We offer the following for members:

For Fellows:

• local link to RACS activities and resources
• assistance with matters relating to surgical standards
• representation to the Tasmanian Government and statutory agencies on matters of importance to surgeons and surgery in Tasmania
• links to other medical organisations (e.g. Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency)
• payment point for accounts/reimbursement of expenses
• a regular newsletter.

For Trainees:

• Information on, and a local resource point for basic and advanced training programs (the office coordinates the administration of some of the programs).

Active RACS Fellows by location published in July 2022

A Fellow is considered active if they are currently involved in any aspect of surgical activity that involves the use of surgical skills or knowledge gained through their surgical training. This extends to and is not exclusive of medico-legal work, research or supervision of Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs).

bongiornogroup women in surgery grant

founded in memory of Tony Bongiorno

promoting gender equity in surgery

2024 grant recipient announcement

Congratulations to the 2024 Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery recipient Dr Amy Gibbens

The Bongiorno Group is proud to award the 2024 Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery Grant to Dr Amy Gibbens. Dr Gibbens is a final year Orthopaedic Surgery Trainee in Melbourne who is moving to Launceston in early 2025 to begin her career as Tasmania’s first female Orthopaedic Surgeon.

The Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery grant will support Dr Gibbens to embark on a Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Oxford University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust in Oxford, UK. Upon her return to Tasmania, Dr Gibbens plans to help bridge a gap in the state by offering a dedicated paediatric orthopaedic service, reducing the need for children and their families to travel to Melbourne for care.

The Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery grant promotes gender equity in the surgical workforce by supporting women who are Victorian and Tasmanian surgical trainees and surgeons. The grant funds learning and knowledge-sharing activities that provide a flow-on benefit to others and to gender equity in the surgical workforce.

The grant was established in 2024 in memory of Tony Bongiorno, a founder of the Bongiorno Group. A great friend to many surgeons and a pioneer promoter of gender equity since the early 1970s, Tony was committed to enhancing the lives of all who knew him. Foremost Tony was a teacher, a mentor and an industry thought leader. He was passionate about education and believed career progression should be based on ability rather than gender.