In 2008, The Wiggles held a benefit concert for Timor-Leste. Now, more than 15 years later, the group – same colourful skivvies, not quite the same band, though equally loved – has spent time in the country seeing firsthand how the funds raised are supporting kids and their communities.
During a trip with UNICEF Australia earlier this year, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field, Yellow Wiggle Tsehay Hawkins, Red Wiggle Caterina Mete and Purple Wiggle Lachlan Gillespie, not only witnessed some of the educational, sanitation and gender equality programs developed by the humanitarian organisation, they also spent time doing what they do best – dancing, singing and playing with kids, of course.
(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
“English really wasn’t spoken, hardly at all by the children,” Blue Wiggle Anthony said of the group’s visit to a School Readiness Program near Dili where the kids spoke Tetum. “So how did we communicate with them? Through music and through actions.”
The program, one of many funded by UNICEF alongside sanitation and hygiene initiatives, is currently being implemented in over 70 schools across the country with the aim of helping kids transition to big school, and stay there.
(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
According to the organisation, only 29% of kids in Timor-Leste are enrolled in preschool, partly due to access issues, making the transition to Grade 1 difficult, pushing up grade repetition rates in later years, and increasing school drop out rates too.
“I’ve got two little girls and I know that they’ll be going to preschool, and I never thought that wouldn’t be an option. So, to see it firsthand here, it was quite confronting,” Red Wiggle Caterina said. “But also, on the other side of things, it’s lovely to see UNICEF has stepped in and is making it accessible for more families and children to attend.”
(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
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(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
(Photo: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
During their visit, the Wiggles also stopped by a Girls Empowered Program which helps young women subjected to violence build self-confidence and life skills. According to UNICEF, 3 in 10 females aged 15-19 experienced physical violence in the last 12 months. Many cases occur at home or at school, and often go unreported.
Yellow Wiggle Tsehay praised the girls she met: “They were so strong, so, so empowered. The work that UNICEF has done to help them be comfortable, talk about these things, realise what’s okay and what’s not okay, and be able to grow as women in Timor-Leste, that is absolutely beautiful.”
The Wiggles have been Ambassadors for UNICEF Australia since 2008.
(Feature Image Credit: UNICEF Australia/2025/Andres)
