Paediatric Surgery

Rotation

6 months

Each rotation, or 3 months in your first year

Time limit

10 years

From your first rotation, to finish every requirement

Leave

6 weeks

At most in each 6-month rotation, or 3 weeks in each 3-month rotation

Part time

50%

Of full time at least, where a post can be arranged

• Training has three phases, in order. Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is usually Years 1 and 2, and its first year, Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. One, is a provisional year that extends selection. Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is usually Years 3 and 4, building core skills in general and newborn surgery. Senior SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. is usually Years 5 and 6, managing complex problems and critically ill newborns and children on your own
• The 6 weeks cover annual, personal, compassionate, parental, study, conference and carer's leave together. More needs approval in advance from the Committee of Paediatric Surgery and your employer, or the rotation may not count
• The 10 years do not count approved interruption, rotations that were not assessed, or time on the Academic Pathway

• Accredited posts35 in 15 hospitals, 28 of them in 11 hospitals in Australia and 7 in 4 hospitals in Aotearoa New Zealand
• PhasesEach post is accredited for Early and Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. or for Mid and Senior SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.. Any post can take a trainee in Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. One where it has an eligible supervisor
• Your employerThe hospital you are allocated to employs you, so apply to it for the post once the committee places you. It may ask for your curriculum vitae, proof of registration or a criminal record check
• Aotearoa New Zealand7 accredited posts: Starship Children's Hospital, 3, Christchurch Hospital, 2, and Waikato and Wellington hospitals, 1 each

What every accredited paediatric surgery post must give you each week

Theatre sessions

3

Elective operating sessions a week at least

Clinics

1

Supervised clinic a week at least, with new and follow-up patients

Ward rounds

2

Consultant ward rounds a week, with daily rounds of your patients after surgery

Supervisor

1

For each accredited post, a paediatric surgeon the committee approves

Feedback

Every 3 months

A written assessment, agreed by the consultants you work with

• Your supervisor sets your goals with you at the start of each rotation and runs your assessments. Every consultant in the unit who works with you is a trainer and contributes to them

Paediatric Anatomy and Embryology ExaminationThe first of the two paediatric surgery examinations, on the anatomy and development of the fetus, infant and child, a written paper then a viva

Year 1 or 2

In Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., passed before Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Paediatric Pathophysiology ExaminationThe second paediatric surgery examination, a written paper on the physiology and disease of the fetus, newborn and child with surgical conditions

Year 3 or 4

In Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., passed before Senior SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Fellowship ExaminationThe Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' final examination in paediatric surgery, two written papers then a clinical and viva part

Year 5 or 6

In Senior SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., the final examination

• The Paediatric Anatomy and Embryology Examination tests the anatomy and development of the fetus, infant and child, in a written paper in June and a viva in August in Melbourne. A subcommittee of the Committee of Paediatric Surgery sets it from the curriculum
• The Paediatric Pathophysiology Examination tests the physiology and disease of the fetus, newborn and child with surgical conditions, in a written paper sat twice a year. The same committee sets it
• The Fellowship Examination is run by RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons: two written papers in April or August, then a clinical and viva part in May or June, or September, covering a medium clinical case, investigation and management, newborn surgery, operative surgery and short clinical cases

Trainee assessmentA form your supervisor completes at the end of each rotation, and at its midpoint, with every consultant who works with you, rating you on each RACS competency

Every 3 months

A form your supervisor completes with the unit, with a midpoint review in each 6-month rotation

Operative assessmentsThe Measure of Operative Understanding and Surgical Experience: a consultant watches you do a procedure, or part of one, and rates each step

12

A year at least, three each quarter, from Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. Two

Mini clinical examinationsA consultant watches you assess a child with a set condition and plan their care around the operation

8

In your first year, then 4 in your second

Critical appraisal tasksA written answer to a clinical question from the best evidence, in the style of the Fellowship written papers

2

At least by the end of training, set twice a year in Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year. Two and Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Research activity

1

Done by the end of Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year., before you can start Senior SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Presentation

1

A paper at the Australian and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons' meeting or the RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress

• The research activity is a research degree at masters level or above, a project the committee approves in advance with a peer-reviewed paper expected from it, or a published journal article as first or second author

Emergency Management of Severe Burns

Year 1 or 2

By the end of Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Advanced Trauma Life Support

Year 1 or 2

By the end of Early SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Training in Professional Skills

Year 3 or 4

By the end of Mid SETSurgical Education and Training, the RACS training program. SET 1 is its first year.

Registrar Annual Training Seminar

Each year

Four days, usually October or November, while you are training

Scientific meetings

3

During training, the Australian and New Zealand Association of Paediatric Surgeons' meeting or the RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons Annual Scientific Congress

• Emergency Management of Severe Burns is the burns association course on the first care of a badly burned patient. Advanced Trauma Life Support, which RACSRoyal Australasian College of Surgeons ran as Early Management of Severe Trauma until the end of 2025, teaches the care of an injured patient in the first one to two hours
• Training in Professional Skills is a two-day course in patient-centred care and communicating in teams
• The Registrar Annual Training Seminar is teaching, a trainee forum and feedback meetings with the Committee of Paediatric Surgery. Your hospital releases you from clinical work and on call for it