I am delighted to be working with East Timor Hearts Fund to continue the organisation’s mission to work with our partners in Timor-Leste to support prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for those at risk of or experiencing rheumatic heart disease. It is a privilege to work alongside a dedicated and experienced team of clinicians, donors, sponsors, board members, volunteers and staff who are passionate and dedicated to reducing the burden of untreated heart disease in Timor-Leste.
I have a background in nursing and have been fortunate to work across a range of healthcare sectors within Australia. For the past fifteen years, I have been in executive and leadership roles where I have had a particular passion for the development and implementation of strategies that result in tangible outcomes. I look forward to learning more about the healthcare system in Timor-Leste and building on our relationships with the Ministry of Health and local healthcare providers with a focus on education and training.
My role as Chief Executive Officer is to provide direction and support all aspects of East Timor Hearts Fund activities and to look for opportunities where we can further improve the lives of people living with heart disease in Timor-Leste.
I wanted to work with ETHF for 3 reasons.
- ETHF is an NGO that supports the good health of Timor-Leste, especially helping those Timorese communities who have been affected with heart disease, to give treatment, preventions and assist capacity building for the Timorese doctors and nurses.
- Supported the Ministry of Health Timor-Leste with cardiac clinics in Timor-Leste, including a number of surgical patients who have travelled to Australia for operations and improved cardiac services in Timor-Leste.
- I have been able to adapt my international working standard, which is so crucial to enhancing my ability in the future, to have an opportunity to work with other international NGOs.
I have good skills in communications, collaboration, health management, problem solving, and passion and self-dedication in the area that I am working. Other than that I also have public health skills such as; prevention, counselling, health administration and management.
I want to continue working with ETHF to produce better outcomes in improving cardiac services in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Timor-Leste and HNGV. I am also keen to pursue a scholarship or any short-term course opportunity in health research, health management or health administration in Australia, to enhance my ability and learn new skills, to implement and improve the quality of the health care system in my country.
I truly believe that there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing first-hand the effects an organisation like ETHF has on their donor recipients, patients, families, and communities. I grew up with Timorese people being a part of my extended Portuguese family and community in Melbourne, so the connection was already there for me.
My previous roles have largely supported senior and executive management in various industries. I’m a ‘jack of all trades’ as I’m often called and there’s no challenge or task too great. My studies focused on anthropology, politics, international security and applied linguistics. I’m fluent in Portuguese given it’s my cultural background, learnt a little Bahasa Indonesia whilst in Defence and can generally understand some Tetum.
In my role I need to stay one step ahead and ensure that I’m supporting everyone in and involved with ETHF: patients, staff, volunteers, donors, supporters, partners, etc. Whether it’s fundraising, marketing, administration, bookkeeping, planning an event, coordinating clinics and travel for patients, or having a chat to a donor…my role is involved and I’m grateful to be a part of a volunteer driven organisation.
I am thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to work with East Timor Hearts Fund to help the lives of Timorese people who are affected by RHD.
I am really motivated to work with an organisation that has strong values and a positive work environment. ETHF is driven to assist Timorese people affected by rheumatic heart disease by delivering education, prevention and treatment programs. It also provides surgery for patients and supports their needs and costs of living while in Australia. This is why it is at the top of my list of places to work.
After I received my Nursing Degree, I joined the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (MoH) in Lospalos and was working in the emergency department, outpatient department and inpatient rooms. I also collaborated with other medical teams in COVID-19 screening triage. We travelled to villages and schools around Lospalos to administer COVID-19 vaccinations and deliver health promotion regarding the virus.
I also worked with the Red Cross in Lospalos on various programs. These included conducting health promotion with various ethnic groups, providing first aid nursing care and providing support for drought relief operations.
I have been nursing for two years and I love it. I am always looking for ways to develop professionally and my aim is to continue learning throughout my career as a Nurse. I am very excited to grow my nursing career ETHF and help the people of Timor-Leste who are suffering from RHD.
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