Foundation Skills for Surgical Educators

Foundation Skills for Surgical Educators (FSSE) is an interactive introductory course designed to develop knowledge and skills in surgical teaching and education. 

Participants will explore teaching and learning concepts to enhance their skills in surgical education and be able to apply these principles to their own teaching context, including how to influence learners and the learning environment for optimal learning experiences. Participants are provided with opportunities to reflect on their own teaching skills and practice, including their strengths and weaknesses as educators.

Course learning outcomes

By completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Determine appropriate teaching strategies for a range of clinical settings and learners
2. Identify strategies for addressing barriers to learning in a clinical setting
3. Create a lesson plan, including objectives, activities and assessment
4. Apply the steps of Pendleton’s Feedback Model
5. Determine appropriate assessment strategies for a range of surgical and non-technical skills
6. Effectively evaluate your own teaching practice.


Are you eligible for this course?

FSSE is for anyone involved in teaching or training in a surgical environment.

With the release of the RACS Action Plan, Building Respect and Improving Patient Safety, the Foundation Skills for Surgical Educators course is mandatory for Surgeons who are involved in the training and assessment of RACS SET Trainees.

To determine if you are eligible for an exemption from completing this course, please email [email protected].

 

Delivery modes

Online (4 x eLearning modules plus 1x webinar) 

Duration: 7 hours total

 

Delivery dates and times

Week   Activity   Requirements
Week 1   eLearning Module 1     Please allow up to 60 minutes to complete
Week 2     eLearning Module 2     Please allow up to 60 minutes to complete
Week 3     Assessment     Complete Modules 1 & 2; submit Lesson Plan for evaluation (before webinar)
Week 4   eLearning Module 3   Allow up to 60 minutes to complete; Modules 1-3 must be completed before attending the webinar
Week 5   Webinar   Role plays: 'Delivering Feedback' (120 minutes)
Week 6   eLearning Module 4   Please allow up to 60 minutes to complete


 Course commencement  Webinar dates and times  End date
 Monday 2 February 2026  Wednesday 4 March 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEDT  Sunday 15 March 2026
 Monday 30 March 2026  Wednesday 29 April 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST  Sunday 10 May 2026
 Monday 11 May 2026  Wednesday 10 June 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST   Sunday 21 June 2026
 Monday 18 May 2026  Wednesday 17 June 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST  Sunday 28 June 2026
 Monday 22 June 2026  Wednesday 22 July 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST  Sunday 2 August 2026
 Monday 10 August 2026  Wednesday 9 September 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST  Sunday 20 September 2026
 Monday 24 August 2026  Wednesday 23 September 2026, 4:00pm - 6:00pm AEST  Sunday 4 October 2026
 Monday 7 September 2026  Wednesday 7 October 2026, 4:00pm - 6:00pm AEDT  Sunday 18 October 2026
 Monday 14 September 2026  Wednesday 14 October 2026, 4:00pm - 6:00pm AEDT  Sunday 25 October 2026
     

Course fees

  • FREE for College members
  • A$600 or NZ$645 for non-members of the College 

*All values include GST 

Cancellation Policy

 

Continuing Professional Development

Completing this course will entitle participants to 7 CPD Hours

 

Main RACS competency addressed

  • Scholarship and teaching

 

Acknowledgement

The original course development was partially funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Specialist Training Program (STP).

Additionally, the Cultural Safety and Indigenous Health content in this course was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Specialist Training Program (STP).

 

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