Surgeons International Award

Professor Richard Bennett and his wife Enid established the Surgeons International Award in 1989. The award provides for short-term visits to Australia by worthy individuals identified by teams participating in the College's International Development Program.

The objective is to provide awards to doctors, nurses or other health professionals from developing communities to support short term-visits, usually of 4 to 6 weeks duration, to one or more Australian and New Zealand hospitals for the purpose of acquiring knowledge, skills and contacts needed for the promotion of improved health services in the recipient's country. Between its inception and 2012, the Surgeons International Award has enabled 46 health professionals (including surgeons) from 14 countries to access further training opportunities.

Read about the Surgeons International Award recipients

The College invites nominations of worthy individuals for a Surgeons International Award for 2013-2014.

The award may cover a return economy class airfare, necessary accommodation costs and living expenses for the recipient. The value of the award varies up to a total amount of A$12,000, depending on the requirements of the candidate's program. More than one award can be made in any one year.

Nomination criteria

• Surgeons participating in the RACS International Development Program are encouraged to nominate worthy individuals they have identified while undertaking international development activities.
• Surgeons who nominate worthy individuals with whom they have had contact must be willing to accept the responsibility for arranging a suitable program and acting as a personal host to the award recipient.

Nominations must include:

• personal and professional information concerning the nominee
• objectives of the proposed visit
• anticipated benefits to the nominee and their home country
• names of the International Development Program team members responsible for organising the visit (including accommodation, training program and travel within Australia)
• an outline of the proposed training program and activities
• letters of recommendation from the nominee's hospital and/or health department with an indication of the local importance of any upskilling resulting from the award.

The award may cover a return economy class airfare, necessary accommodation costs and living expenses for the recipient.

Nominations may be mailed to:

International Scholarships Officer
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
College of Surgeons' Gardens
250-290 Spring Street
East Melbourne VIC 3002 Australia

or by fax or email to:

International Scholarships Officer
Fax: +61 3 9276 7431
Email: international.scholarships@surgeons.org

Telephone: +61 3 9249 1211