Recent events

The recent LAPSIM training workshop held in Darwin, Tuesday 19 May marked a major achievement for RACS NT. Hosted at the Flinders University Training Hub, the program was an initiative of the committee and NT team in building and strengthening relationships with the universities and years 1-4 medical students.

This was the largest event RACS has ever delivered for medical students in the NT, and the enthusiasm was remarkable. 60 students were registered, with all places filled in under two hours.

The enthusiastic cohort of students were incredibly engaged, and the post-event feedback received was extremely positive

This included from President of Northern Territory Student Society Group (NTSSG), Kyriakos Lambrinidis, who reflected on his experiences of the session.

“As someone early in the journey, experiences like this mean a great deal. The LAPSIM workshop was not only a chance to practise the technique and finesse of laparoscopy, being connected with general surgeons gave us an opportunity for mentorship and an insight into the discipline that shapes a life in surgery”

“We would like to thank the RACS team for bringing this event to us and we cannot recommend it highly enough to our peers should this be run again.” Kyriakos said.

 His comments were echoed by the Vice President of the NTSSG, Jent Delos Santos "Participating in the laparoscopic skills workshop was a useful insight into the fine motor skills required to perform laparoscopic surgery. I felt the event was thoroughly enjoyable and would be an excellent way to introduce medical students into the world of surgery in an engaging and exciting way. I would highly recommend this to my peers if another such event came up."

Jay Yeaman the Treasurer of the NTSSG also attended and reflected on his experiences.

"I genuinely find these events very engaging and l motivating for a future career in surgery. I always come away with at least a few pearls of wisdom, and they provide a fantastic opportunity to hear first-hand experiences and practical advice on career pathways and general skills from consultants and registrars, particularly those that work here in the region.”

We extend our thanks to our sponsors Miga for their support and Medtronic who provided all of the equipment on the day. We would also like to thank the Flinders University Regional Training Hub for allowing us to use their venue, as well as extra special acknowledgement to Dr Megge Beacroft who took time away from her busy schedule to facilitate these sessions. She did an excellent job in teaching and mentoring the next generation of Surgeons.

RACS NT, WA & SA Tristate ASM 2026: Reaching Out and Reaching New Heights

The RACS NT, WA & SA Tristate Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 held on 27 & 28 August was a resounding success, reaching new heights bringing together a record 220 delegates at Darwin Convention Centre, NT. 

Convened by NT Plastics Fellow, Dr Ravi Mahajani, the conference centred around the theme ‘Outreach and Reaching Out’. Showcasing an outstanding array of speakers, the sessions explored the many facets of surgical outreach, connection and collaboration across the profession and the wider community.

The 2026 Tristate ASM also achieved a record level of industry engagement, with 20 sponsors and partners supporting the event. This included Platinum Partner - National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), 15 Event Partners and Exhibitors, educational partners - Charles Darwin University and Flinders University, Travel Grant Partner - Bartons, and Destination Partner - NT Business Events. Their support played an important role in delivering a vibrant and engaging meeting for delegates.

The conference opened in spectacular style with a Welcome Function held on the Speakers Green at Parliament House, providing delegates with the opportunity to connect and celebrate the beginning of the ASM against the unique backdrop of Darwin.

The two-day event featured an insightful and thought-provoking program of speakers, exploring a diverse range of topics across rural and metropolitan healthcare, surgical leadership and the evolving landscape of surgery. The Conference dinner on the middle night at the historic Darwin Services Club was another highlight and featured an engaging presentation from guest speaker Associate Professor James Hooper, Medical Director of CareFlight NT.

With its record attendance, exceptional speakers and outstanding support from event partners, the Tristate ASM 2026 brought to life the theme of ‘Outreach and Reaching Out’ in the heart of Darwin.