Rural Junior Doctors Surgical Skills Course Grant

Open for applications from 3 March to 14 April 2025

Value: AUD $1,500

The grant supports junior doctors who are based in a rural or regional area to undertake a surgical skills course in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand. Funding may be used towards travel, accommodation and course fees.

RACS is committed to promoting and developing career pathways in rural surgery to combat surgical workforce shortages, recruitment and retention challenges in rural, regional and remote areas.

  • Policy and guideline

    Before applying, please refer to the:
    - Learning and Development grant policy (PDF 288.7KB)
    - Rural Junior Doctors Surgical Skills Course Grant guideline (PDF 139.76KB)

  • Who can apply?

    To be eligible to apply for this grant you must be:

    - junior doctor

     

    AND

     

    - practising in rural or regional Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand (where rural, regional and remote is defined by the Monash Modified Model in Australia as MM2 to MM&, or outside the six main urban centres in Aotearoa New Zealand
    - registered with RACS JDocs Program.

    It is desirable that applicants are members of RACS Rural Surgery Section. Recipients who are not already members will be given complimentary registration.

  • Activity

    The grant funds travel, accommodation or course fees for a junior doctor from a rural, regional or remote location to attend a surgical skills course with preference to courses that aid in selection to the Surgical Education and Training program. Applicants must have been accepted into a course or indicate their intention to participate in the course.

     

    The activity for which funding is being sought must commence after the grant application closing date but prior to the end of the following year (the grant year).

  • Application requirements

    Your application is to include:
    - your career and employment details
    - proof of rural practice and registration in JDocs
    - demonstration of at least 12-month committed rotation in rural hospital at the time of application
    - a summary of up to 300 words describing aspirations for a career path in rural surgery
    - a grant activity proposal outlining the details of your activity, dates, outcomes and proposed budget.

  • Selection and payment

    Selection
    Written applications will be reviewed by members of the Rural Surgery Section and the Prevocational and Skills Education Committee. Should applicants be of equal merit, preference will be given to applicants who wish to attend a surgical skills course that aids in selection to the Surgical Education and Training program.

    Payment
    Payment is made directly to the recipient in one instalment by 1 March in the scholarship year (following receipt of a valid invoice which will be requested by the Scholarships and Grants Team).

  • Recipient obligations

    All grant recipients will be required to provide an activity report at the end of the grant year when requested by the Scholarships and Grants Team.

  • To apply
    Applications are submitted via the Scholarships and Grants Program online platform, RACS Unlock, hosted by Survey Monkey Apply.

    You may register as an applicant on RACS Unlock at any time, however you will be unable to apply until the Learning and Development Program application opening date. There is no need to re-register if you already have a RACS Unlock registration.

    Please note: emailed applications are not accepted.
  • Contact
    Scholarship and Grants Team
    Email: [email protected]