title: The neurosurgical training curriculum in Australia and New Zealand is changing. Why?
abstract: The Neurosurgical Advanced Training curriculum of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) is currently undergoing change. Given the high standard of neurosurgery in Australia and New Zealand, it may be questioned why such change is necessary. However, the curriculum has not kept pace with developments in professional practice, educational practice or educational theory, particularly in the assessment of medical competence and performance. The curriculum must also adapt to the changing training environment, particularly the effects of reduced working hours, reducing caseloads due to shorter inpatient hospital stays and restricted access to public hospital beds and operating theatres, and the effects of sub-specialisation. A formal review of the curriculum is timely.
authors.affiliation: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. morgan@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Michael Kerin
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Rufus M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Patricia M A
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weidmann
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laidlaw
authors.forename: Stacie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gull
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000193:education*; D009520:New Zealand; D012955:Societies, Medical