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Following a successful interview you are required to participate in a four day pre-departure course, otherwise known as 'Welcome Days'.  The course aims to provide new field workers with:

• an understanding of the values, philosophy, policies and activities of Médecins Sans Frontières
• an introduction to the tools and resources available to you in the field
• an understanding of the placement and departure process, and
• an introduction to life in the field.

Welcome Days is a residential course run in Sydney. Sydney-based participants are also required to stay onsite.  We cover travel, accommodation and meal expenses.  Welcome Days are generally conducted three times per year, in February, May/June and October/November although specific dates can vary each year.

Welcome Days 2012 (subject to change):

• 1. February 14 - 17

• 2. June 12 - 15 (cancelled)

• 3. October 9 - 12

Occasionally, a candidate recruited in Australia/New Zealand may participate in an equivalent pre-departure course conducted by another office of Médecins Sans Frontières.  In exceptional circumstances, it may be possible for a new recruit to leave for the field without attending Welcome Days. In this situation, you would be required to undertake an online learning module and we would provide you with a separate extensive briefing pre-departure.

For those recruited in the capacity of a Logistician or Administrator, there may also be training of a more technical nature.  Technical courses are conducted by our European counterparts, are typically held twice per year and in some instances are compulsory before you can depart for a field placement.  Ideally you would participate in Welcome Days before this technical course.

Médecins Sans Frontières expects that by participating in Welcome Days each participant:

• has seriously considered their commitment to field work with us
• is prepared to undertake field work within six months of their attendance at Welcome Days, and
• honours his/her commitment to go the field if an appropriate placement is offered within the known timeframe of availability

In the event that a person changes this commitment without good reason, Médecins Sans Frontières reserves the right to claim from the individual the expenses related to that person's participation in the Welcome Days course. This decision of right to claim remains with Médecins Sans Frontières. If on the other hand Médecins Sans Frontières decides during or after the Welcome Days course that a candidate is not compatible with Médecins Sans Frontières and therefore will not progress to the placement pool we will not claim any expenses related to the course.

Click here to view a sample Welcome Days agenda.

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