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RACS ASC 2025
Building a rural surgical workforce through rural training posts: evaluation of current rural training available to RACS trainees
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Verbal Presentation

5:04 pm

05 May 2025

Meeting Room C4.2

RESEARCH PAPERS

Disciplines

Rural Surgery

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Presentation Description

Institution: Nepean Hospital - New South Wales, Australia

INTRODUCTION Rural communities remain under-serviced by surgeons. Positive rural exposure for trainees is strongly associated with increased rural recruitment and long-term retention. Several Australian speciality training programs, including RACS specialities, have implemented rural training initiatives to support the rural workforce and develop trainees’ exposure to rural surgery. This study compares the rural surgical training currently available to RACS Surgical Education and Training (SET) trainees across surgical specialties. METHODOLOGY An online-based search was performed to identify accredited rural training posts in 2025 for all RACS SET surgical specialities in Australia. The rural training posts for each speciality selection was reviewed and analysed. RESULTS 8 of 9 RACS specialities offer a rural training post. General and Orthopaedic surgery offer rural training posts (up to MM6) across 6 states and 1 territory. Otolaryngology and Urological surgery offer rural training in 4 states, with Neurosurgery, Plastic and Vascular surgery offering posts in 3 states. Paediatric surgery offers a rural training post (MM2) in 1 state available for early and mid SET training. Cardiothoracic does not currently offer a rural training post. The maximum duration of training able to be completed in a rural location varies between location and surgical speciality. CONCLUSION RACS is contributing to developing a future sustainable rural surgeon workforce through accredited rural training posts where most RACS surgical specialities offer a rural/remote rotation. Continued development of rural training posts should continue to provide rural surgical skills and ensure the requirements of rural Australian surgical healthcare is met.
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Dr Elysia Jongue - , Dr Harith Alani -