DILI, 20 february 2026 (TATOLI) – Two young journalists from Timor-Leste, the first recipients of the Timor-Leste Public Interest Media Scholarship, will travel to Australia on saturday, 21 february 2026, for public interest journalism training.
The young reporters will spend two weeks learning with ABC News teams in Sydney and Melbourne.
They will also receive mentoring from ABC International Development to help them produce a public interest story ready for publication and broadcast.
Cidalia Antoninha Fátima da Conceição from TATOLI News Agency and David da Costa Gusmão from Neon Metin were announced on 3 february 2026 by the Australian Government and ABC International Development as the winners of the inaugural Public Interest Journalism Scholarship.
Australia’s Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Caitlin Wilson, met the scholarship recipients at the Australian Embassy in Dili on friday, 21 february, and praised their investigation proposals, which focus on medical waste and sexual violence against girls.
She said that under the program, the two reporters will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how a major newsroom operates, from editorial decision-making to news production.
Cidalia expressed her appreciation for the chance to participate in the programme.
“I hope this programme will help me develop my investigative reporting skills, so I can tell stories that give a voice to victims and survivors of sexual violence in Timor-Leste,” she said.
David hoped that the two-week programme would give him a valuable chance to deepen his investigative reporting skills, focusing on medical waste disposal.
The stories produced by the two reporters will be celebrated at the Timor-Leste Press Council Dili Dialogue in May 2026
TATOLI
