Media Release
30 April 2007
The Australian Nursing Federation launches the $5+ appeal to rebuild a future for East Timor nurses
As a result of recent violence in East Timor, 82 nurses had their homes burned to the ground or destroyed by vandalism. These nurses remain without adequate housing for themselves or their families and are living in dangerous and difficult conditions as they work to deliver health care to the East Timor community.
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary of the Australian Nursing Federation said, “The nurses’ homes were targeted, not because they were nurses, but because their homes were empty while the nurses were at work caring for their community. For some of the nurses who had their homes destroyed, it was the second time they had lost their homes.
“The nurses who lost their houses cannot continue to live in such unstable and appalling conditions. The ANF is asking each nurse in Australia to donate $5. This is such a small amount but if just half the nurses in Australia donated $5 there would be more than enough money to assist the nurses to rebuild.”
The average income for a nurse in East Timor is just US $156 per month. It costs around AUS $5,000 to rebuild a home in East Timor. Most nurses in East Timor do not have bank accounts; they do not have savings; they do not have the necessary collateral to secure a bank loan; or the necessary income to repay a loan if it were available.
The ANF is launching the $5+ appeal to try to raise at least $400,000 - the cost to rebuild the homes of the East Timor nurses. This could be achieved with just 80,000 five dollar donations.
“Australians have a special place in their hearts for the people of East Timor,” Ms Iliffe said. “When East Timor needed help after the Indonesian withdrawal, Australians were very generous. The ANF is hoping they will be just as generous now.”
Any Australian can donate to this appeal through the ANF website at www.anf.org.au or by clicking here. All donations above $2 will be tax deductible. The ANF will also be calling on Australia’s major corporations to assist with donations.
The ANF, representing 150,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in
Media inquiries
Jill Iliffe, Federal Secretary 0419 576 590
Ged Kearney, Assistant Federal Secretary, 0417 053 322