Curriculum Vitae (CV) – include information with the aim to obtain the maximum number of points available. Review the Selection resource documents to ensure you are obtaining as many points in all areas as possible. References – discuss your application with your referees to ensure that they are willing to complete this for you as there is no obligation for a referee to complete a report and they may choose to ‘opt-out’. The name of the referee who chose to opt out will remain confidential. Also, if more than 50% of the reference contains ‘insufficient opportunity to assess’ (IOA), the report will be considered invalid and the referee will be asked to either modify their responses, or ‘opt-out’ of being a referee. Interview – seek out advice, tips and interview practice. Some applicants improve their interview skills with practise and/or coaching. It can be helpful to speak with FRANZCOG trainees at your hospital who have been through the selection process for advice and tips. 

There are some areas of the CV where applicants gain additional points, such as poster presentations, publications and Prevocational pathway (PVP). Consider areas where you are unlikely to achieve maximum points. For example, if you haven’t attained maximum points for research then this could be something you can focus on to achieve the maximum points available. If you have not maximised your points for clinical experience, you might consider delaying your application in order to maximise the available points. 

The Selection process is highly competitive. Each year there are approximately 200 applicants applying for approximately 85 positions within the Australian training program. Some applicants may benefit from waiting another year to, e.g. improve their CV score, before applying again. Applications to enter the FRANZCOG Training Program are capped at three attempts which encourages you to submit the best application you possibly can. The likelihood of success for second and third time applicants is very similar to first time applicants (around 40- 50% on each occasion for Australian applicants) indicating that for each additional time you apply there is a good chance of being selected. 

On your third attempt, if you score within 10% of the required score for selection, you will be granted one final attempt. 

Institutional Ranking, (IR) are an additional scoring component to the FRANZCOG selection process in Australia. IRs are completed by employing hospitals where an applicant has been in continuous employment for six months (or more) within the last 18 months prior to selection. Using a ranking and recommendation system, feedback is gathered from a broad range of staff, including consultants, advanced trainees and registrars who are familiar with the applicant’s pre-vocational O&G clinical performance. The IR contributes to identifying applicants suitable for selection. IRs will be considered valid and count towards the score only if hospitals have a minimum of three applicants on their list for ranking.