Education & Training

Information on becoming a General Surgeon is available from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) website.

The College (RACS) is the principal body for the training and education of surgeons in Australia and New Zealand. Accreditation is given by the Australian and New Zealand  Medical Councils to the College and standards for education and training are established by the College.

The Board of General Surgery of the College has oversight for the conduct of the College Training Program in General Surgery, reporting to the Education Policy Board and the Council of the College.

The College collaborates with the General Surgeons Australia and the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons as agents of the College, to administer the Training Program.

The Specialist Surgical Training Program in General Surgery is designed to provide trainees with clinical and operative experience in order to learn special methods of investigation and become competent in techniques related to the discipline. At the conclusion of the Training Program it is expected that trainees will be able to perform as independent practitioners, meeting the requirements of all identified College competencies.

Click here to view the Contract between the College and the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons.

Click here to view the Memorandum of Understanding between the College and the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons.

Information about the 2010 SET selection process for the General Surgery training program is available here: 2010 SET Selection.

Registration for the first stage of the selection into all of the surgical specialties opens on January 13, 2010 and closes on February 19, 2010. In order to put forward an application, you must register your intention between these dates.

There will be two compulsory Training days during 2010 for all Trainee General Surgeons. The first of these will be on Friday 26th March, 2010 at the Sebel Trinity Wharf Hotel, Tauranga.