A new course for supervisors

In 2020 the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) implemented a new, more contemporary course for surgical supervisors and trainers, designed to better meet their current and future needs. Following a review of the Supervisors and Trainers for SET (SAT SET) course, the course was retired and a new course, Induction for Surgical Supervisors and Trainers, was developed.

While the course primarily aims to support surgical supervisors and trainers in fulfilling their role, it also looks to improve the Trainee experience through educating Supervisors and Trainers with more contemporary content based on best practice and evidence-based pedagogy. The course provides greater support and engagement to supervisors and trainers, which, in turn, will enhance

working relationships and improve feedback techniques with their Trainees.

As part of the ongoing professional development strategy to provide greater accessibility of courses, and also in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RACS education team, together with surgical stakeholders, has taken an integrated approach in the development of the new course. Delivered through the RACS eLearning platform, the Induction for Surgical Supervisors and Trainers course will be a combination of three online eLearning modules and two webinars.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• identify the relationship and the communication pathways between RACS and its training boards

• identify RACS policies/procedures

• describe roles and responsibilities of SET supervisors, trainers and trainees

• discuss how to support trainee learning and provide a safe learning environment

• identify RACS assessment requirements

• plan how to evaluate their supervision.

The first online Induction for Surgical Supervisors and Trainers course is scheduled for mid-2021, with registrations opening shortly. To register your interest in attending this course, please email pdactivities@surgeons.org