World Vision International
In 1966/67 he was Resident Medical Officer at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. From 1968 to 1974 he was employed at the Monash University Medical School. From 1973 to 1980 he served with the Africa Committee for the Rehabilitation of Southern Sudan in Juba and Darfur. Between 1980 and 1987 he worked for World Vision International, based in California and East Africa. Throughout this period he oversaw many major relief and rehabilitation programs in various countries. During the severe famine of 1984-85 in Ethiopia, Dr Atkins was Director of the relief program provided by World Vision International, based in Addis Ababa.