National Councils of Serra International

Serra International recognises the beneficial role that National Councils provide by representing individual Clubs at the International level and by ensuring more effective extension work within a country.  National Councils can only be approved by the Board of Trustees of Serra International.

National Councils have been established in Great Britain, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, Canada, United States of America and Australia. The initial Serra Councils were set up in Great Britain and Brazil during 1970.

From its introduction into Australia in early 1970, Serra was managed by Area Trustees appointed by Serra International. Working closely with District Governors, the Apostolate grew in Australia and in New Zealand and led to the formation of several working parties to determine how a local Council could be set up.

In Australia, The Serra Council for Australasia is the body that oversees Clubs in Australia and New Zealand. For administrative purposes, the area includes Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

An Interim Board of SCANZSPAC was formed in 1994 and Board Members Board worked to develop the Mission and Role of the Council. The Constitution was approved by Serra International in 1996 and the Council was formally introduced into Australia at the Serra Wagga Wagga Convention in October 1996.

The Mission of the Council is to actively promote the work of Serra International within Australia, New Zealand, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific by:

• providing a regional organisation to represent all Serrans, Serra Clubs and Districts;
• liaising with Conferences of Catholic Bishops;
• developing contacts with religious and secular media;
• in conjunction with Serra International, determining the direction and aims of Serra by creating the policies and programmes required to extend the work of Serra International effectively throughout the SCANZSPAC Area.

The Council Board of Trustees (Committee) meets three times a year at venues determined at the meetings.  Elections are called each year for positions on the Board and are open to Members from each local Club.

In March 2025, the Council name was changed to Serra Council of Australasia.

Council Board Members 2024-2025