Date: Thursday 13 November - Saturday 15 November 2025

Venue: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

250-290 Spring Street, Melbourne Victoria 3002

One Conference, Two Experiences, Countless Opportunities

In 2025, the Academic Research Committee proudly presents the newly unified RACS Annual Research Conference - a three-day academic showcase.

This year we bring together the Developing a Career and skills in Academic Surgery (DCAS) course, the Academic Surgery meeting and the Surgical Research Society (SRS) meeting, alongside the former November Annual Academic Surgery Conference (NAASC) to become the RACS Annual Research Conference.

This exciting new format replaces the separate events previously held at different times of the year. DCAS will no longer be held at the Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) in May, and the SRS meeting will now take place as part of this single, high-impact November event. The result? A concentrated and collaborative platform for aspiring and established academic surgeons across Australasia.

• Day 1 - DCAS: Empowering the next generation of academic surgeons with mentorship, insights, inspiration and exploring a path in academic surgery.
• Days 2 - 3 - RACS Annual Research Conference: Featuring the SRS Meeting, world-class research presentations, academic keynotes and dynamic discussions on the future of surgical science.

Attendees can register for DCAS, the main conference or both - allowing flexibility while maximising opportunities for engagement and networking.

RACS Annual Research Conference

This is the premier multidisciplinary academic meeting for surgeons across Australasia - inclusive of all surgical subspecialties and all stages of academic practice.

Whether you are a medical student, registrar, post-doctoral researcher or established academic the conference offers:

• A broad scope spanning general, subspecialty and cross-disciplinary surgical research
• The chance to present at an international-standard conference
• A platform to showcase research across levels - from student projects to leading national studies
• A supportive research ecosystem to inspire ideas, forge collaborations, and develop your academic voice
• Participation in the final stage of our research Delphi process to identify barriers to an academic career and prioritise future research directions for our region
• A forum to influence policy and practice — with the College as a conduit for research advocacy
• A balance of expert keynotes, research presentations, rapid-fire abstracts, and engaging discussion
• Early collaborative study idea workshop
• Accepted abstracts published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery

Cap it off with a networking-rich delegates dinner — a celebration of surgical science and community.

The Academic Surgery Delphi is a multi-stage research prioritisation project led by the RACS Academic Surgery Committee. This initiative aims to identify key barriers to a career in academic surgery in Australasia and to develop actionable solutions.

Using the Delphi methodology—a structured, iterative process involving multiple rounds of anonymous feedback and consensus-building—this initiative will culminate in a final consensus discussion during a morning workshop at the RACS Annual Research Conference in November 2025.

Why Participate?

• Help shape the future of academic surgery in Australia and New Zealand
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary group of surgeons, trainees, students, and academics
• Contribute to a published statement of research priorities and strategic recommendations
• Receive formal recognition and authorship as a Delphi contributor

Who Should Join?

We welcome participation from:

• Medical students and surgical Trainees
• Research Fellows and early-career academics
• Consultant surgeons across all specialties
• Educators and leaders in surgical training and policy

Process

• Pre-Conference: Online submission of perceived barriers and solutions
• Pre-Conference: Ranking and refining of key themes
• Final Round (In-Person): Morning consensus workshop at the RACS Annual Research Conference, Melbourne (13–15 November 2025)

Outcome

A published research prioritisation statement, co-authored by all contributors, will be submitted for publication and used to inform advocacy and policy by the RACS Academic Surgery Committee.

Get Involved

To register your interest click here or to receive updates, contact: [email protected] 

Thinking about publishing your work? Presenting at conferences? Building an academic surgical career? DCAS is your launchpad.

With a line-up of acclaimed local faculty and influential international speakers from the Association for Academic Surgery, DCAS 2025 offers an engaging and interactive experience tailored for those at the start of their academic journey.

DCAS is designed to:

• Inspire and empower future academic surgeons
• Provide clear insights into academic career pathways
• Provide interactive sessions on how to get your work noticed, the pros and cons of a higher degree, and where to find small grant money for your pilot study
• Foster a supportive and inclusive research community

DCAS is ideal for medical students, Trainees, research Fellows, Younger Fellows, and any surgeon curious about the academic world.

CLICK HERE (PDF 2.75MB) TO ACCESS THE PROVISIONAL PROGRAM

Contact Details:
E: [email protected]