The Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies (FAOPS) was established in 1978, on the same year of the Alma Ata Declaration “Health for All by 2000”. It is a federation of national perinatal societies of countries situated in the Asia and Oceania region. The FAOPS commenced primarily upon the instigation of obstetric specialists from Australia and New Zealand1 in collaboration with similar specialists in the field, from Singapore, Japan, India and Indonesia. Consequently, its first President was the late Geoffrey Thornburg, a reproductive physiologist from Australia and its first secretariat established in the same country.

The FAOPS aims to promote the science and art of perinatology, which involves maternal, fetal and neonatal welfare; promote and maintain liaison and goodwill among perinatal associations in the region and professions involved in the field; provide expert advise on perinatology to governments and other related organizations; and to promote research and training in perinatology.

 The federation is composed of representative perinatal societies of countries belonging to the Asia and Oceania regions.

• From a five (5)-member federation, it has expanded to a twenty (20) member organization ably represented by their perinatal society Presidents and colleagues. 
• The countries represented in the FAOPS, include seventeen (17) regular and three (3) associate members.
• These are Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Associate members include Egypt, Hong Kong, and UAE.

The FAOPS has evolved into a vibrant community of leaders, researchers and experts in the field of Perinatology. It is governed by the FAOPS Constitution and By-Laws and has upheld the tenets of professionalism and cooperation among member countries. Its operation as an organization is maintained by a Council of executive officers composed of the Immediate Past President, President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Secretary General and three (3) Deputy Secretary Generals, each representing the Eastern, Western and Central sub-regions of Asia and Oceania. It has also recently, involved its former presidents through the creation of a Council of Advisers. This year, the FAOPS has been officially invited and will become, an affiliate organization of the World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM).

The FAOPS objectives are achieved through various activities that include: 

1) A biennial congress that is held among its member countries 

2) FAOPS-supported perinatal workshops among its sub-regions

 3) Young investigator award and 

4) FAOPS participation and representation in global and country perinatal meetings, conferences and workshops. 

In the spirit of collaboration and sharing of expertise, the FAOPS and its activities with the perinatal society member countries, have kept pace with the various developments in the field and trust that it has (in one way or another) potentially contributed to the improvement of perinatal health outcomes in its member countries.