Training Pathways

Plastic surgeons have a comprehensive knowledge of how tissues heal, the blood supply to the various tissues of the body, what constitutes a ‘normal’ appearance (and an enhanced one), and the mechanical forces at work in the body, as well as exceptional and finely-honed technical skills. A graduate of the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program will possess this knowledge and these skills as a defining element of being a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

A graduate of the SET program in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the embodiment of a good doctor, with a constant focus on patient safety, a comprehensive knowledge and skill set regarding patient selection, preparation and aftercare, and an exceptional knowledge of surgical anatomy, aesthetics, and plastic surgery conditions and treatments. Graduates who have completed the SET program have a recognisable and specific set of medical and technical skills as well as professional competencies identified as a RACS core competency.

Plastic surgeons have a comprehensive knowledge of how tissues heal, the blood supply to the various tissues of the body, what constitutes a ‘normal’ appearance (and an enhanced one), and the mechanical forces at work in the body, as well as exceptional and finely-honed technical skills. A graduate of the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program will possess this knowledge and these skills as a defining element of being a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

A graduate of the SET program in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the embodiment of a good doctor, with a constant focus on patient safety, a comprehensive knowledge and skill set regarding patient selection, preparation and aftercare, and an exceptional knowledge of surgical anatomy, aesthetics, and plastic surgery conditions and treatments. Graduates who have completed the SET program have a recognisable and specific set of medical and technical skills as well as professional competencies identified as a RACS core competency.

Plastic surgeons have a comprehensive knowledge of how tissues heal, the blood supply to the various tissues of the body, what constitutes a ‘normal’ appearance (and an enhanced one), and the mechanical forces at work in the body, as well as exceptional and finely-honed technical skills. A graduate of the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program will possess this knowledge and these skills as a defining element of being a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

A graduate of the SET program in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the embodiment of a good doctor, with a constant focus on patient safety, a comprehensive knowledge and skill set regarding patient selection, preparation and aftercare, and an exceptional knowledge of surgical anatomy, aesthetics, and plastic surgery conditions and treatments. Graduates who have completed the SET program have a recognisable and specific set of medical and technical skills as well as professional competencies identified as a RACS core competency.

Plastic surgeons have a comprehensive knowledge of how tissues heal, the blood supply to the various tissues of the body, what constitutes a ‘normal’ appearance (and an enhanced one), and the mechanical forces at work in the body, as well as exceptional and finely-honed technical skills. A graduate of the Surgical Education and Training (SET) program will possess this knowledge and these skills as a defining element of being a Specialist Plastic Surgeon.

A graduate of the SET program in plastic and reconstructive surgery is the embodiment of a good doctor, with a constant focus on patient safety, a comprehensive knowledge and skill set regarding patient selection, preparation and aftercare, and an exceptional knowledge of surgical anatomy, aesthetics, and plastic surgery conditions and treatments. Graduates who have completed the SET program have a recognisable and specific set of medical and technical skills as well as professional competencies identified as a RACS core competency.

ACTPRAS provides hands-on training opportunities for developing research skills, from laboratory methodology to clinical trial management. We believe in learning by doing, and thus many of our “events” are tied to ongoing research activities:

• Annual ACTPRAS Research Skills Workshop: Starting in 2025, we are hosting an annual workshop aligned with the RACS Annual Scientific Congress or the Plastic Surgery Congress. This half-day or one-day workshop is targeted at trainees and new investigators. Topics include forming a hypothesis, study design selection, statistical basics, and writing an abstract. It features mini-lectures and small group sessions where attendees practice designing a mock trial and receive feedback. This workshop is free for ACTPRAS collaborators and is a great networking opportunity as well.
• CaSSTIC Course (March 2025): The Clinical and Surgical Trials & Innovation Course (CaSSTIC) is a two-day intensive course that ACTPRAS is running in collaboration with Canberra Hospital in March 2025. It’s tailored for plastic surgery registrars and research-minded consultants. Day 1 covers trial design, grant writing, and regulatory considerations; Day 2 involves practical sessions on database setup, analyzing trial data, and even a simulation of a trial management meeting. The course also features guest faculty including members from the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. Registration: Free for ACTPRAS members (with priority given to those actively involved in our studies), nominal fee for others. If CaSSTIC proves successful, we plan to rotate it annually across different cities.
• Mentorship Program: We facilitate a mentorship system where a junior researcher is paired with a senior surgeon-researcher. For example, if you are a trainee interested in a certain subspecialty study (say craniofacial or hand surgery research), we connect you with an academic surgeon in that area. The mentorship can involve regular check-ins, guidance on your personal research projects, or shadowing opportunities in research meetings. This is informal but effective – many of our committee members volunteer as mentors. You can request a research mentor via the Resources page form.
• Research Meetings and Journal Clubs: Several hospitals in our network host research meetings or journal clubs focusing on plastic surgery evidence. We list these on the Resources page so that even if you’re at a smaller site, you can join virtually. For instance, the Victorian Plastics Research Forum is a bi-monthly evening meeting open to all, where ongoing projects (including ACTPRAS studies) are discussed. Similarly, some units run monthly journal clubs reviewing recent plastic surgery literature, which welcome trainee participation via video conference. Schedules and contacts for these are provided here so you can get involved beyond your own hospital.
• Historic Archive – Learning from the Past: We have compiled a gallery of historic photos and documents from the early days of ACTPRAS and its precursor initiatives. This includes photos of the first trainee collaborative meeting, early project summary sheets (like the original STROBE audit form), and correspondence that led to establishing the network. While these are of historical interest, they also offer learning points – showing challenges faced and overcome in starting a study, for example. We believe preserving this history not only honors past contributors but also educates new members about the evolution of collaborative research.

Clinical Resources and Best Practices

In addition to research-specific training, ACTPRAS provides some clinical resources that have emerged from our studies:

• Best Practice Guidelines: When our research yields clear evidence, we work with relevant authorities to formulate guidelines. For example, after CIPHUR, we drafted a recommended protocol for antiseptic skin preparation in limb surgery, which is available here for hospitals to adopt (and has been shared via Hand Surgery Society). We will update this section with any new guidelines (e.g., suture selection guidelines if CANVAS leads to one).
• Protocols for Reference: The detailed protocols of completed studies (CIPHUR, CANVAS, etc.) are provided as PDFs. These can serve as references for anyone designing a similar study, illustrating how to structure methodology, case report forms, etc. They are also useful for centers that might want to replicate or build on our studies locally.
• Patient Information Sheets: Another resource is examples of patient info and consent forms used in our trials, which can guide others in how to communicate research to patients effectively. We ensure our patient materials are written in plain language and culturally appropriate (taking into account the Australian/NZ context), and we are happy to share these templates.

(If you are looking for something not currently in our Resources, let us know. We are continually expanding this section based on member feedback. Our aim is to create a one-stop hub for all things related to conducting research in plastic surgery – whether you need practical tools, educational content, or inspiration from past projects.)

News & Events

Stay up to date with the latest happenings in ACTPRAS. Here we post news items, announcements, and upcoming events or key dates. Check back regularly to see how our collaborative is progressing and to find opportunities to engage in person or online. We separate this section into News (research updates, study milestones, press releases) and Events (meetings, courses, deadlines).