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COVID-19 information hub

RACS is monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) and complying with advice and instruction from our governments. Our priority is the health and safety of our Fellows, Trainees, Specialist International Medical Graduates and staff. This will help us to remain a functional College and medical workforce that can provide an effective service to our patients and the community at large.

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Recommendations from specialty societies

RACS consulted with its specialty societies who committed to providing Fellows with guidelines on elective surgery. The latest recommendations received from specialty societies are listed below.

Neurosurgical Society of Australasia  
Restoration of Elective Neurosurgery

New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons (NZAPS)
Letter to NZAPS members (PDF 201.89KB) (August 2021)

New Zealand Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (NZSOHNS)
NZSOHNS Guidelines Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF 165.3KB) (August 2021)

Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
ASPS position on surgery during the Covid 19 pandemic (September 2021)

Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (ASOHNS)
ASOHNS COVID resources

Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ)
Guideline Principles of Urological Healthcare Management in the COVID Era (September 2021)

To view older updates, visit our 2020 updates page.

RACS guidelines on COVID-19 safe practice

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) has produced various guidelines on COVID-19 safe practice.

RACS developed these evidence-based reports to ensure surgeons and other health practitioners have the most up to date information to inform best practice safe surgery during the pandemic. 

The guidelines have been produced to aid surgeons make the correct clinical judgement and decision making in healthcare delivery. They also equip practitioners with trusted information to inform engagement with patients.

We encourage our Fellows, Trainees and Specialist International Medical Graduates to use these guidelines and also follow the direction of their respective chief medical officer, health jurisdiction and relevant specialty society sources.

In this time of widespread distribution of information, sometimes coming from what seems like authoritative sources, RACS recommends that before acting on such reports, people should check information with their family doctor or surgeon and follow the official advice from their local Chief Health Officer.

Download our rapid review reports and guidelines.

Please visit our COVID-19 resources page to see a list of further resources and downloads. 

COVID-19 Restriction Checker

Some types of gatherings, activities and businesses have been restricted in Australia to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Find out more using healthdirect’s COVID-19 Restriction Checker tool.