A cross-party group of federal MPs has arrived in Timor-Leste as part of an ongoing program to connect Canberra decision-makers with the children and communities Australian aid reaches.
Alison Penfold MP, Louise Miller-Frost MP, David Moncrieff MP, Ben Small MP and Senator Sarah Hanson-Young will spend five days visiting projects that tackle child health and schooling, help low-income households build income, and support communities adapting to a shifting climate.
Malnutrition rates among children in Timor-Leste sit alongside the worst anywhere globally, with nearly one in two children under five affected. During the trip, the MPs will sit down with parents and health workers to hear what's driving those numbers and what's being done in response.
The trip will also trace the long-running connection between the two countries and why it continues to matter for Australia's trade, defence and security interests closer to home. The group will be travelling with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), a Cairns-based service running medical evacuations and other emergency support across Timor-Leste, giving MPs a look at how that operation runs day to day.
The delegation will visit a program supported by the Australian Government through the Global Fund which has seen Timor-Leste achieve the significant milestone of eliminating malaria. They will also explore the historic sites connected to the Balibo 5 journalists and see how Australian Government support has built connections between Australia and the people of Balibo through health, livelihood and tourism opportunities. Further, they will see first-hand the work of the Australian Government PARTISIPA program, a 10-year, $80 million program improving basic infrastructure and services at the village and municipal level.
The group's program includes the capital Dili, along with Balibo, Maliana, and the remote district of Oecusse.
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinkler says children in Timor-Leste face tough health and development challenges, from chronic malnutrition to limited access to basic healthcare.
"Timor-Leste's child stunting rates are among the highest in the world, and behind every statistic is a child whose future is being shaped before they've had a chance to get started. Australian aid is helping change that, but there's still a long way to go," he said.
"Seeing these programs in person makes a real difference. It's one thing to talk theoretically about child malnutrition rates from a distance, it's another to sit with a mother in Oecusse and hear what it means for her family. We're pleased to provide the opportunity for these parliamentarians to see this work up close."
The Australian Regional Leadership Initiative is a Save the Children Australia project, made possible with funding from the Gates Foundation. Since 2015, Save the Children has taken 21 delegations to countries including Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Cambodia, Fiji, Kenya, Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Vanuatu and Laos.
