Australia, Timor-Leste empower women in defense
Tom Abke
Female personnel from the Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) trained with their counterparts from the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) 1st Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) in Australia’s Northern Territory in November 2023, demonstrating capabilities including watercraft safety protocols, and simulated and live-fire combat techniques.
“Collaboration with our partners from Timor-Leste is hugely important,” Lt. Darielle Corpuz, 1CER troop commander, said in an Australian Defence Department news release. “It’s a great opportunity for ADF and F-FDTL women to share skills, gain confidence and empower each other.”
The training also included a cultural engagement and a capabilities brief by the ADF’s North-West Mobile Force. Timor-Leste personnel participated in the ADF’s Army Combatives Program, which teaches lethal and nonlethal skills for close-quarters combat, including marksmanship, and helps Soldiers develop the required mindset to fight and survive.
“This ongoing collaboration is pivotal in strengthening the capabilities and expertise of the F-FDTL,” said Jemma Malcolm, a defense official at the Australian Embassy in Timor-Leste, who accompanied the island nation’s contingent of 11 service members to Australia.
Australia and Timor-Leste signed a defense cooperation agreement in September 2022 to strengthen security ties, particularly in the maritime realm. Australia also has committed to providing Timor-Leste with two Guardian-class patrol boats in 2024, as well as operational and maintenance support.
Timor-Leste, a nation of nearly 1.5 million people comprising the eastern half of the island of Timor, gained independence in 2002. It is about 600 kilometers northwest of the Northern Territory, across the Timor Sea.
Malcolm said Australia’s Defence Cooperation Program plays a critical role in the F-FDTL’s development. “Such programs not only foster cooperation but also underline the commitment to the shared defence objectives between our nations,” she said in the news release.
The November engagement was part of the F-FDTL Gender Development Program, which provides insights and hands-on experience for female military personnel. The F-FDTL encourages Timorese women to participate in training, develop their talents and contribute to the country’s growth, according to Lt. Marquita da Cunha, head of the force’s Gender Department.
“As a female Soldier, one must be strong and effective in time management to serve the institution and work for the family, especially taking care of children,” she said in marking International Women’s Day in March 2023, the Tatoli news agency reported. “Support from the family is also important and much needed to ensure they provide a balance of duties to both the Army institution and the family. With every effort, the female Soldier can achieve great progress in their careers.”
In July 2023, an ADF team participated in a gender peace and security women’s walk in Timor-Leste, an activity designed to foster leadership skills and gender discussions.
Tom Abke is a FORUM correspondent reporting from Singapore.
