The Prime Minister John Howard says HMAS Kanimbla and Manoora are heading to the region.
Earlier this week the Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said the situation in Timor Leste remained unstable following riots by soldiers which killed at least five people.
Mr Howard says the Navy will now be in a position to respond quickly if a request for help is made.
"We have had absolutely no requests, but I simply repeat that what the military does quite sensibly, is use its assets in such a way that if we were to receive a request we'd be able to respond."