Media Release

21 June 2006

ANF launches appeal for East Timor nurses

The Australian Nursing Federation has launched an appeal to assist nurses in East Timor in the wake of recent upheaval in the country.

Madalena Soares, a nurse in East Timor and a member of the East Timor Nurses Association, Associacao Dos Enfermeiros Timor Lester (AETL) recently wrote to ANF Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe outlining the distressing situation facing nurses.

‘Nurses bring their families with them to the hospital in the hope that food will be available for everyone but the hospital only provides one plate of food for each nurse. Some nurses have already left workplaces to go to refugee camps. We need some help to encourage them to stay and to make sure they are safe,’ she said.

ANF Assistant Federal Secretary Gerardine (Ged) Kearney said the ANF is appealing to Australian nurses to help the AETL provide both emergency relief to individual nurses affected by the conflict in East Timor and to help rebuild infrastructure.

‘We have a long standing commitment to the nurses of East Timor who again face a difficult and distressing situation. Madalena’s story highlights the difficulties facing nurses and we want to respond quickly to offer relief from hunger and to keep nurses working in the hospitals.’

The appeal is being coordinated in partnership with Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA. Donations can be made by calling the toll free number 1800 888 674 and telling the operator the donation is for the East Timor Nurses appeal, or by visiting the website here.

Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary  0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary 0417 053 322
Lani Stanistreet, Manager Communication and Journals 0414 471 339