Maluk Timor
International Student FAQ

Maluk Timor is an NGO that aims to transform healthcare in Timor-Leste’s community health centres, so that people get great quality care, when and where they need it.

Check out our website and FaceBook page.

Also check out this article:

https://www.sma.org.sg/news/2024/January/The-Elephants-Armpit-Answers-for-Aspiring-Volunteers

What is the difference between MT, AMT, and MTA?

'Maluk Timor' (MT) is made up of two independent NGOs. One is Associação Maluk Timor (AMT) and the other is Maluk Timor Australia (MTA). They work together through a relationship agreement.

We often use ‘Maluk Timor’ loosely, referring to both AMT and MTA or just to AMT.

Boring details:

AMT is a Timor-Leste registered NGO accredited by the Timor-Leste Ministry of Justice with its own board.
MTA is incorporated in Australia and has its own board.
MTA raises funds which enable AMT to do its work.

Do you take student attachments, like medical school electives?

Yes.

Do you partner with medical student groups, to do projects?

Normally, no.

Maluk Timor has a an ongoing portfolio of multiple health system strengthening programmes. We do not normally seek partnerships for short-term or episodic projects, as the costs involved (planning, coordination, opportunity cost for our long-term programs) rarely justify the benefits.

How many students do you take at a time?

Max 4.

How long are student attachments?

8-16 weeks.

Where exactly will I be posted?

Depends on the elective plan. Maluk Timor's program teams work at different field sites. Most are primary healthcare facilities in Dili, sometimes in the national hospital, sometimes in the districts.

Is this a clinical attachment? Internal medicine attachment? Surgical attachment?

No.

Maluk Timor is focused on strengthening the primary healthcare system of Timor-Leste.

Student attachments would NOT be hospital-based clinical attachments.

Students would be involved with program teams that work in a variety of domains (check out our website and FaceBook page).

We are currently (Dec 2022) exploring options for clinical secondment to some of our partners' facilities, but that might not happen for at least a couple of months...

If you're looking for a clinical attachment, check out

Bairo Pite Clinic Lanud
SABEH
Order of Malta

What would I do?

Depends on how the attachment is planned, and our activities and availability at the time of the elective.

There are opportunities to be attached to one or more teams, observe and be involved in their routine work to strengthen Timor-Leste's primary healthcare system.

What are the costs involved?

The major expenses you should budget for are:

Flights
Accommodation (~USD800 per person per month)
Visa fees (USD30 per person for 30 days upon arrival, extension USD40 for 30 days)
Food and drink (~USD5-15 per person per day)
Mobile and internet (~USD 30 per person per month)
Transport (~USD 2-5 per person per day)
Recreational activities.

Maluk Timor charges a flat administrative fee for students which goes towards covering the cost of programming.

We know, living costs in Timor are relatively expensive for South-East Asia!

How can I contribute to the work of Maluk Timor?

We expect student attachments to mainly benefit you (learning and exposure), not Maluk Timor or Timor. And that is okay!

Sometimes, it may be possible to identify specific, well-defined projects that can be achieved within the period of your attachment (like developing or delivering a training packages to MT staff or national healthcare providers). But these projects are tricky to plan and not always available.

Where would I stay?

Students are responsible for arranging their own housing.

Some places to start looking:

If available, you may be offered a place in our shared Volunteer Houses for free. (You may be asked to contribute toward shared living costs such as gas, electricity, and minor household consumables...)

How would I get around?

There are various public transport options available in Dili – taxis and mikrolets (mini-buses).

MT Office vehicles with drivers are available for work-related travel. They are shared by all staff and need to be booked in advance.

If available, you may have access to a shared Volunteer Vehicle.

Do I need to learn a language?

Yes, at least a little.

Our working language within Maluk Timor is English. However, social conversation and most interactions with patients and partners is in the local language, Tetun.

We certainly don’t expect students to master the language in the brief time they have with us. But if you take the effort to learn a couple of core phrases and key vocabulary, that will open many doors and make your attachment much more fruitful!

Some resources to get you started: