The Penguin Club of Australia was founded in Sydney in 1937 by women for women. It was one of the first organisations to give women the opportunity to develop communication skills, in an era when women were not active in public life.;;;;The Club is a national organisation with a collaborative structure. Local groups of between six and 15 women meet throughout metropolitan and country areas. Each group elects representatives to their State Council and each State has representatives at National level. ;;;;;;;;At group meetings the emphasis is on participation and practice. With administration at a minimum, there is more time for members to practise prepared and impromptu speeches, participate in workshops, gain experience running meetings and generally gain confidence in communicating;;