As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect.
By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Rotary creates environments where peace can happen.
Rotary Melbourne launched a public installation of four Peace Bells in Rotary Melbourne Peace Park, offically opened during the Rotary International Convention in May 2023. Designed and built by Assoc Prof Neil McLachlan who designed the Federation Bells at Birrarung Marr, the bells are interactive and we encourage you to visit to reflect on promoting peace and the four steps to peace.
The South Sudanese Peace Leadership Program, hosted by the Initiative for Peacebuilding, University of Melbourne and supported by Rotary Melbourne, is a three-day peace leadership program tailored to the critical role Australian South Sudanese community leaders and peacebuilders have in supporting longer-term peace, both within their communities in Australia and for political development and social healing in South Sudan.
The Rotary Melbourne Peace Park. next to the Royal Botanic Gardens was first established in 1935 in conjunction with the City of Melbourne when the founder of Rotary, Paul Harris planted the first tree in his only visit to Australia.
Rotary awards up to 100 fully funded fellowships for leaders to undertake university study in peace and conflict resolution.
Tania Miletic was a recipient of a Rotary Melbourne Paul Harris Fellow (Sapphire) in 2021 and also a 2002-04 Rotary Peace Fellow. Read this article from the December 2023 issue of Rotary Magazine.
At the changeover for 2022-23 Rotary District 9800 Governor Amanda Wendt, the special People of Action Peace Award for our Peace Bell project was awarded to Rotary Melbourne which looks to spread across the world.
The Peace Bells are ringing! 
Officially opened on Wednesday 24 May 2023 at Rotary Melbourne Peace Park with Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Nobel Prize Peace Laureate Tilman Ruff, designer Neil McLachlan, Rotary Melbourne President Adrian Nelson, and Project Leader Rob McGuirk. An historic day for peace and Rotary in Melbourne.
In celebration of its centenary in Australia in April 2021, Rotary Melbourne invited leaders in peace and conflict resolution from around the world to an online symposium, providing perspectives on challenging global and domestic issues and how we can all contribute towards building a more peaceful world over the next 100 years.
Speakers at the Symposium included Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Presidents, Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers, Rotary International World Presidents, and leading international peace advocates.
