Our People in NSW
Shirley Robinson - As good as it gets
After 22 years in the Army, Woolgoolga’s Captain Shirley Robinson has achieved a life’s ambition – a deployment on an overseas operation.
These days Shirley is normally based at Albury-Wodonga managing health trades for soldiers – “but the opportunity to finally deploy overseas is as good as it gets”.
Shirley (45) is currently in East Timor as a health planner with the International Stabilisation Force, whose job is to assist the East Timorese and UN maintain stability and security in the country.
“My role here is as a health planner and contract manager for the health for deployed personnel,” she said.
“I absolute love the job here. There is something different to do every day. Keeping everyone healthy is a responsible job, and I’m very busy,” she said.
“I’m dealing with great people and managing contract with our medical supplier’s very professional workers. It feels worthwhile.”
Other chances for deploying overseas have been around but, as the mother of three, Shirley hasn’t been free to go. Now the kids are older and one has even spent four years in the Navy.
“When the opportunity for deployment came up previously, it wasn’t necessarily the right time in terms of family or work circumstances, but this time everything was in the right place,” she said.
“When I joined the Army in 1981, I wanted a career, to be able to travel, and to get a trade or education. At the time there was high unemployment, and there were lots of opportunities with Defence, which I’ve certainly made the most of,” she said.
Shirley says that the highlight so far of her deployment has been getting to know East Timor.
“I did some research into the history before I came, and I had lots of friends who had been here before. There were no real surprises, except for the wonderful atmosphere. People can tell you about how amazing the place is but you don’t really understand until you get here,” Shirley said.
“We are here at such an exciting time in its history, and I am proud to be part of an organisation that’s making a positive contribution to that,” she said.
Shirley is one 650 Australian Defence Force personnel now serving in East Timor with Operation Astute.
The operation is part of the Australian Government's response to a request from the Government of East Timor to assist in bringing stability, security and confidence to the Timorese.