Updated: 16 February 2023

Trainees for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery are selected on a competitive basis. Strict eligibility criteria apply and are published annually on The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) website. The P&RS Regulations for Selection are subject to annual review, and are published on this page each November.

All enquiries must be sent in writing to education@plasticsurgery.org.au.

Important Notices for the 2023 selection round

Referee nomination template

16 February 2023

Referee nomination form published. See Related Documents below.

8 December 2022

Selection Fee

The 2022 fee for selection has been increased by 3% for 2023. The fee is published below.

25 November 2022

Higher degrees

First advised on 18 March 2021 (updated 2 Feb 2022) the Board has now excluded online Master of Surgery degrees as being creditworthy for selection points. Additionally the Board has added MPhil as a creditworthy degree

Rural Selection Initiative

The Board has introduced a new category for selection for applicants who can demonstrate rural residence, education or medical experience.

The Department of Health’s Health Workforce Locator must be used to show the health workforce classification and geographical information equal to MM2 through MM7 of the current Monash Modified Model.

Application time lines (see regulations section 2.1)

Application opening and closing dates for 2023 are confirmed. See the table below.

Maximum Attempt Limit (see regulations at section 2.8)

Any applicant who, since 2020, has ranked Within the Band is permitted a fourth and final attempt – ASPS will advise applicants who reach this threshold.

Other applicants are permitted a maximum of three attempts, and thereafter are classified as ineligible for selection.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Selection Initiative (see regulations at sections 4 and 8.3.3)

One training position is reserved to support selection opportunities for candidates who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and who reaches the minimum standard for selection as well as scores within or below the cut off band. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders applicants who score above the band will be selected based on their regional preferences.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements (see regulations at section 5.6)

The RACS Clinical Examination (CE) is a pre-requisite for selection in 2023. The Board has made allowance for applicants to provide evidence of a pass in the CE to ASPS by 1 April 2023. Refer to RACS website for CE registration dates.

Referees (see regulations at section 6.3)

Referees are limited to a valid period of 2 years prior to making an application.

Minimum surgical referee must be 6.

Ward nurses and allied health (or equivalent) referees are not valid referees.

Theatre nurses are allowed as valid referees.

Related documents:

• 2023 Selection Regulations for Selection into 2024 SET Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery program: Download
  (Previous year: 2022 Selection Regulations Download)
  
• 2023 Selection Referee Contact Details: Download. Only use Microsoft Excel to edit this file.
• Interview Declaration: Download
• Interview Guide for Candidates: Download
• Training Agreement (v4) (updated 19 July 2021)
• Training Variation (v7) (updated November 2022)

Key Dates for 2022

Selection Registration Opens (RACS)	Tuesday 10 January 2023 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Registration Closes (RACS)	Tuesday 31 January 2023 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Application Opens (ASPS)	Wednesday 1 March 2023 12:00pm AEDT
Selection Application Closes (ASPS)	Wednesday 22 March 2023 12:00pm AEDT
Referee Reporting	April through May Evenings Mon-Thu
Interviews	Victoria & virtual 21 June 2023 NSW,. QLD, SA, WA 24 June 2023 (subject to change)
Latest Announcement of Offers Date	Monday 24 July 2023
Last Date for Offers	Friday 10 November 2023

Application Fee

All applicants will be charged a non-refundable application fee which must be paid at the time of application.

The 2023 fee is $912 (in GST).

Support for Applicants

Should the SET application process raise difficulties for you or feeling that you do not know how to deal with, ASPS suggests you to seek out support and advice from these or other related organisations.

Beyond Blue support services:

• 1300 22 4636
• Chat online
• Email
• Online forums

Lifeline:

• 13 11 14
• Crisis support chat
• Help resources
• If life is in danger CALL 000