General Surgery in Australia ◆

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

The Australian Board in General Surgery (ABiGS) of the RACS has oversight for the conduct of the training programs in General Surgery in Australia, reporting to the Committee of Surgical Education and Training and the Council of the RACS.

GSA collaborates with the RACS to administer the training program in Australia and manage the ABiGS.

The two active training programs – Surgical Education & Training (SET) and *General Surgery Education & Training (GSET), are designed to provide Trainees with both clinical and operative exposure in line with the curriculum, allowing Trainees to develop vital skills and learn special methods of investigation to become competent in techniques related to General Surgery.

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 RACS competencies.

*All Trainees undertaking surgical training from 2022 onwards will join the GSET Program.