Interplast was started in 1983 in a partnership between Rotary and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Interplast sends fully qualified volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals (such as physiotherapists, hand therapists and occupational therapists) to developing countries in the Asia Pacific region to provide life-changing treatment and training/mentoring of local staff.
 
The primary focus of the surgery is to restore function and mobility. Skill development and capacity building are central to our work. Our volunteers come from across Australia and New Zealand and give generously of their time and expertise.

Rotary has been there from the start, and continues to be vital in governance, funding and logistic support.
 
We trust that Rotarians in District 9640 will continue to support us to maintain and extend this invaluable, life changing work.
 
 
 
Turia Pitt was badly burned during the 2011 Kimberley Ultra-marathon.  Burns to 65% of her body, multiple finger amputations, over twenty operations… the list goes on!

Interplast is a charity that provides free reconstructive to people living in developing nations.  So they could perform surgery on people with cleft palate, women who are victims of an acid attack or even other burn survivors.

Following a recent trip to Laos, she believes in Interplast even more now that she has seen the tangible impact that this organisation has.
 

Changing futures today

Interplast sends teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to provide life-changing surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region.

We do this in partnership with local organisations, including hospitals, universities and local NGOs. Our mission is to ‘repair bodies and rebuild lives’ and we do this through providing surgical services to those who could not otherwise afford or access these, and by building the capacity of local medical systems through our training and mentoring programs.

Interplast is a fully accredited NGO with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), registered by the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission and is a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct.