Specialist Training In Orthopaedic Surgery in Australia

The Australian Orthopaedic Training Program
The Selection of Orthopaedic Trainees
Pre-training Experience in Orthopaedics
Information for International Medical Graduates
Applications From Overseas Trained Doctors
Suggestions for International Applicants
Reciprocal Recognition of Orthopaedic Training
Exchange Posts on the Accredited Training Program
Immigration Status
Contact Details

The Australian Orthopaedic Training Program

Specialist training may only be obtained through an accredited advanced training program administered by the Australian Orthopaedic Association. Programs are offered in all states under the direction of Regional Training Committees which report to the Federal Training Committee. Each Regional Training Committee is made up of orthopaedic surgeons from the hospitals participating in the program and in some cases, hospital administrators. The number of participating hospitals varies from state to state.

The Federal Training and Membership Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Australian Orthopaedic Association, consists of the Chairman from each of the regional committees and is responsible for all matters relating to training in orthopaedic surgery. The Director of Training in Orthopaedic Surgery is the Chairman of the Federal Training and Membership Committee.

The pre-requisite for entry to the advanced training program in orthopaedic surgery is satisfactory completion of all requirements for the Basic Surgical Training programme (Part 1 Examination) of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or equivalent.

Training is of four years' duration rotating through accredited hospital training posts. Research is encouraged and can be approved as one year of advanced training.

Examination of trainees is conducted through the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The following courses must be satisfactorily completed and examinations passed before specialist qualifications in orthopaedic surgery are awarded:

Orthopaedic Principles and Basic Science (OPBS) Examination: This is usually completed during the first year of training.

Research Project: This must be completed and accepted as satisfactory by the relevant Board of Orthopaedics and Trauma before application to take the Part 2 examination. This usually consists of an ongoing project completed by the end of training or a satisfactory clinical research project completed during one of the years of training.

Part 2 Examination: This may be taken in May or October of the final year of training subject to the satisfactory completion of all courses, examinations, projects and clinical assessments.

In addition, candidates undergo continuous clinical assessment during the four-year training period and their performance must have reached an acceptable standard at the end of each six-month rotation.

This process is administered by the Australian Orthopaedic Association, which advertises posts in the Medical Journal of Australia in March/April each year. Application forms are available from the Australian Orthopaedic Association Head Office, located in Sydney, and must be returned prior to the due date which is usually the last week of April. Late applications are not considered.

Applicants rank their preferences for the region they would prefer to undertake the program. The regions are: New South Wales/ACT Queensland, South Australia, Victoria/Tasmania and Western Australia.

In the normal course of events, selections are made in July/August for commencement of training the following January. There are usually many more applicants for training than available positions and applicants who are shortlisted will be called for an interview.

Selection is based on knowledge and aptitude shown in orthopaedics in terms of technical and clinical skills, evidence of motivation toward a career in orthopaedic surgery, communication skills, evidence of research ability and evidence of suitability for a career in orthopaedic surgery.

Applicants who are not selected for the training program may apply in subsequent years, subject to the restrictions placed on applications by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Pre-training Experience in Orthopaedics

One possible avenue for gaining experience in orthopaedics, which intending applicants may consider pursuing, is a hospital service post. Orthopaedic registrar posts exist in many teaching and non-teaching hospitals throughout Australia, though not as part of an approved training program. Appointments to service posts are controlled by individual hospitals.

In the past, many applicants who are successful have gained their early experience in service posts which permitted those involved in training to assess potential candidates. It is emphasised, however, that time spent in service posts is not accredited in retrospect as part of specialty training.

Information for International Medical Graduates

The role of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in specialty training is primarily an examining and accrediting body. The Board of Orthopaedic Surgery of the College has a close liaison with the Australian Orthopaedic Surgery.

International applicants who have not completed their training in orthopaedics must apply for selection on to an orthopaedic training program in competition with Australian applicants.

If the applicant is a trained orthopaedic surgeon from another country and they wish to be accredited as an orthopaedic surgeon in Australia they must apply to the Australian Medical Council for vocational assessment, which is carried out by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The letter from the College indicating that the assessment has taken place and the recommendation must be attached to an application for entry to the orthopaedic training program. Applications for this program are available from the Head Office of the Australian Orthopaedic Association. Applications close at the end of April each year and late applications are not considered.

Those applying as foreign-trained doctors must fulfil the following conditions:

1. The applicant must have permanent resident status issued by the Immigration Department.

2. The applicant must be proficient in the English language. This may need to be assessed by the Australian Medical Council.

3. The applicant must have a basic medical qualification and have been assessed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for the Australian Medical Council.

4. Depending on previous experience it is necessary for the selected applicant to spend a minimum of two years in an approved training post.

5. All trainees are required to satisfactorily complete the Orthopaedic Principles and Basic Science Examination by the third year of training.

Exchange Posts on the Accredited Training Program

It is possible that in any given year, an Australian program would be willing to consider an exchange arrangement of one year of training for one of its trainees with a trainee in an accredited overseas training program. Enquiries should be directed to various Boards of Studies.

Contact Details

Further information on the Australian training program in orthopaedics may be obtained from:

The Director of Training
Australian Orthopaedic Association
Ground Floor
229 Macquarie Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000
AUSTRALIA

T +61 2 9233 3018
F +61 2 9221 8301
E admin@aoa.org.au