Entry Requirements

• Australian or New Zealand permanent resident or citizen 
• General (unconditional) medical registration  
• At least 3 years of postgraduate experience  

• Completion of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Hand Hygiene Learning Module 
• Completion of the RACS “Operating with Respect” eLearning module and Completion of the Generic Surgical Sciences exam 
• Refer to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for further information on selection and/or eligibility 

Total Training Time

Total: 5 years (full-time)

• GSET1 – GSET3 – Core Training - Focuses on the foundation skills relating to general surgery  
• GSET4 – GST5 – Principal Training - Involvement and clinical complexity increases

How to Apply

Doctors wishing to apply to the GSET Program in Australia must first submit a completed Registration Form with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) by the published closing date. Registrations will not be accepted under any circumstances after the closing date.  

 Queensland Health offers a central allocations program for GSET 1 Principal House Officer (PHO) applications in General Surgery and applicants must complete their Queensland Health preferencing through the Resident Medical Officer (RMO) campaign. GSET 2-5 allocations for General Surgery are conducted by RACS. 

 Applicants interested in applying for positions not allocated by RACS must complete their preferences by selecting individual facilities (up to five preferences may be recorded). General Surgery Education and Training (GSET) occurs in nine specialty areas: 

• Cardiothoracic Surgery 
• General Surgery 
• Neurosurgery 

• Orthopaedic Surgery 
• Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery 
• Paediatric Surgery 
• Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery 
• Urology 

• Vascular 

 Applicants need to apply directly to RACS for a training position in General Surgery. 

In Queensland, for an employment contract to be issued by your allocated training facility, applicants MUST also submit an application via the RMO Campaign portal. 

Application Deadline

Doctors registered for selection and are confirmed as satisfying the generic eligibility requirements may then lodge an application for selection from the specified date in February or March. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to attend an interview in June/July.  

Frequently Asked Questions