The SET Program in Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) is the accredited program to obtain Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in the specialty of OHNS. OHNS trainees are trained at State Government accredited training posts throughout Australia.
Specialist International Medical Graduates
Eligible Specialist International Medical Graduates (SIMGs), who wish to gain one of the nine specialty qualifications, may apply for surgical training posts. For more information, visit the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Australian Medical Council (AMC).
Australian Selection into the OHNS SET Program
Before applying to the SET program, the applicant must first register and satisfy the generic eligibility criteria determined by the RACS. Registrations open on Tuesday 10th January 2023. For more detailed information refer to the RACS generic eligibility requirements for selection.
- Individuals who wish to apply to the OHNS SET Program will be required to meet minimum eligibility and CV requirements outlined in the Selection Regulations to be considered for selection.
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Applicants who have been assessed as eligible and meet the minimum CV score will be required to take a mandated Situational Judgement Test on 30 March 2023. The test will be administered online using remote proctoring under secure test conditions and Applicants will be able to sit the test from a location of their choice. Applicants that do not sit the mandated Situational Judgement Test will not be eligible to proceed further in the selection process.
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For Applicants in Flexible Training or Absence due to Parental Leave:
Eligibility timeframes may be extended to account for Parental Leave upon receipt of verifying documentation from an employer.
Surgical referees may be provided from part-time clinical work if all other criteria are met
Applicants may provide referees from one (1) clinical year before commencing parental leave
Documentary Evidence such as Statement of Service from the hospital administration verifying your Parental Leave commitments will be required
Please email OHNStraining@asohns.org.au and we will assist you with submission process.
SET Selection References
Applicants are recommended to use the following references in order to successfully navigate the selection process.
Please note: The Selection Regulations has been updated to reflect correct Masters Scoring and will be used for the 2024 Intake.
Modifications to the Selection Regulations 2024 Intake
Situational Judgement Tests (SJT's)
- The Board has added the Situational Judgement Test (SJT) as a Selection Tool for the 2024 Intake
- Applicants who achieve an SJT z-score above one (1) standard deviation below the mean will be considered further in the Selection process.
Publications
- Book Chapter Scoring Criteria
The Chapter must be published in a surgical textbook which has been assigned an ISBN
The applicant must be the first author
The applicant must supply a letter from the publisher showing the level of contribution, plus a copy of the book chapter or full bibliographic details
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Initiative
- The Board has amended the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicant Initiative to making two posts available to eligible applicants on a national basis, but with a maximum of one per region.
Regional Training Nomination (continued from 2023 Intake)
- Applicants are required to nominate one Training Region in which they will be considered for a training position. Successful Applicants will be allocated to the Training Region to which they have applied and will be required to complete their training in their allocated region.
Selection Process
The selection process uses four selection tools, each contributing a weighted score as:
- Structured Curriculum Vitae 15%
- Situational Judgement Test 15%
- Structured Referee Reports 35%
- Semi-Structured Interview 35%
Only the top ranked suitable applicants will progress to the interview stage. The number of applicants interviewed will be based on estimated number of positions available in 2024.
Continuous Review Notifications
The Board has mandated the future changes to CV Scoring:
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Ongoing - the Board will reinstate the RACS Skills courses CV scoring component once the courses become widely available
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2025 Intake: A PhD relevant or not relevant to medicine will count for 2 points.
Anticipated Guide to 2024 Post Vacancies
Following is a guide to anticipated post vacancies for the 2024 intake year. It is important to note that this is only a guide, the number of vacancies can vary prior to January 2024*.
| Training Region |
Anticipated Posts |
| ACT/NSW/NT |
2 |
| QUEENSLAND |
4 |
| SOUTH AUSTRALIA |
1 |
| VICTORIA |
2 |
| WESTERN AUSTRALIA |
2 |
* subject to change
RACS Selection Policies
Application Processing Fee
All applicants will be charged a non-refundable application processing fee which must be paid at the time of application.
The fee is AUD 1348.00 which includes the delivery of the SJTs.
OHNS SET Application Fee component is $900.00 includes GST paid at the time of submission. Once your application has been submitted and payment made, it is final. Your application cannot be changed, added to or resubmitted.
The Situational Judgement Test Fee $448.00 is to be paid at the time of registration, applicants who do not meet the required 50% minimum CV score, but have paid the SJT registration fee will be deregistered and reimbursed.
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Selection Initiative
Two training positions national total with maximum of one per region are reserved to support selection opportunities for candidates who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders (ATSI) and who reach the minimum standard for selection as setout in the Regulations.
Special Measure
The Board has introduced a special measure to give effect to the RACS Diversity and Inclusion Plan. The special measure will ensure there is Substantive Gender Equality between Successful female and male Applicants.
Past Offers
The following shows trainees appointed onto the SET program by commencement year. (includes deferred offers)
2023 Intake
|
19
|
|
2022 Intake
|
16
|
|
2021 Intake
|
10
|
|
2020 Intake
|
12
|
|
2019 Intake
|
17
|
|
2018 Intake
|
22
|
|
2017 Intake
|
13
|
|
2016 Intake
|
9
|
|
2015 Intake
|
12
|
|
2014 Intake
|
19
|
|
2013 Intake
|
15
|
|
2012 Intake
|
15
|
|
2011 Intake
|
6
|
Enquiries
For any enquiries please email OHNStraining@asohns.org.au. Please note, no advice will be provided over the phone.