Pathology laboratory in Timor Leste's national hospital, 2004

St John of God Social Outreach was established in 2002 to provide a group-wide structure for extending our Mission into the community. 

International health was identified as one of six key areas of focus, along with Aboriginal health, alcohol and other drugs, mental health, palliative care and rural health.

St John of God Pathology (which has since been sold) established a five year program to help Timor-Leste (East Timor) develop its pathology services.

Commencing in 2004, the Pathology Development Program provided both updated facilities and mentoring in phlebotomy and laboratory skills. Rather than providing aid or short-term medical care, the focus of the program was on capacity building to achieve long-term, sustainable practice change. 

In an early report, Country Manager, Ruben David, reflected on the impact of the Pathology Develoment Program:

"We should all be proud of the life changing effects of our Social Outreach to East Timor. Not only has it helped in the clinical management of the Timorese patients, it has also changed the lives of our Timorese staff. 

But just as importantly, our Social Outreach has touched those who have come to help me here. There can be no better measure of success for a Social Outreach project than to see its healing impact on those who receive as well as to positively change and grow those who give." 

The early success of the Pathology Develoment Program led the Timorese government to seek St John of God Health Care's assistance in building its nursing workforce capacity at the national hospital.

St John of God Social Outreach’s Nursing Development Program was launched in 2009 to develop the knowledge, skills and standards of the hospital's Timorese nurses.

Social Outreach continues to deliver programs in Timor-Leste through a team of St John of God Health Care caregivers based in Dili, the majority of whom are Timorese nationals.