Our People in VIC
Tracey Martin - Melbourne medic mending East Timor with the ADF
Melbourne army medic Tracey Martin is serving Australia on one side of the world while her partner is on the other.
Tracey (22) is an evacuation medic serving in East Timor while her partner Tom is serving in Afghanistan, but she’s taking it in her stride.
“I wanted to join the Army for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always wanted to work outdoors,” she said.
Tracey is working as part of the International Stabilisation Force assisting the East Timorese and UN maintain stability and security in the country.
Tracey is the first member of her family to serve in the Defence Force, and this is her first operational deployment.
“The thing that struck me the most on arrival to the country was the complete change of environment, particularly the climate,” she said.
She spends a lot of her time training new medics, and is also a combat fitness leader.
She is looking forward to travelling around Europe with Tom for three months when they finish their deployments.
“I also miss my mum, dad and brother Leigh while I am away,” she said.
Tracey is one of some 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 East Timorese .