Putting our capacity building work in Timor-Leste on DFAT agenda

28 Aug 2018

28 August 2018

The event provided an opportunity to highlight the significant work International Health are doing at the Dili National Hospital and St John of God Health Care’s involvement in facilitating student placements with the Australian Catholic University.

St John of God Social Outreach Timor-Leste Country Manager Ben Dingle said he was able to speak former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop about possible future engagement with DFAT to build on an existing capacity building partnership between St John of God Health Care and Australian Catholic University at the National University of Timor-Leste (UNTL).

“It was a privilege to be able to share with the former Foreign Minister the great work and partnerships that International Health have developed in Timor-Leste,” Ben said.

“I was able to speak personally to the former Minister and senior advisors about our joint activities between Dili’s National Hospital and Timor’s National University and the prospect of sourcing potential funding from the Australian government in the future.”

Since 2004 and 2010 respectively, St John of God’s Social Outreach International Health caregivers have been delivering a Pathology and Nursing Development Program in partnership with Timor’s Ministry of Health.

The objective of both programs is to improve the standard of patient care in Timor-Leste by building the capacity of local pathology and nursing staff.

The International Health team in Melbourne and Timor Leste work on leadership and governance, quality and hospital standards and education and training to promote practice change that will build Timor’s health care capabilities.

St John of God Health Care’s capacity building work in Timor-Leste is helped made possible by the ongoing support of ConocoPhillips.