Queensland activities

Registrations: Click here to register now
When: Tuesday 21st April 2026 
Where: Virtual 
Who: Fellows, Trainees and SIMGs 
This year’s theme, Artificial Intelligence, explores how AI is transforming surgical care: from improving decision making and patient outcomes to streamlining workflows. Gain a deeper understanding of AI, incorporating it into your day-to-day practice and overcoming the uncertainty that often surrounds new technology. Make AI less daunting and discover how it can become a valuable tool in your surgical toolkit. Hosted by Associate Professor Bhavesh Patel.

Registrations: University student reps will be contacted directly for team nominations 
When: Saturday 18th July 2026 
Where: RACS QLD Office, Kangaroo Point  
Who: Medical Students 

A friendly competition for university students to test their knowledge and skills. The event includes a written exam as well as 4 hands on skills stations where attendees are scored on their skills and also provided mentoring. Teams of medical students are sent from Bond University, Griffith University, James Cook University and University of Queensland to compete for individual titles as well as the coveted prize of Best Overall Team Performance.  

The day also provides opportunities for this upcoming generation to build relationships with Fellows and industry professionals who can offer support throughout their careers. 

Registrations: Click here to register now

When: Saturday 8th August 2026

Where: InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Gold Coast

Who: Fellows, Trainees, SIMGs, Junior Doctors, Medical Students & Allied Health Professionals

The State Conference is a premier full-day event bringing together surgeons from across Queensland for a dynamic and forward thinking program. Step beyond competence and into mastery. Together, we’ll explore what it truly means to master your craft, from refining techniques to embracing creativity and innovation in surgical practice.  
We’ll also dive into the mindset of a master: the resilience, curiosity and strategic thinking needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. This event will empower you to elevate your expertise and redefine your role in shaping the future of surgery. 

Registrations: Click here to register now - virtual and in-person registrations available
When: Saturday 17th October 2026 
Where: RACS QLD Office, Kangaroo Point  
Who: Younger Fellows, Trainees and Practice Managers 

Thinking about starting your own private practice or improving the one you have? This practical, hands-on workshop offers strategies, tools and advice from experienced Fellows, consultant speakers and industry partners. Learn what’s involved in setting up a practice, develop frameworks to boost performance and uncover common pitfalls to avoid. You’ll also gain insights into operations, success strategies and have the chance to connect with surgeons who’ve navigated the journey themselves. 

Registrations: Abstract submissions are now open. For information, click here
When: Saturday 8th August 2026 
Where: InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort, Gold Coast 
Who: Medical Students, Junior Doctors, Queensland Surgical Trainees across all specialties and PHO's in Surgical Departments 

The Queensland Research Papers Prizes will be held in conjunction with the QLD State Conference to celebrate research excellence amongst Queensland’s medical community. These presentations provide a platform for medical students, junior doctors and trainees to showcase their research and highlight the outstanding contributions Queenslanders make to medicine through diverse and innovative projects. Heats are conducted to select 6 finalists who will be judged by experienced Fellows on the quality of their research and presentation, ultimately awarding winners in the following categories: 

Neville Davis Papers Prize - $2,500
RACS Papers Prize - $1,000

2026 Masterclass Webinar: AI

Congratulations to Associate Professor Bhavesh Patel on delivering an engaging masterclass webinar on Tuesday 21 April on the role of AI in healthcare, attracting strong interest from hundreds of Fellows across Australia and New Zealand. The session broke down barriers to technology adoption and empowered attendees to embrace AI in their practice.

• Event sponsors: Walshs, Hillhouse Legal Partners, Magentus, Heidi Health and AI for Doctors
• Presenters: Associate Professor Bhavesh Patel, Dr Carlo Bellini (AI for Doctors), Associate Professor Sriram Rao (AI for Doctors), Colin Hili (Magentus), Peter Do (Heidi Health), Craig Hong (Hillhouse Legal Partners) and Daniel James (Walshs)

2026 Career & Skills Clinic

Congratulations to Dr Gian Capati on hosting a dynamic and inspiring day for aspiring surgeons on Saturday 9 May at Mater Education Springfield. Offering valuable insights into surgical pathways, firsthand experiences from Fellows and hands-on skills training, the event provided a strong foundation for the next generation to kickstart their surgical careers.

• Event sponsors: Mater, Walshs, Hillhouse Legal Partners, Applied Medical and Johnson & Johnson
• Fellows who presented: Dr Leon Kitipornchai, Dr Jonathon Chan, Dr Liesel Porrett, Dr Matthew Cheng, Dr Andre Joshi, Dr Emma Powell & Dr Trent Cross.

Historical Society Morning Tea

The Historical Society Morning Tea held on Saturday 18 April brought together retired and practicing Fellows for an engaging discussion on the rich history of surgery in Queensland. The event fostered meaningful connections while building momentum towards the upcoming publication celebrating QLD’s surgical legacy.

2025 Queensland State Conference

The 2025 Queensland State Conference was held Saturday and Sunday 13–14 September 2025 at Rydges Southbank in Brisbane. Themed Shaping the future of medicine, the two-day event explored how technology, innovation and collaboration are transforming surgical care.

Chaired by Dr Matthew Hope, the program featured keynote lectures from Professor Fiona Wood, Associate Professor Cliff Pollard and Professor Matthew Read, alongside panels and presentations on AI, robotics, consultation software, theatre design and workforce planning.

Encouraged by these conversations, and the ability to earn CPD points for their attendance, everyone left the two days energised and looking forward to future events.

RACS Queensland would like to acknowledge and thank its sponsors for their ongoing support. This partnership with our State Committee ensures the ongoing success of our events.

Major sponsors

Walshs Financial Group, Prescribe Practice Management, Hillhouse Legal Partners