About the Program
The Australia Timor-Leste Partnership for Human Development (PHD) is a 10-year program funded by the Government of Australia and implemented by Abt Global until May 2026. The partnership is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of Timor-Leste’s people and strengthening their ability to contribute to the nation’s development.
Through PHD, Australia and Timor-Leste aim to achieve 4 goals that are crucial to realising Timor-Leste’s Strategic Development Plan 2011–2030:
Improving the health of the Timorese people Improving the literacy and numeracy of girls and boys Advancing equity for people with disabilities Advancing gender equalityPHD focuses on strengthening government systems to enable Timor-Leste to deliver higher-quality primary healthcare and basic education and to advance disability inclusion and gender equality.
About the Opportunity
The Technical Specialist – Sign Language Development will provide technical inputs to the Association of Hearing Impairment (KDT-TL) in Timor-Leste to support the National Sign Language Development Initiative. Specifically, the Technical Specialist will support the development of sign language through consultation with hearing impairment people.
PHD has supported the Ministry of Education and disability organisations to improve access for people with disability to inclusive and disability responsive basic education. Considering the barriers to education for people with hearing impairment, the Ministry of Education through the National Action Plan for People with Disability (DNAP – commitment no 11) committed to establishment of National Sign language by 2022.
While this commitment is yet to be actioned due to lack of technical expertise to facilitate and guide the process, hearing impaired people have meanwhile started developing various forms of sign language. Since 2019, the hearing impairment community in Timor-Leste has developed more than 400 signs referencing American Sign Language and locals’ ways of communication. The Agape School for the Deaf has adapted a 1000+ word vocabulary using a combination of local, Filipino and American signs.
However, knowledge and use of a common sign language outside of the Agape school is very limited. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian Government (under the PHD program) partnered with ADTL and KDT-TL to facilitate sign language interpretation of the evening news on national television. The government has also worked with KDT-TL to run sign language courses to support young people to become sign language interpreters in future.[1]
On 15 January 2025, the Ministry of Education’s Inclusive Education Department and KDT-TL requested that PHD consider supporting the process of establishing a National Sign Language by helping form a working group and providing technical guidance regarding the approval process.
The current STA assignment is key to PHD’s support for the MoE and KDT-TL to develop a National Sign Language.
Key Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the PHD Lead – GEDSI, the Technical Specialist will provide support to KDT-TL with the development of sign language including its manual as part of the national sign language proposal. The STA is responsible for the following tasks.
Support KDT-TL with the development and/or design of sign language Consultations with hearing impaired people from across diverse municipalities (selected from among those identified by KDT-TL and ADTL) to validate the draft Sign Language. Development of a National Sign Language manual and instructions for its use. Support for KDT-TL to submit the new National Sign Language for GoTL adoption.Deliverables
Development of a vocabulary that documents, standardises and formalises a maximum of 1500 signs, based on handshape, palm orientation, movement, location, and non-manual signals (facial expressions, body posture). Development of the perigee visual dictionary of sign language in Tetum - including 1500 signs of Tetum language illustrates with drawing and directions indexed with easy cross referencing supplemented samples and memory aids. In collaboration with KDT-TL, development and implementation of a process for the Hearing-Impaired community to validate and accept the codified language. Support for KDT-TL and MoE to submit the new National Sign Language for GoTL consideration and approval.About You
We are seeking an individual who will bring:
Demonstrated fluency and considerable practical experience in interpreting or translating sign language is essential, preferably in American Sign Language, Filipino Sign and/or Indonesian Sign Language. Previous experience developing, designing and/or documenting sign language is highly desirable. Previous experience working with hearing impairment associations or similar organisations, preferably in Timor-Leste or other similar contexts. Demonstrated consultation skills and ability to design a process for agreeing and capturing language. Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders is essential. Awareness of and cultural sensitivity to the deaf community is essential. Proficiency in English and/or Tetum is required.Further Information & How to Apply
Please apply online by attaching a cover letter addressing how you meet the requirements of this role and an up-to-date CV.
For further information please email the PHD People & Culture team via people.culture@phd.tl. Please insert the job title in the email subject heading.
Closing Date: Monday, 28 July 2025 (AEST)
#LI-AUSBRIT
[1] Sept 2023 Country Report for Timor-Leste: the UNPRPD Situational Analysis of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. p. 27-28