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.

The South Australian College’s Past Chairs’ Dinner was held on Friday 26 June at the Marriott Hotel in Adelaide, it bought together former Chairs and the next generation of surgical leaders. Each Past Chair was invited to bring a guest — a younger Fellow, trainee, or registrar that they have mentored in the past or that they are currently mentoring. This unique format created a collegiate and inspiring atmosphere, with stories, experiences, and wisdom shared across generations.

The evening honoured the College’s history, celebrated Fellowship, and marked the formal handover of the South Australian State Chair role from Dr Bernard Carney to Dr Ben Teague. Guests have shared overwhelmingly positive feedback, reflecting the success of the event and the meaningful connections it fostered. The College extends sincere thanks to ReturnToWorkSA whose sponsorship and support made the night possible. Please enjoy a selection of photos from the night below.

"It was amazing to be part of such an esteemed group of Fellows, many of whom were very influential throughout my own career. It was also incredible to have the next generation of Surgeons join us, who will hopefully go on to be surgical leaders and mentors in their own right." – Incoming RACS SA Chair, Dr Ben Teague

"Congratulations on an excellent evening. Great concept, enjoyable meal and exciting vibe of old and young with common purpose to keep RACS relevant and representing its fellows."  - Past RACS president, Dr Tony Sparon

"Congratulations on a very successful dinner. The idea that each Chair could invite a younger surgeon they had mentored was brilliant and added enormously to the occasion. The brief talks from those present were heartfelt, interesting and illuminating, highlighting the crucial importance of mentoring in surgery and the immense collegiality that results. We are but custodians of our profession and clearly we are leaving it in good hands. Once again thank you for a superb evening.” – Past RACS SA Chair Dr Randal Williams 1998-2000.

Our International Women’s Day guest speaker event brought together members of our community for an evening focused on leadership, progress, and the achievements of women.

We were privileged to hear from Dr Rosie Stanimirovic, whose talk Openness to Experience drew on her work as a high‑performance psychologist with the Adelaide Crows to offer a unique and powerful perspective on resilience, mindset, and human potential. 

A special thank you to Avant for sponsoring this event. Your support made this event possible. 

Our recent Psych for Set: Mastering Exam Stress information night brought SET Trainees and Registrars together for a practical and empowering discussion in Viva exam preparation and ways to manage stress. Facilitators Dr Nick Smith and Dr Rosie Stanimirovic, High Performance Psychologist guided participants through shared lived experiences, research, theory and practical skills to help perform under pressure. It was an engaging and supportive workshop that left everyone feeling better equipped to cope with the fast-approaching upcoming Viva exams

On Friday 24 October the RACS SA State Office held a Preparation for Private Practice workshop, bringing together Younger Fellows and final year Trainees for a day of insights, learning and tips and tricks to starting in private practice.

The program consisted of 12 speaker sessions covering a range of different topics, such as challenging cases and diversifying the workforce, mental health in surgeons and legal pitfalls in commencing private practice. A highlight from the day was the interactive panel discussion involving representatives from Calvary Adelaide, St Andrews Hospital, Western Hospital and ACHA Group, offering perspectives and knowledge into private hospital practice.

We would like to acknowledge the sponsors of the event, Bartons Chartered Accountants’ Wealth Advisors, Avant, Return to Work SA, Magentus, MLCOA and MDA National.

Overall, the workshop was very successful and a fantastic opportunity for Younger Fellows and final year Trainees to gain practical knowledge and connect with experienced professionals.

On 15 August 2025 the South Australian (SA) state office hosted a successful Papers Day, bringing together medical students, Trainees and Younger Fellows to present their research, and compete for the prestigious Justin Miller Medal and RP Jepson Medal.

These awards honour two of SA's most distinguished surgeons. The Justin Miller Medal recognises the best clinical paper and presentation while the RP Jepson Medal is awarded for the best research paper and presentation.

This year’s event featured 15 presentations, reflecting the depth and diversity of surgical research being undertaken across the state. The day was convened by Dr Bernard Carney, Chair of the SA State Committee, and provided a valuable platform for participants to share their work, engage in academic discussion, and receive expert feedback.

The judging panel included Associate Professor Nicola Dean, Professor Martin Bruening, and Associate Professor George Barreto, who brought a wealth of experience and insight to the evaluation process.

Congratulations to Dominique White, winner of the Justin Miller Medal, for her presentation titled ‘Preliminary Experience Using Artificial Intelligence and Multispectral Imaging for Burn Depth Assessment.’

Congratulations also to Jesse Ey, winner of the RP Jepson Medal, for his presentation ‘Feasibility and Effectiveness of a Remote Video-Based Coaching Intervention to Improve Surgeon Non-Technical Skills in Rural Hospitals.’

The SA Papers Day continues to be a cornerstone event for fostering surgical research and celebrating emerging talent in the field, and an excellent opportunity for budding surgeons to gain valuable CV points to assist them in applying for surgical training programs.