For three years running, the South Australian union movement has been building something special. It’s a classic union story of leadership development and ultimately building power.
Since 2024, SA Unions and the Working Women’s Centre SA have teamed up to support two Timorese women unionists to travel to Adelaide and participate in the Anna Stewart Memorial project. Like all Anna Stewart participants, they’re spending time learning organising theory and on-the-job skills through placements at one or more unions.
This year’s participants were Maria Dos Santos, Secretary of Timor-Leste’s new Domestic Workers Union, and Manuela Da Conceição Orna, an organiser with Timor-Leste’s largest private sector union. They spent time at the MUA and the ASU in both Adelaide and Melbourne over two weeks before returning home to put theory into practice and apply lessons to the real world.
When you make a long-term commitment like this, the impact doesn’t just accumulate; it compounds over time. In Dili, there are now six union leaders who’ve benefitted from this partnership, and Australian and Timorese unions, with their historically strong bonds, have been imbued with a new generation of solidarity.
After heading back to Dili, Maria and Manuela sent the below message of thanks to the organisers of their visit, which sums it up better than we ever could.
“Your generosity, care, and commitment have given us great strength to continue standing firm in the struggle for workers’ rights and dignity.
You have not only supported us but also become an inspiration for us to continue this struggle with unity, courage, and hope. We will always keep your solidarity close to our hearts.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our experiences, and for allowing us to gain new knowledge and experiences that will strengthen and empower our union.”
