Accredited Training Posts

Plastic surgery trainees are trained at State Government accredited training posts in major teaching hospitals in the public sector and Commonwealth Government approved places in private hospitals throughout Australia. These posts undergo a strict accreditation and review process. A wide distribution of surgical exposure at these posts ensures that trainees cover the complete reconstructive and cosmetic curriculum throughout their formal pre-fellowship surgical training period. The quality of supervision of all trainees by fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeons ensures that patients receive the highest quality of care.

In Australia, elective surgery is mainly conducted in private hospitals and day surgeries. In 2009, the Australian Government initiated a funding scheme for training in the private sector, that is currently called the Specialist Training Program or STP. The STP has facilitated the creation of training posts which focus on elective and cosmetic procedures. These posts are affiliated with major teaching hospitals to ensure that trainees receive a balanced learning experience during each surgical rotation.

Training sites provide training and experience for the gamut of plastic surgery procedures including hand surgery, microsurgical procedures, treatment of burn injuries, cranial and maxillofacial techniques, melanoma and other reconstructive and cosmetic procedures. Advanced trainees also have the opportunity to apply for placement at special craniomaxillofacial training posts in various parts of Australia.

Hospital Accreditation

The accreditation process incorporates all of the Standards, Process and Criteria for the Accreditation of Hospitals and Posts for Surgical Education and Training published by RACS. Additional criteria relevant to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery have been added to the ASPS accreditation application form.

Hospitals interested in establishing new or additional training posts should review the RACS Training Post Accreditation Guideline (2017) and request a from the ASPS office.

Overview

New applications and applications for additional positions at existing posts must be received by 31 January to be considered for the following year’s trainee appointments. Late applications will not be eligible for consideration.