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In October 2001, Professor Donald, Chairperson of the RMA, and Dr Alex Bordujenko, Principal Medical Officer
from the RMA Secretariat visited Australian members of the UN forces based in East Timor. Other visiting personnel
included Repatriation Commissioner, Major General (Retd) Paul Stevens, Brigadier (Retd) Bill Rolfe, Principal Member,
VRB and Mr Mark Johnson, Branch Head Compensation, Department of Veteransí Affairs.
At the time of the visit, there were 8000 UN forces in East Timor drawn from 15 countries which included
1500 defence personnel from Australia.
The purpose of the visit as was the case with the visit to Bouganville in 2000:
- To gain an understanding of the current practices of defence force personnel engaged in this peace monitoring
mission and the risks and exposures these may entail. This understanding will expand the information, which may
be considered in the development of Statements of Principles;
- To review issues that may alter the presentation and description of factors or the definitions currently
used in Statements of Principles;
- To gain insights that may influence the advice of the RMA to the Medical Advisory Panel (MAP) and its working
parties; and
- To demonstrate the RMAs continuing concern and interest to understand the experiences of military personnel
and heighten knowledge and understanding of the RMA and its processes.
The RMA considered a report on the visit at its November 2001 meeting. The report concluded that the visit
was a remarkably positive experience with particular mention of the co-operation received from defence personnel
at all places visited. The RMA has commenced consideration regarding the description of factors and definitions
in Statements of Principles including physical activities, stressor exposure descriptions and dehydration.
This page last updated 16 October 2002.
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