Women in Surgery

The College is committed to expanding the number of women in surgical training and to ensuring the training programs do not disadvantage them.  The development of the Women in Surgery Section and mentoring programs for Trainees reflect that commitment.

Attracting women to pursue surgical careers in not unique in Australia, but, since half the medical graduates are now female, there is a need to attract the best graduates to surgery, and the College is actively pursuing that goal.

The Women in Surgery Section was established to encourage and support all Trainees, but females in particular.

The Section is a source of advice and guidance for Council in relation to gender and Trainee issues.

While recognising gender issues in training and the surgical workforce, the committee also aims to develop guidelines and policies to combat the numerous issues faced by all individuals in the surgical field.

The Section seeks to remove any barriers with which Trainees or medical graduates are faced, with plans to develop a mentoring program within the College to assist medical students, Trainees and young surgeons.

Activities

The Committee has assisted in the development of some of the College's key policies and related documents. It has been fundamental in establishing guidelines on issues such as Discrimination and Harassment, and Safe Working Hours, and plans to continue this work with a mentoring scheme.

Scientific and education programs, including the Women in Surgery Breakfast, are run at the Annual Scientific Congress (ASC),

The committee has released a discussion paper regarding Flexible Surgical Training.

125 years of Women in Medicine at the University of Melbourne

The women in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science are celebrating the entry of women into the University of Melbourne Medical School 125 years ago with drinks at University House, Friday 30 November, 5.30 - 7.30pm. All welcome, $25 a head, children free. Please come, celebrate and catch up! RSVP to jasavige@unimelb.edu.au or Carole.smith@austin.org by Wednesday 28 November. This is a prelude to further celebrations in 2013.

Membership enquiries

If you are interested in becoming a member, please forward your details to the Secretariat 

Governance

Women in Surgery Section Terms of Reference
Sections - Role and Membership

Executive Committee Chair - Dr Kate Drummond FRACS

Position Papers

Discrimination and Harassment
Safe Working Hours and Conditions for Fellows, Surgical Trainees and International Medical Graduates 

Contact

Women in Surgery Section Secretariat
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
College of Surgeons' Gardens
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia

Telephone: +61 3 9249 1259
Fax: +61 3 9276 7432
Email: sections@surgeons.org