Interview Purpose & Process

The purpose of the interview is to provide the assessment panel with an opportunity to evaluate and clarify any aspect of the applicant's:

• surgical training and education, and professional experience as outlined in the documentation provided and
• ascertain specific aspects of the applicant's surgical practice e.g. medical expertise, judgement, clinical decision making and technical expertise.

The interview provides the Assessment Interview Panel with an opportunity to further explore the applicant's professional communication skills, ability to evaluate their surgical practice and their professional ethics.

Applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate their views and knowledge on these issues by responding to a series of standard questions. The interview also provides the applicant with an opportunity to ask questions.

Spoken communication in English is also assessed on the basis of performance throughout the interview.

The members of the Assessment Interview Panel comprise:

• The Specialty Chair and/or IMG Representative of the relevant Specialty Board
• A representative from the Board of Surgical Education Training (BSET)
• A jurisdictional representative.

The interviews are held in Melbourne at RACS Head Office. The interview will take approximately 75 minutes (this includes the time required by the assessment interview panel to reach a consensus decision).

Applicants will be advised of the date and time of interview, where possible 4 weeks prior to the interview.

On completion of the interview the Assessment Interview Panel will make an interim determination concerning your comparability with a surgeon who has completed the RACS Surgical Education and Training (SET) program. The opinions of each Assessment Interview Panel member will be considered in formulating the interim assessment recommendation. The members will then provide a consensus assessment recommendation to BSET.