Volunteer
Below is a list of just a few of the volunteer organisations working to make a difference for the people of East Timor. If you would like to see your organisation listed here, please contact us via the form under Who We Are.
Australian Aid International
Australian Aid International is an international non-profit, non-government organisation committed to mitigating the double burden of poverty and poor access to quality health care in regions where health systems have either collapsed or are in crisis through the provision of emergency medical care, general and public health services and capacity building.
AAI recruits medical and non-medical volunteers. The majority of its volunteers are on leave from their regular employment, and include paramedics, doctors, police officers, solicitors, and publishing editors with outdoor skills.
Visit the Australian Aid International website for more information.
Australian Business Volunteers
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) is a not-for-profit international development agency that aims to contribute to sustainable growth in developing communities through the transfer of knowledge and workplace skill. This is achieved using the experience and expertise of highly skilled professional volunteers.
ABV is largely funded by the Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Agency, AusAID. ABV supports the broad aims of the Australian Government’s aid program which are to alleviate poverty and create sustainable development.
Learn more about ABV’s presence in East Timor and how you can get involved at the ABV website.
Australian Volunteers International
Australian Volunteers International (AVI) is an independent not-for-profit organisation that recruits and prepares skilled volunteers to share skills and build relationships with people of other cultures. Their work builds the capacity of local organisations and communities.
Foremost among the development issues East Timor is faced with, is the widespread poverty and inequality within the country. In 2004 the GDP per capita was only US$370. Approximately 40 per cent of the population live below the national poverty line – on less than US$0.55 per day.
Timor-Leste’s economy also suffers from a lack of skilled workers. Many schools were destroyed in the Indonesian invasion.
Visit AVI to learn more.
AYAD
The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) Program is an AusAID initiative which supports skilled young Australians who want to live, work and make a difference in the Asia Pacific region.
Every year, the AYAD Program places 400 young Australians on short-term assignments (3-12 months) in developing countries across the Asia Pacific region.
AYADs work with local counterparts in partner Host Organisations to achieve sustainable development outcomes through capacity building, skills transfer and institutional strengthening.
AYAD assignments cover a diverse range of sectors including Education, Environment, Gender, Governance, Health, Infrastructure, Rural Development and Trades.
Learn more at the AYAD website.
Palms Australia
Palms Australia is an independent Australian volunteer sending organisation with over 46 years experience in recruiting, preparing, sending and supporting volunteers for work overseas and in cross-cultural situations.
Palms responds to requests from global communities, in the Pacific, Asia, Africa and indigenous Australia by sending skilled Australian volunteers abroad as part of a skills exchange program. Exchanging skills ensures the benefits are long term and sustainable for the overseas community and the volunteer.
Learn more at the Palms website.
VIDA
VIDA (Volunteering for International Development from Australia) is part of the Australian Government’s volunteer program. Funded by AusAID, the Australian Government agency responsible for managing Australia’s overseas aid program, the VIDA Program places skilled Australian volunteers in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, including East Timor.
The VIDA Program for East Timor is guided by the principles of the Australian Government’s Volunteer Policy which specifies that at least 75% of VIDA assignments must be directly aligned with AusAID priority areas in East Timor. These are governance – public sector capacity building, law and justice – institutional capacity and civil society, health service delivery and rural development.
The remaining 25% are aligned to the priority areas of the government of East Timor. These are the reduction of poverty, the promotion of sustainable economic growth, and the improvement of the health, education and wellbeing of the population.
Visit Vida Volunteers to find out more.