Overview
Surgery is a highly respected and well-established specialty in Australia, with overseas-trained surgeons contributing significantly to the workforce, particularly in regional and rural areas.
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is the specialist college responsible for assessing overseas-trained surgeons across all surgical sub-specialties. RACS has a structured International Medical Graduate (IMG) assessment process that evaluates your training, qualifications, and clinical experience against Australian standards.
Assessment Process
The RACS IMG specialist assessment process involves the following steps:
- Apply to RACS for IMG specialist assessment.
- Submit qualifications, evidence of surgical training, operative logbooks, and clinical experience.
- RACS assesses comparability: substantially comparable, partially comparable, or not comparable.
- If required, complete a period of supervised surgical practice, clinical assessment, or examination.
- Apply for specialist registration through AHPRA.
For more detail on how the specialist pathway works, see our Specialist Pathway page.
Surgical Sub-specialties
RACS covers a wide range of surgical sub-specialties, including:
- General surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery
- Urology
- Vascular surgery
- Paediatric surgery
- Otolaryngology (ENT) head and neck surgery
Workforce Demand
There is good demand for surgeons in regional and rural hospitals, where general surgeons in particular are needed to provide broad surgical services. Sub-specialty surgeons are also recruited for metropolitan hospitals. Many surgical positions offer employer sponsorship.
Salary Expectations
Surgeons in public hospitals typically earn AUD 350,000–500,000+. Private surgical practice can yield significantly higher income. Earnings vary substantially by sub-specialty and surgical volume. For a broader overview of doctor salaries, see our Salary Guide.