We are a non-religious, not-for-profit, Australian and Timorese NGO motivated to advance primary healthcare in Timor-Leste by a sense of kinship and solidarity with the Timorese people. We believe that no one deserves to die or suffer from diseases that have been all but eliminated in non-indigenous Australia, especially in Timor-Leste, which has overcome such a traumatic past.

This belief motivated us to come to come to Timor-Leste in 2010 and help to fill an unmet need for health services by providing care in tuberculosis, HIV, malnutrition, rheumatic heart disease and other fields. Since then, we have witnessed a tremendous growth in the health services provided by the Ministry of Health that meet the direct care needs of the people of Timor-Leste. This means our role has shifted to have a bigger, longer-lasting impact by working with our Timorese health colleagues and the community to support a stronger health system.

Volunteers generally work within one of health projects to provide support and supervision to both our Maluk Timor staff, and also to the Ministry of Health staff we engage in our capacity-building work. There is relatively little direct clinical work, as Maluk Timor is not widely engaged in delivering clinical services. The roles are much more programmatic and supervisory, and include clinical supervision, teaching and mentoring Timorese health practitioners, designing and delivering health projects, and research, monitoring and evaluation.

Volunteers generally live together in share houses in Dili, and enjoy each other’s friendship and support. We typically have around 12 international volunteers of different professions (mostly medical) at any given time.

Volunteers are supported by our in-country management team, and by international experts from Maluk Timor Australia.