Major boost to nursing in Timor-Leste

St John of God Health Care (SJGHC) has welcomed a major investment in the organisation’s Timor-Leste (East Timor) Nursing Development Program from oil and gas exploration and production company ConocoPhillips and its co-venturers in the BayuUndan project in the Timor Sea. This major investment will allow St John of God to boost training opportunities for Timorese nurses and help improve health outcomes. ConocoPhillips, as the operator of the Bayu-Undan project, has donated $250,000 (USD) to the Nursing Development Program. This gift enables the first hospital-wide training at Dili’s national hospital since the country’s independence in 2002. The investment will also fund Timorese nurses’ participation in facilitated training placements at some of Australia’s best hospitals, making a significant contribution to improving nursing standards.

Dr Michael Stanford, Group CEO of St John of God Health Care, said: “We are delighted that ConocoPhillips has invested in the Nursing Development Program that we operate in partnership with the Timorese Ministry of Health, which will help improve nursing and standards of health care in Timor-Leste. “This is the first major investment in one of our international health development programs from a corporate entity and a resounding endorsement of our commitment to nursing in Timor-Leste. We are very pleased to have the support of ConocoPhillips and hope we can continue to work together on community investment and capacity building that will benefit a large proportion of the Timorese population.”

The St John of God Health Care Nursing Development Program trains and mentors nurses to develop skills and competencies to improve long term health outcomes. A team of eight expatriate nurses currently work in wards with the highest morbidity and mortality rates at the Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares. Mr Todd Creeger, President of ConocoPhillips Australia-West, said this investment demonstrates the company’s commitment to be an active and valued member of the communities where it operates.

“ConocoPhillips, together with our Bayu-Undan joint venturers — Santos, INPEX, Eni and Tokyo Timor Sea Resources — are proud to support this important capacity building program to improve the health and wellbeing of the Timor-Leste community,” Mr Creeger said.

SJGHC’s first commitment to health care in Timor-Leste commenced in 2004 through the national Pathology Development Program. A subsequent five-year memorandum of understanding with the Timorese Ministry of Health saw an initial team of nurses deployed to Dili in 2010 with a long-term plan to improve nursing standards throughout the country.

St John of God Health Care’s international health development programs form a key component of the organisation’s commitment to Social Outreach and Advocacy and the organisation was recognised for its contribution to the Timorese health sector by President Jose Ramos Horta in December 2011.
ENDS
For more information contact Colin Wood, Public Relations Manager for Social Outreach and Advocacy at St John of God Health Care:
T: (08) 6103 5590 | M: 0415 222 805 | E: colin.wood@sjog.org.au
NOTES
St John of God Health Care is a Catholic not-for-profit health care provider. We provide Social Outreach and Advocacy Services which reach out to people experiencing disadvantage to improve health and wellbeing as well as hospitals, home nursing and pathology services. We strive to serve the common good by providing holistic, ethical and person-centred care and support. We aim to go beyond quality care to provide an experience for people that honours their dignity, is compassionate and affirming and leaves them with a reason to hope.

Social Outreach and Advocacy Services provide significant care and relief for people experiencing disadvantage throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region, particularly in areas where gaps in health and wellbeing services have been identified. Our Social Outreach and Advocacy services are located in the community and can be accessed free of charge or at minimal cost. More information is available at www.sjog.org.au/outreach
About ConocoPhillips
ConocoPhillips is a global exploration and production oil and gas company. With extensive operations in Australia and the Timor Sea, operations and exploration projects across Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Timor Leste, with a  focus on innovation, safety and sustainability. The corporate headquarters are located in Houston. ConocoPhillips Community Investment ConocoPhillips Australia is proud to be an active and valued member of the communities in which they operate. Investment in the community is driven by relationships, whether this be with employees, stakeholders or the communities in which the company lives and works. To build these relationships ConocoPhillips works with charitable organisations to identify community needs, and to deliver strategic programs that meet these needs, and support business outcomes.

ConocoPhillips invests in community programs through charitable contributions, community engagement, sponsorships, and community infrastructure. Investments in community programs are facilitated through joint ventures and as part of project commitments to address environmental and social impacts.
For more information go to www.conocophillips.com.au