About the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Fellowship Programme

The WHO Fellowship Programme is a collaboration between WHO member states to share knowledge of health practices and develop health professionals.

Health professionals from the WHO Western Pacific and Asian regions visit New Zealand to study a health related topic. Placements range from two weeks to four years in length and there are on average 60 fellows a year – some individually and some in Study Tour parties.

People within the New Zealand health system are very generous in sharing their time and expertise with the fellows. New Zealand’s innovative health system provides an interesting study for fellows from Pacific countries and the lower countries of the Asian continent.

For Fellows coming to New Zealand, the Ministry of Health advises on placements and programmes and has active engagement through Accent Learning. In common with other developed nations that provide training for Fellows, New Zealand contributes to the costs of the administration and management of that training. This covers placements with health care providers, attendance at courses, tertiary study and participation in study tours.

Accent is contracted to the Ministry of Health to manage the WHO Fellowship Programme in New Zealand. Our staff oversee all logistical matters of placements, arranging the placements, liaising and negotiating with training providers, monitoring performance, providing pastoral support and liaising with and reporting to the Ministry of Health and WHO.

Find out more

Health professionals from the Western Pacific and Asian regions who are interested in a placement in New Zealand should contact:


Maureen Cahill
Programme Manager

Phone:   + 64 4 463 5497
Email:   maureen.cahill@accent.ac.nz