we move from recognising women's health challenges to creating meaningful change?

The Forum's expert panel will explore four different perspectives:

Awareness & Knowledge — The Visibility Gap
What women's health issues remain poorly understood, overlooked or invisible?

Access & Equity — The Access Gap
What prevents women from receiving the healthcare they need, even when services technically exist?

Women's Voice & Lived Experience — The Experience Gap
What are women telling us about their experiences of healthcare, and what are health systems still failing to hear?

Action & System Change — The Change Gap
What can we do differently, and where can advocacy, partnerships and community action make a difference?

The discussion will move beyond identifying problems to exploring practical opportunities for change — and the role Soroptimists can play.

Forum Speakers

Anthea Penny

Joanne Yeoh

Dr. Natasha Vavrek

Lou De Castro-Myles

Why Should Soroptimists Attend?

Her Health, Our Wealth is designed to be locally relevant and Federation-wide in impact.

Regions, National Associations and clubs will be encouraged to identify women's health priorities relevant to their own communities and consider how they can respond through education, awareness-raising, advocacy, partnerships, community engagement and practical projects.

Who is the Forum for?

All Soroptimists across the SISEAP Federation are encouraged to attend, including:

• Club members
• Club Programme teams
• Regional and National Association leaders
• Programme Convenors
• Members interested in women's health
• Members looking for ideas for future projects
• Anyone interested in developing partnerships or advocacy initiatives

Whether your club already has a women's health project or you are looking for an opportunity to get started, this Forum will provide ideas, inspiration and practical next steps.

Date: Saturday 24 October 2026

Time: 2pm AEDT

Format: Online

Duration: 80 minutes

Registration: Open now

Zoom/link: Register for the Health Forum via the button below

Her Health, Our Wealth is a Federation-wide SISEAP campaign bringing Soroptimists together to strengthen the health and wellbeing of women and girls across our communities.

The campaign recognises that healthier women contribute to stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger future.

Through local action, partnerships, advocacy, prevention, education and evidence-based initiatives, Soroptimists can help turn women's health priorities into meaningful change.

Don't just be aware. Know the issue. Take action. Improve access. Create change.

HER HEALTH. OUR WEALTH.

Join us on Saturday 24 October 2026.

Sunday, 4 October 10am AEDT

What makes a Soroptimist club successful in today’s changing world? Join us for an inspiring and practical forum featuring speakers from clubs across the Federation who are “Doing It Differently.”

Hear how clubs are adapting their meeting formats, using hybrid and online technology, engaging members who can’t attend in person, and working together to fundraise and deliver meaningful programs and activities. Discover new ideas and take away practical approaches you can try with your own club.

Come along, be inspired and discover new ways to keep your club connected, active and successful!

Meeting ID: 842 8945 4711
Passcode: 046298

Three Questions to Turn Inspiration into Action

1. What could we stop doing, start doing or do differently to make our club more attractive and accessible to current and future members?
2. What is one idea we have heard today that could strengthen our club’s meetings, member engagement, fundraising or program work — and what would it take to trial it within the next three months?
3. If we designed our club from scratch today, knowing what we now know about our members, our community and technology, what would we keep, what would we change, and what is the first step we can take?

Ask several members to watch the forum together and choose one of the above questions to discuss. Take your findings to a club meeting.

SISEAP Leadership for Impact Course • Fiji

16 Soroptimist members from SI Suva, SI Lautoka, SI Ba and SI Sigatoka

Building confident leaders across Fiji

Sixteen Soroptimist members from clubs across Fiji have completed the six-week online SISEAP Leadership for Impact Course. The course was designed to strengthen the skills needed to lead change in a volunteer organisation—where influence, communication, collaboration and shared purpose are often more powerful than formal authority.

Participant feedback shows that the course was not simply well received; it prompted members to think differently about leadership and, importantly, to identify practical actions they can take at club level. Their responses point to a strong common theme: effective Soroptimist leadership is about listening, empowering others, communicating clearly and turning the mission into action.

The Fiji cohort demonstrates the value of investing in leadership development across Soroptimist clubs. Participants left with more than new concepts: they identified specific behaviours, relationships and actions they intend to put into practice. Their focus on listening, empathy, communication, advocacy, collaboration and practical action reflects the kind of leadership that can strengthen clubs while keeping the mission of improving the lives of women and girls at the centre.

The next course with participants from New Guinea is due to start on 12^th September.

President Anthea Announces New Federation-Wide Health Campaign: Her Health – Our Wealth

Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific (SISEAP) President Anthea Penny has announced a new Federation-wide health campaign, Her Health – Our Wealth, launching in September 2026.

The campaign brings Soroptimists across South East Asia and the Pacific together around a shared commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of women and girls. Through awareness, prevention, support, advocacy and community-led action, the campaign aims to address some of the significant and uneven health challenges experienced by women and girls throughout the SISEAP region.

With the message “Women’s Health Matters,” Her Health – Our Wealth recognises that better health outcomes for women contribute to stronger families, stronger communities and a stronger future.

HER HEALTH - OUR WEALTH LAUNCH

Register here

The campaign will focus on improving access to timely, affordable and culturally appropriate health services, strengthening prevention and early intervention, supporting women and girls experiencing gender-based violence, building community resilience and increasing women's health literacy, leadership and influence in health policy.

Key Health Issues for Women and Girls

The campaign recognises five key areas of health affecting women and girls across the SISEAP region:

What Are We Trying to Achieve?

Through Her Health – Our Wealth, SISEAP aims to:

• Increase access to timely, affordable and culturally appropriate health services for women and girls.
• Prevent disease by increasing coverage of priority preventive services, including sexual and reproductive health services, HPV vaccination and non-communicable disease screening.
• Reduce the incidence of gender-based violence and harmful practices while improving responses and support.
• Strengthen community capacity to maintain essential services during emergencies and climate-related shocks.
• Advocate for increased women's health literacy, leadership and influence in health policy.

Our Shared Commitment

The campaign is built around four key messages:

The Federation-wide approach will allow National Associations and Regions to identify and respond to the health priorities most relevant to their own communities, while contributing to a shared SISEAP vision.

For example, different areas may choose to focus on specific priorities such as endometriosis in NSW, ovarian cancer in New Zealand, oral cancer in Papua New Guinea, or mental health in Malaysia.

This local adaptability is an important part of the campaign, ensuring that Soroptimists can respond to the needs of their communities while sharing knowledge, resources and impact across the Federation.

Working Together for Impact

Her Health – Our Wealth will be supported through a coordinated Federation-wide structure.

The Federation President and President Elect will act as Campaign Sponsors. Campaign coordination and oversight will occur through the Management Committee, Programme Committees and National Presidents, while day-to-day activities will be undertaken by National Associations and Australian Regions.

The Finance Committee will review seed-grant rules and disbursements.

National Associations and Regions participating in the campaign will establish a project group with a Convenor, register planned activities through the campaign database and submit short quarterly reports outlining key numbers and one project story. Projects receiving campaign funding will also be required to meet milestone reporting and basic audit requirements.

Local Action, National Impact

The campaign encourages National Associations and Regions to develop partnerships with ministries, schools, women's groups and local NGOs to strengthen the reach and impact of their work.

A simple data collection process through the SISEAP Programme Database will help capture the collective impact of projects across the Federation.

SISEAP will also work to provide information toolkits, resources and other campaign materials, with sponsorship opportunities being explored to expand the resources available to clubs and members.

By bringing together the knowledge, experience and commitment of Soroptimists across the region, the campaign aims to make women's health a stronger focus within our communities and create opportunities for meaningful, sustainable change.

Launching September 2026

Her Health – Our Wealth will officially launch in September 2026, providing Soroptimists across the SISEAP Federation with an opportunity to take action on women's health in ways that reflect the needs of their local communities.

From raising awareness and supporting prevention to building partnerships, advocating for change and strengthening community resilience, every action can contribute to a healthier future.

The SI SEAP Sisters Online Knowledge Exchange Series is back with an exciting lineup of free webinars covering important topics that impact women, families and communities.

From innovative approaches to ovarian cancer awareness and groundbreaking K9 medical detection, to brain health, mental wellbeing and endometriosis advocacy, these sessions offer valuable insights from passionate presenters.

Register for one session or join them all and be part of this inspiring learning community

The 2026 Knowledge Exchange Health Series

1. SIANZ National Project: Heal the Teal: Reduce the Impact of Ovarian Cancer.  Presenter Yvonne Simpson QSM will explore the successes and challenges with planning, monitoring and reporting that helped earn this project a Best Practice Award 2026.  Sunday 9 August. 2pm AEST. 
2. K9 Medical Detection: Pauline Blomfield, CE K9MD, will share the cutting edge and unique research and training they are doing with dogs to detect the early stages of Ovarian Cancer. Sunday 13 September at 2pm AEST
3. An Introduction to Brain Health supporting Mental Wellbeing with Karyn Chalk, Director of Changing Ways, Brain Health Coach and Trainer, Positive Neuroplasticity Trainer and Havening Techniques Practitioner. Sunday 11 October, 2pm AEST
4. "Listen to Women's Pain – Endometriosis Matters".  Jacqui McLachlan, President SI NSW will share the SI New South Wales region project which actively campaigns for endometriosis awareness and advocacy. Sunday 8 November 2pm AEST 

Duration is about one hour

Notes: times are for Australia

These are open sessions - please share with your friends, family and colleagues. 

There is no cost.

Register for as many as you wish to attend.

Not all sessions will be recorded.

Register with this link and you will be contacted with the link to join the webinar closer to the date.

Contact Yvonne Simpson at sisistersonline@siseap.org for further information.

Missed "Tea with SISEAP President Anthea Penny" Webinar?

If you weren't able to join SI SEAP Sisters Online live, you can now watch the recording below.

As part of The Knowledge Exchange webinar series presented by SISEAP Sisters Online, this engaging and informal session featured SISEAP 2026–2028 President Anthea Penny.

Hosted by Yvonne, the conversation explored Anthea's background, what inspired her to become a Soroptimist, and her vision and priorities for the Federation throughout her 2026–2028 presidential biennium. The session also included an interactive question-and-answer segment, giving attendees the opportunity to hear directly from Anthea.

Whether you're a long-time member or new to Soroptimist, this webinar offers a wonderful opportunity to get to know our President and learn more about her aspirations for the future of Soroptimist South East Asia Pacific.

We invite you to watch the recording below and enjoy this insightful conversation.

The Knowledge Exchange.  

SISEAP Sisters Online offers a webinar series exploring diverse topics. In support of SI President Renata's theme of "Her Health Our Future", and SISEAP President Anthea's campaign "Her Health Our Wealth", the following webinars explore health.

The 2026 Knowledge Exchange Health Series

1. SIANZ National Project: Heal the Teal: Reduce the Impact of Ovarian Cancer.  Presenter Yvonne Simpson QSM will explore the successes and challenges with planning, monitoring and reporting that helped earn this project a Best Practice Award 2026.  Sunday 9 August. 2pm AEST. 
2. K9 Medical Detection: Pauline Blomfield, CE K9MD, will share the cutting edge and unique research and training they are doing with dogs to detect the early stages of Ovarian Cancer. Sunday 13 September at 2pm AEST
3. An Introduction to Brain Health supporting Mental Wellbeing with Karyn Chalk, Director of Changing Ways, Brain Health Coach and Trainer, Positive Neuroplasticity Trainer and Havening Techniques Practitioner. Sunday 11 October, 2pm AEST
4. "Listen to Women's Pain – Endometriosis Matters".  Jacqui McLachlan, President SI NSW will share the SI New South Wales region project which actively campaigns for endometriosis awareness and advocacy. Sunday 8 November 2pm AEST 

Duration is about one hour

Notes: times are for Australia

These are open sessions - please share with your friends, family and colleagues. 

There is no cost.

Register for as many as you wish to attend.

Not all sessions will be recorded.

Register with this link and you will be contacted with the link to join the webinar closer to the date.

Contact Yvonne Simpson at sisistersonline@siseap.org for further information.

On Sunday 27 September at 12 noon AEST.  Programme database training is open to all Soroptimists not just club progamme reporters, training will equip you with the skills to effectively report project outcomes, ensuring your local initiatives gain the visibility they deserve. Properly documenting your impact not only showcases your achievements across the region, but also paves the way for successful submissions toward Best Practice Awards.