East Timor Project
PROJECT DIRECTOR - DR. DAVID McNICOL (ACT)

East Timor or Timor Leste is the world’s newest nation and possibly the poorest. It has a population of just under a million people, living under third world conditions. It lies to the north-west of Darwin, the most eastern of the Nusa Tenggara Archipelago, across the Timor Sea. 

Despite the above it is a staggeringly beautiful country, with razor- backed mountain ranges, fast flowing rivers in the wet season, sandy beaches and fringing coral reefs. Its capitol, Dili, reminds one of its historic associations with the Portuguese who first came to Timor in the 1512, in its architecture and overall layout. Traders came drawn by the lucrative sandalwood trade.

During the Second World War, Australian Commandos were greatly supported by the Timorese people in their resistance to the Japanese invasion, thus establishing an enduring bond between the two nations. More recently, Australia led an UN international force of peacekeepers, during East Timor’s transition to an independent state.

Medically there is limited infra-structure. Maternal and infant peri-natal mortality is high. TB and bone and joint infection is common, as are congenital conditions, trauma and cerebral palsy, to name but a few of the Orthopaedic problems. The Dili National Hospital is reasonably well equipped as a result of an Ausaid program, administered by the RACS, of which Orthopaedic Outreach is a partner.

Presently there are two visits annually by Orthopaedic Surgical teams, really not enough to care for the needs of the East Timorese people. Orthopaedic Outreach will be actively seeking to increase that commitment to the East Timorese, with the support of the Australian community.

PROJECTS

Bali Training
Program

Cook Islands

East Timor Project

West Timor Report

Fiji - Labasa

Fiji - Lautoka

Fiji - Suva

Fiji - Suva and Lautoka

Kiribati

Papua New Guinea

Samoa

Solomon Islands

Tongan Footclub Program - 2007

Tuvalu

Vanuatu