History and Governance 

The NSW Networked Basic Surgical Training (BST) program was announced by the NSW Minister for Health in July 2005, and commenced in January 2006. The introduction of this networked system of training delivery was an outcome of the review of the delivery of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) BST program in NSW. The review’s final recommendations can be read by clicking here.

Oversight of Training

Each Network is managed by a Network Management Committee (NMC), which includes clinician, trainee, hospital administration, and Area Health Service (AHS) representatives.

The NMCs in turn are overseen by the NSW Clinical Surgical Training Council (CSTC).

Making sure the Trainees have a Voice

Both the NMCs and the CSTC include among their members trainees. From 2008, there are trainee representatives from the PGY3+ and PGY1/2 cohorts.

The formation of a Trainees Subcommittee, reporting directly to the CSTC, was part of the BST review’s final recommendations. This committee was never formed, as the RACS establishment of an equivalent body, known as RACSTA, alleviated the need. A NSW RACSTA representative was invited to sit on the CSTC so that the trainees concerns and opinions could be heard at the highest level.

With the introduction of the SET program, the RACS has defined a barrier between PreSET JMOs and JMOs on a SET program, with the former no longer having a chair at RACSTA. In response, the CSTC has elected to implement a PreSET Trainees’ Subcommittee. This Subcommittee’s inaugural meeting is set to take place early in the second half of 2008