Midwifery Capacity Building Partnerships in Timor-Leste

Maternal mortality rate in Timor-Leste is higher than the regional average despite its improvement in recent years. Hence, Australian Rotary clubs, in partnership with Rotary International, saw the need to address this ongoing issue. A strategic partnership between the Rotary International clubs in District 9560 (North Australia and Timor-Leste) and Central Queensland University, Australia, resulted in the delivery of a five-week residential immersion maternal and newborn training program for Timorese midwives and nurses in 2023. The program aimed to advance skills, foster critical thinking and develop research skills to build change agents who could improve maternity care and health systems in Timor-Leste. This article has been independently reviewed prior to publication.