With the announcement of The Fred Hollows Foundation Fellowship recipients for 2011, The Foundation is continuing the commitment Fred made to train young eye doctors, encouraging them to participate in ophthalmology outside academic institutions.

Throughout 2011, Fellows Dr Bradley Townend and Dr Shane Durkin will engage in the work of The Foundation through a six-month period of work rotating to eye programs in Vietnam, Nepal, Fiji and Central Australia.

Now in its third year, the Fellowship provides junior ophthalmologists from Australia and New Zealand a unique and rewarding experience - both professionally and personally.

It is hoped the registrars involved in the program will develop an ongoing relationship with international and Indigenous ophthalmology and their local and overseas colleagues.

"I'm particularly interested in experiencing first-hand the challenges facing local eye surgeons in developing countries such as Nepal and Fiji," said Dr Townend.

With a keen interest in Indigenous eye health and disease of the retina and vitreous, fellow recipient Dr Durkin has previously worked and carried out research in Myanmar, Brazil and Central Australia.

The Fellowship is conducted in conjunction with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), and final year ophthalmology registrars in Australia and New Zealand are eligible to apply.

Applications open in April each year for intake the following academic year.