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Rural Coach Program for Surgical Trainees

Since 2011, the Rural Coach Program (RCP) has identified and supported more than eighty trainees interested in a rural surgical career. This has been through ongoing support, advocacy and the opportunity to build their rural connections by offering financial assistance to Trainees who attend the Provincial Surgeons of Australia conference.

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Rural Coach

Dr Damian Fry is the Clinical Director of the Rural Coach Program

Damian joined the Rural Coach Program in 2015 as a General Surgery SET Trainee in receipt of the RCP GSA Registration Grant. He has attended the Provincial Surgeons of Australia (PSA) regularly since then.  Prior to getting onto the RACS SET program, Damian was in the Defence Force (Communications Intelligence) so brings a wealth of knowledge to his role as Clinical Director RCP. Damian has completed many of his rotations in Queensland and has recently been admitted to Fellowship. He is a Consultant Surgeon at Toowoomba Hospital, Queensland.

Damian was also the RACSTA Representative for Queensland and is very happy to have contact with any Trainees considering a rural surgical career. Trainees are encouraged to contact Damian [email protected]  

 

Rural Coach - General Surgeons Australia -  Rural Surgery Registration Grant

General Surgeons of Australia has generously given a Rural Surgery Grant to Trainees, SIMGs and Junior doctors who have applied to attend the Provincial Surgeons of Australia Conference. These Trainees have found the opportunities for networking invaluable.

In supporting Trainees, SIMGs and junior doctors to pursue rural surgical careers, the General Surgeons of Australia with the RACS Rural Coach Program offered 15 Rural Surgery Registration Grants to attend the Provincial Surgeons of Australia (PSA) Annual Scientific Conference.
Grant recipients shared their reflections on attending in the reports viewable here (DOCX 88.46KB). 

Applications are closed.

The Grants

  • Each grant is valued at  $660 Inc. GST
  • Each grant is to be used towards registration at the PSA 2022 ASC -*in person attendance
*Grant recipients are required to use their grant towards attending the PSA 2022 ASC in person, unless the event moves to a fully-virtual program.

Eligibility

If you are one of the following, we encourage you to apply:

  • General Surgery Trainees
  • General Surgery SIMGs
  • Junior Doctors who are members of GSA

In Order to Apply

  • You must complete an online PSA 2022 ASC registration including payment before submitting an application.
  • Successful recipients will have their grant applied retrospectively following the Conference.
  • You must be prepared to write a short article about your PSA ASC experience, which will then be published in the GSA Member eZine, on the PSA website, and in Surgical News.

The Rural Coach Project does not offer training courses but rather offers support for Trainees interested in a rural surgical career.

Contact

Trainees interested in becoming involved with the RACS Rural Coach Program or the Rural Surgery Section should contact:

Rural Coach Program Officer
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Suite 1, Level 26
201 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Telephone: +61 2 8298 4513
Email: [email protected]