Scholarships and Grants Program

Learning and Development grant opportunities open in August 2021 for 2022 activity.

Outcomes advised in November 2021.

Are you interested in pursuing professional development, training or a short-term research activity with the support of a RACS Learning and Development grant?

The Scholarships and Grants Program 2022 Learning and Development round will open for application in August 2021.

RACS, through the Foundation for Surgery, is one of the largest funders of surgical research and education worldwide. The Scholarships and Grants Program supports surgeons and other health professionals to learn, facilitate change and improve the quality of surgical care and practice in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.

Learning and Development activity is usually undertaken over weeks or some months within the grant calendar year, with funds paid directly to the recipient at the beginning of the year.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Māori and female applicants as we support RACS’ focus on:

• removing barriers to the participation of women in surgery

• continuing and enhancing initiatives designed to increase the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors in the practice of surgery.

Please visit surgeons.org/scholarships to read the Scholarships and Grants Program conditions and further information on each of the opportunities listed.

For further information, please contact the Scholarships and Grants Team: Ph: +61 03 9249 1216 Email: scholarships@surgeons.orgwww.surgeons.org/scholarships

For Fellows

Morgan Travel Fellowship

$11,000

Supports travel to gain clinical experience or conduct research.

Who can apply? Early-career – RACS Younger Fellows

Bongiorno National Network Younger Fellows Travel Grant

$10,000

Supports post-Fellowship studies and furthering surgical experience overseas.

Who can apply? Early-career – RACS Younger Fellows

Rural Surgery Fellowship for Provincial Surgeons

$10,000 each (up to three Fellowships given)

Supports regional and rural surgeons to travel and develop existing skills or acquire new skills.

Who can apply? RACS Fellows – non-metropolitan

Medtronic Younger Fellows Travel Grant

$7500 each (up to two grants given)

Supports post-Fellowship studies and furthering surgical experience overseas.

Who can apply? Early-career – RACS Younger Fellows

Queensland Younger Fellows Grant

$2500

Supports travel to obtain post Fellowship training, and/or supports return to practice in Queensland.

Who can apply? Early-career – RACS Younger Fellows (Queenslanders only)

For SET Trainees

Indigenous Program – SET Trainee One Year Scholarship

$20,000 each (up to three scholarships given)

May fund SET registration fees, SET course fees, SET examination fees, research projects, mentoring programs, travel to attend conferences and/or relevant professional development activities.

Who can apply? Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori SET Trainees

Poate Family Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Travel Grant

$1500

Supports travel to obtain further training and experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery

Who can apply? Plastic and Reconstructive SET Trainees

For Fellows and SET Trainees

Pickard Robotic Training Grant

$100,000 – divided amongst recipients

Supports training and/or research opportunities to expand expertise in innovative robotic techniques.

Who can apply? RACS Fellows, SET Trainees, non-RACS surgeons and health professionals (South Australians only)

Stuart Morson Neurosurgery Grant

$30,000

Funds travel to support early-career neurosurgeons who wish to advance their experience and skills in neurosurgery by undertaking further training or research.

Who can apply? RACS Younger Fellows, SET Trainees and non-RACS neurosurgeons

Hugh Johnston Travel Grant

$10,000

Supports travel for RACS Fellows and Trainees to take time away from clinical positions to gain specialist knowledge and expertise.

Who can apply? RACS Fellows and SET Trainees

Murray & Unity Pheils Colorectal Travel Grant

$10,000

Supports travel to obtain further training and experience in the field of colorectal surgery.

Who can apply? RACS Fellows and SET Trainees

Aziz Hamza Rural Surgery Grant

$1500

Assists in delivering quality surgical care to people in remote and regional Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

Who can apply? Early-career – RACS Younger Fellows and SET Trainees

For non-RACS members

Pickard Robotic Training Grant

$100,000 – divided amongst recipients

Supports training and/or research opportunities to expand expertise in innovative robotic techniques.

Who can apply? Non-RACS surgeons and health professionals, RACS Fellows and SET Trainees (South Australians only)

Anwar and Myrtha Girgis SIMG Grant

$10,000

Supports migrant, refugee and asylum seeker doctors experiencing financial hardship to gain the professional development required to practice surgery in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand.

Who can apply? Doctors who are recent migrants or of refugee or asylum seeker background

Skills Training Faculty Grant

$10,000

Provides a professional development opportunity to senior Skills Training Faculty in recognition of their significant pro-bono work.

Who can apply? Senior instructors or directors (including RACS members) in a RACS skills training program

Indigenous Program – Career Enhancement Grant (junior doctors)

$5000 each (up to six grants given)

Supports junior doctors to acquire knowledge and skills that will strengthen their surgical career pathway.

Who can apply? Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori junior doctors

Indigenous Program – ASC Award

Up to $5000 each (up to six awards given)

Supports final year medical students and doctors interested in surgery to attend RACS 2022 Annual Scientific Congress.

Who can apply? Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors and final year medical students

Indigenous Program – ASC Peer Support Award

Up to $5000 each (up to two awards given)

Supports final year medical students and doctors interested in surgery, to attend RACS 2022 Annual Scientific Congress.

Who can apply? Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori doctors and final year medical students who have previously attended an Annual Scientific Congress

Indigenous Program – Davison Family Grant

$2500

Supports doctors who have the potential to inspire and attract young people to the field of surgery and who, without financial assistance, may be unable to contemplate a career in surgery.

Who can apply? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors wishing to undertake postgraduate surgical training

Indigenous Program – Career Enhancement Grant (medical students)

$2000 each (up to six grants given)

Supports final year medical students who are interested in pursuing a surgical career.

Who can apply? Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori final year medical students

Rural Junior Doctors Surgical Skills Course Grant

$1500

Supports rural or regional junior doctors to undertake a surgical skills course in a rural or regional location.

Who can apply? Rural or regional junior doctors – registered with JDOCs and members of the Rural Surgery Section.

COVID-19 impact on scholarships and grants

Given the continued challenges of COVID-19 and its impact on travel, Learning and Development grants for 2022 that allow for ‘overseas’ activity will include travel from Australia to Aotearoa New Zealand and vice versa, with preference given to activities that can be undertaken in either country.

Applicants who wish to travel internationally will need to substantiate why the activity cannot be undertaken in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand and that their reason to travel has been confirmed (for example a conference is proceeding).

Applications to Global Health scholarships and grants have been paused for 2022 activity.

If you are a recipient of a 2020 scholarship or grant who elected to defer completion of your activity to December 2021, and you are unsure that you can now complete your activity by December this year, please contact scholarships@ surgeons.org. We are keen to work with you and discuss the options available for your specific circumstance.