Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons

Open for applications in March 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
Value: AUD $5,000 each (3 grants on offer)

The Fellowship, offered through the Rural Surgery Section, supports regional, remote and rural surgeons to travel and develop existing skills, or acquire new skills, in a field of benefit to the surgeon's rural, regional and remote community. 

 
  • Policy and guideline
    Before applying please refer to the:

    - Learning and Development grant policy (PDF 496.34KB)
    - Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons Grant guideline (PDF 123.32KB)

  • Who can apply?

    Applications are open to RACS Fellows whose primary practice postcode is in a non-metropolitan area of Australia or New Zealand. Rural, regional and remote is defined by the Monash Modified Model in Australia as MM2 to MM7, or outside the six main urban centres in Aotearoa New Zealand.

  • Activity

    The Fellowship may be used to fund travel, accommodation, living expenses, conference and course fees required to complete CPD activity. Recipients can complete the activity on one occurrence or over a series of smaller occurrences within the 12 week duration.

    The recipient:
    - is required to spend a major part of the occurrence(s) at the agreed venue to complete the CPD activity
    - is required to give a guarantee to continue to practice in their local area on completion of the Fellowship
    - is encouraged to submit an abstract for presentation at the annual conference of the Provincial Surgeons of Australia or an appropriate forum in New Zealand
    - is encouraged to complete a reflective practice activity about the experience, tied into the annual CPD learning plan.

    The activity for which funding is being sought must commence after the grant application closing date but prior to the end of the grant year (December 31st). All grant recipients will be required to provide an activity report at the end of the grant year outlining their progress against their proposal timeline.
  • Application requirements

    Your application is to include:
    - your career and employment details
    - your activity proposal including: how your activity will benefit your professional development; and contribute to improving rural surgical standards and knowledge base
    - the expected outcomes of your activity
    - proposed costs.

  • Selection and awarding

    Selection
    Should applicants be equal in merit, preference will be given to those who:
    - are current members of the Rural Surgery Section
    - have secured structured visits/appointments to established units
    - have not secured alternative financial support.

    The selection panel is comprised of members of the Rural Surgery Section (RSS) Committee.

    Awarding
    - payment is made directly to the recipient by 1 March in the scholarship year (following receipt of a valid invoice)

  • To apply
    Application is via the Scholarships and Grants Program online platform, RACS Unlock, hosted by Survey Monkey Apply.

    You may register as an applicant on RACS Unlock at any time, however applications will not display on your dashboard until the Scholarships and Grants Program application opening date. There is no need to re-register if you already have a RACS Unlock registration.

    Please note: emailed applications are not accepted.

    Follow this link to RACS Unlock
  • Contact
    Scholarship and grant team
    Email: [email protected]