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Neurosurgery Education Around the World: Australasia

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Neurosurgery and Global Health

Abstract

Neurosurgery is a young specialty, with the first neurosurgical operation undertaken in Australasia in 1889 and the Royal Australasia College of Surgeons (RACS) opening in 1935. The Neurosurgery Society of Australasia (NSA) was formed in 1940 and is now the governing body for neurosurgical education and the specialty in general. The NSA is responsible for selection into neurosurgery training, the curriculum and accreditation of training posts. The RACS is responsible for the exit examination and awarding of fellowship (licensure). Unique challenges face Australasian neurosurgery both for training and service delivery, as the relatively small population (25 million in Australia and 5 million in New Zealand) is spread across a large land mass. Progress from institution-based training to a centralised bi-national training program was introduced in the early 1990s and continues. Selection of trainees is based on performance in a structured curriculum vitae, neuroanatomy examination, a structured clinical interview and interview-based referee reports. Each component aims to be transparent and reduce bias. There are strict criteria governing accreditation of neurosurgical training units, with 5 yearly reaccreditation and anonymous biannual trainee feedback to ensure standards are met. Currently, neurosurgical training sees trainees moved across a minimum of three training units, including at least one move away from their home state to diversify operative and training experience. Training is divided into basic (1–2 years), intermediate (3 years) and advanced (1–2 years) modules, and progression is competency-based rather than time-based and concludes with a bi-national exit examination. This fit-for-purpose program ensures a consistent and high standard of neurosurgical training across Australia and New Zealand. The challenges facing Australasian neurosurgery training include attaining gender and racial diversity and fostering academic neurosurgical practice and research. Future opportunities include flexible training models and inclusion of teaching adjuncts such as structured intraoperative teaching and the use of simulation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Heidi McAlpine, John Laidlaw & Katharine Drummond

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Auckland City Hospital, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand

    Edward Mee

  3. Department of Neurosurgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Ein Karem, Kyriat Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel

    Andrew Kaye

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Katharine Drummond

Authors
  1. Heidi McAlpine
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  2. Edward Mee
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  3. John Laidlaw
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  4. Andrew Kaye
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  5. Katharine Drummond
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katharine Drummond .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Isabelle M. Germano

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McAlpine, H., Mee, E., Laidlaw, J., Kaye, A., Drummond, K. (2022). Neurosurgery Education Around the World: Australasia. In: Germano, I.M. (eds) Neurosurgery and Global Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86656-3_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-86656-3_15

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-86655-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-86656-3

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