Founded in 1919, Zonta International is a global service organization of executives in business and the professions working together, across political and social boundaries, to advance the status of women worldwide. Zonta International members volunteer their time, talents and money to local and international service programs, as well as scholarship and award programs aimed at furthering women's education, leadership and youth development.

Nearly 33,000 members belong to more than 1,200 Zonta Clubs in 68 countries and geographic areas.

Zonta International seeks to:

1) provide service at the global and local level;

2) improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women;

3) a world fellowship of executives in business and the professions;

4) work for the advancement of understanding, goodwill, and peace through promote justice and universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms;

5)be united internationally to foster high ethical standards, implement service programs, and provide mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities, their nations, and the universe.

Zonta first started in Australia in 1929 with the establishment of a club in Sydney, one of the first to come into existence outside the United States and Canada, but by 1935 this club had disappeared and it was not until 1965 that Dorothy Thompson was asked to re-introduce Zonta in Australia and New Zealand.

New clubs were formed in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland. Between 1965 and 1971, this remarkable woman organised clubs in all the capital cities in Australia, and in five cities in New Zealand.

Today, what was originally District 16, covering Australia and New Zealand is now divided in to three districts - District 16 - New Zealand, District 24 - New South Wales and Queensland, and District 23, covering South Australia and the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania.