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Timor Leste, Dili
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Dili International School developed organically to accommodate the needs of the East Timorese and expatriate community in the immediate post-independence period. Carmel Bates and her spouse started Dili International School from their home in Kampong Alor in July 2002 to educate their three children. A larger campus was obtained in Pantai Kelapa in February 2003, with Preschool and Playgroup classes added soon after. In January 2006 the Secondary Distance Education Support program began; after the 2006 crisis the school reopened with Preschool and Playgroup at a nearby location and established a Community Preschool called Fini Moris. DIS introduced face-to-face learning for Secondary students in 2010; the IB Middle Years Programme was authorised in 2012 and the IB Primary Years Programme in 2014; in April 2013, through its association with Haileybury College in Melbourne, it was accredited by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority to offer the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE).
DIS emphasizes a strong community focus, encouraging students to engage with the local culture and to learn the value of giving to others and respecting cultural diversity. Fini Moris, a Community Preschool for local Timorese children and the children of Timorese staff, was started in 2006 as part of DIS's outreach. Science Week 2026 showcased cross-year learning, house challenges, and a whole-school science assembly, with Big Buddies and House Captains supporting students. The DIS Student Representative Council collaborates with Centro Audiovisual Max Stahl Timor-Leste (CAMSTL) for community events, including a film evening commemorating Timor-Leste's Independence.
Dili International School (DIS) in Pantai Kelapa, Dili, Timor-Leste, serves Preschool through Grade 12 (ages 1–18). The Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) is offered in the early years, while the senior programme follows the Australian Curriculum, with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) as the graduating certificate. DIS is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organisation, the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Multilingual education features in Preschool and Primary, with Secondary providing Global Pathways and VCE. The campus comprises a 3,500 square metre Primary/Secondary site and a 2,000 square metre Early Learning Centre, with three grassed playing fields, a basketball court, table tennis and handball facilities, and two shaded playgrounds. All classrooms have computers and air conditioning. The school serves about 21 nationalities, and 100% of applicants are offered university placements. Its history traces to 2002, with expansion in 2003 and IB/VCE accreditations thereafter.
