An Australian provider shares their experiences of working to improve the health outcomes of Asia’s youngest nation. Linda Belardi reports.

Perth-based St John of God Health Care has spent the last two years working in Dili's national hospital, Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV), developing the capacity of East Timorese nurses to deliver a higher standard of patient care. The nursing development program run in partnership with the East Timorese government is still in its early stages but it has already achieved some important milestones. A recent independent evaluation of the mentoring and training project said it has delivered not only tangible improvements to hospital and nursing practices, but also generated a genuine...