Member-FAQs
Have a question about your membership of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)? Please take a look at these frequently asked questions. If you don’t see the answer to your query here, email us at [email protected].
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Why is membership of RACS invaluable?
RACS membership offers a range of benefits to members.
The FRACS post-nominal sends an internationally recognised message to your patients and peers that you have attained the highest standards in surgery and are committed to lifelong learning assisted by the training and professional development provided by the College.
While it is not compulsory to hold Fellowship of RACS to practice as a Specialist surgeon, Fellowship of RACS may be beneficial or required in some circumstances, such as:
- Applying for Specialist or Vocational registration with MCNZ or other medical regulators.
- Applying for overseas Fellowships and employment
- Eligibility for Post Fellowship training
- Employment in hospitals or health service roles where Fellowship of RACS is compulsory.
- Demonstrating participation and compliance with a CPD program of an accredited CPD home, relevant to scope of professional practice.
Earning Fellowship of RACS and thus becoming a FRACS is not like completing a degree. Surgical training and education is a professional qualification. Those five letters after your name demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and a maintenance of surgical standards of the present day, not the day you passed your Fellowship Examination. The RACS vision is “enhancing surgery, embracing innovation”. This encapsulates the concept of FRACS by recognising the innovative nature of surgery, something surgeons must work to keep abreast of.
The College’s role as the peak body for the surgical profession is also a key advantage for College members. The surgical profession’s significant lobbying credibility comes from RACS’ ability to effectively speak to governments in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand with one voice on issues informed by and affecting nine separate specialities. This critical mass of representation and the high respect in which RACS is held is vital to the profession’s ability to effect real and meaningful policy outcomes, such as our recent role in leading legislative change in Australia to protect the title of surgeon.
RACS’ unique role as the profession-led body for surgical standards is vital in keeping standards high. The health systems of both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are under extraordinary pressure, particularly with regard to workforce, and this is creating tension in the training market. Health authorities across all jurisdictions are being actively encouraged to consider untested and uncosted alternatives. In particular, we are aware of a number of other education providers that are lobbying for government interference to enable them to enter the market. We believe this would lead to a loss of control over the standards and quality of training and would have deleterious consequences for our patients and our profession.
The fees you pay offer a range of services and benefits that enhance your membership experience. These include access to educational resources, high quality professional development and skills programs, access to a CPD program, scholarships and grants, and many other benefits.
It is also important to remember that membership fees in Australia should be tax deductible (in Aotearoa New Zealand they are reimbursed by employers) – please check with your financial advisor.
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What is College’s current financial situation?
RACS has come a long way since its financial deficit in 2022.
The College established a Recovery Committee in June 2023 and has implemented a range of austerity measures. The Recovery Committee instituted a Financial Sustainability Plan which featured a range of initiatives to restore the College’s financial position.
This included a review of governance including the structure of Council, staffing levels, membership fees, digital transformation through program expenditure, procurement savings through travel, accommodation, catering, venue hire, licenses and security. The College also increased its bank funding facility which has been fully repaid as of mid-January 2024.
These actions have ensured that RACS has averted significant financial issues. While the 31 December 2023 financial result was an overall deficit, it is a significant improvement on the 2022 deficit and our 2024 budget indicates a moderate surplus.
Although the College has sustained previous operating losses that eroded general reserves, it has never traded while insolvent. Our balance sheet remains strong and our financial management has been completely overhauled.
The 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements of RACS will be presented at the Annual General Meeting in May 2024 and will demonstrate the improved financial position and solvency of the College.
If you would like to see the report from the independent review into the College’s finances, you can request a copy via [email protected].
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Why have membership fees increased for 2024?
There are a number of reasons the College made the difficult decision to increase membership fees for 2024.
Over the previous five years, the College deliberately kept membership increases at or below the rate of inflation. This decision was taken in the best interests of members, particularly during the pandemic when the surgical workforce was under intense and prolonged pressure.
In the past, the surgical education and training (SET) fees, exam fees and course fees have not been adjusted to accurately reflect the true increased costs of running those programs.
However, the cost of delivering training and member services has risen very significantly, particularly post COVID-19, to the point where the College can no longer absorb the difference. Our staffing numbers grew to meet demand for our services and we’ve had to invest in an upgraded digital system to enhance efficiency. We also maintain quality and standards uniformly across all Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand training sites. With this comes a necessary requirement in staffing, infrastructure and ongoing program development.
The current economic climate necessitates a significant reset to reflect the true cost of running College operations, particularly in surgical education and training and the Council determined a 25 per cent increase in the annual subscription for 2024 was necessary.
To mitigate this, we are rationalising the number of services we provide to ensure we are focusing on core business and the activities that matter most to our members. We are making the delivery surgical education more efficient to ensure it is as cost efficient as possible while continuing to deliver at the highest possible standards.
Despite the increase, we believe our training fees remain highly competitive compared with other postgraduate training fees in both Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. In fact, there are some surgical courses provided by universities which have an annual fee which is substantially above RACS training fees.
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What is the College’s accreditation status?
The Australian Medical Council (AMC) and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) provide the necessary accreditation for our training programs.
As part of their routine assessment, the AMC raised concerns about the structural aspects of our program. It's important to emphasise that these concerns do not reflect on the quality of training delivered by our program, which consistently produces world-class surgeons with internationally recognised qualifications.
We are reviewing the recommendations outlined in the report and are working through these with our delivery partners including specialty societies, associations and health departments across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Our priority is to ensure that any changes made prioritise the outcomes for our Trainees, supervisors and the broader community so that we can continue to deliver a surgical education and training system that is high-quality, responsive, sustainable and meets the needs of the profession in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The College has made significant progress toward continued accreditation into the long term.
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What is latest on the College’s proposed governance changes?
The College is continuing to consult with members and societies on potential changes to our governance structure.
Proposed governance changes would put in place a new standalone skills-based, profession-led Board with strong financial and risk management abilities. This was a key recommendation that came out of two independent reviews commissioned as part of the College’s financial recovery program.
This approach would leave Council to focus on its core business of continuing to lead the development of professional standards, research, education and training and its critical role in advocating on behalf of the profession to government.
The College has already been consulting with members and societies on the potential changes to the governance structure. That includes two Fellows’ webinars as well as direct engagement with a number of other smaller groups. An updated proposed Constitution to bring about governance change will be released in the period following the Annual Scientific Congress (running from 6-10 May in Ōtautahi Christchruch).
Governance change will not impact the day-to-day operations of the College and members can be confident any changes will only be made after the conclusion of the current consultation process. In addition, no changes to the RACS Constitution will be made without a two-thirds majority vote of the Fellows.
You can visit the dedicated web page here to learn more.