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Our vision, mission and approach

RACS Global Health is an international development arm of the College established in 2012, and its work is guided by its vision, mission, and strategy, aligned with the overarching RACS strategy. 

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Our vision, mission and values

Vision: Safe surgical and anaesthetic care is available and accessible to everyone.

Mission:

  1. To advocate for and provide leadership in global surgery.
  2. To support capacity building and leadership development in the Asia-Pacific region.
  3. To collaborate with international surgical bodies and other health and government organisations.

Values: 

Collaboration 

 Strong partnerships with in-country governments and collaborating organisation to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for the communities we work in. Sharing skills and resources with partners and other organisations working in the same area to provide a sustainable service and to avoid replicating services and support already provided.
 Respect  Respecting and learning from national and local institutions and systems, including supporting their agendas and work plans, and considering their priorities. 
 Service  Providing support to, and sharing expertise with the communities in our region that request our assistance. RACS Global Health could not operate without significant contribution of time and expertise of its volunteers. 
 Integrity   Commitment to being honest, transparent and accountable in everything we do.
 Compassion  Compassion for those communities that lack access to surgical care and whose members suffer high rates of avoidable death, disability, or correctable deformity.

RACS Global Health is guided by its Strategic Plan 2017-2021 (PDF 3.03MB).

Our approach

RACS Global Health provides specialist medical education and training to 15 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Some 200 in-country and visiting medical specialists volunteer their time and expertise on Global Health programs. Volunteers are surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and other qualified allied health professionals, both Fellows of the College and members of other specialist Colleges and Associations.

Our teams provide clinic mentoring and education to national medical workforces, strengthening the capacity of health services in the region. And our volunteer health professionals work with national clinicians, doctors and health staff who share their knowledge, skills and expertise, in providing essential surgical and medical services to people who are unable to access treatment.

Our ultimate goal is to support the development of national health care systems, through the development of National Surgical Plans and activities which focus on supporting medical workforces and services into the future. By focusing on sustainable training and working in alignment with in-country governments and partners in service delivery, we strive to strengthen national systems and partner institutions.

Our professionalism

RACS is an accredited NGO with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), and a signatory to the ACFID Code of Conduct.


As a signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct, RACS Global Health is committed to high standards in financial reporting, management, and ethical practice. Complaints in relation to the Code can be made directly to RACS Global Health using the website feedback form or to ACFID.

ACFID

Tertiary health specialties

Across our current programs, we work with other Australian and New Zealand specialist colleges in a range of health areas and specialties which includes support for:

  • Anaesthesia
  • Burns, trauma, pain
  • Cardiac surgery
  • Emergency medicine
  • Ear, nose and throat surgery
  • Gastroenterology
  • Intensive care
  • Internal medicine
  • Neurosurgery
  • Nursing
  • Ophthalmology
  • Oral maxillofacial
  • Orthopaedics
  • Otolaryngology head and neck surgery
  • Paediatrics
  • Paediatric surgery
  • Palliative care
  • Plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • Obstetrics & gynaecology
  • Oncology
  • Pathology
  • Psychiatry
  • Urology

Visit Global Health programs for more information.

Our funding

RACS Global Health receives valuable funding from DFAT, including through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Australian Aid

RACS also receives  donations/grants from the RACS Foundation for Surgery, as well as from the private sector for medical supplies to assist local hospitals throughout the Asia-Pacific region. 

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