From humble beginnings … the evolution of the FRACS (Urology).
BACKGROUND
Surgery has a rich and colourful history dating as far back as, at least, the Neolithic period. There have been many advances in knowledge and technology, as well as changes to working conditions and public perception and expectations. The urology training programme is jointly managed by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. Urological training in Australia and New Zealand has undergone a number of changes over the years.


METHODS
A PubMed search was performed to find articles related to surgical training and, more specifically, urological training in Australia and New Zealand. The search terms that were used included 'urology training', 'surgical training', 'Australian urology history' and 'New Zealand urology history'.


RESULTS
This narrative review outlines the origin and history of this training programme and describes the changes that have led to the current model of urology training. It also relates some of the current and future challenges faced as the training programme continues to evolve in order to improve its ability to train future urologists to meet the needs of the community and to ensure public safety.


CONCLUSIONS
The urological training programme has evolved a number of times in order to tackle the challenges presented by evolving technology, community expectation and the needs of the trainee.
Department of Urology, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
Athina
A
Pirpiris
Department of Urology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital Concord, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Amanda S J
ASJ
Chung
Department of Urology, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Rural Clinical School, The University of New South Wales, Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia.
Prem
P
Rashid
D001315:Australia; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D009520:New Zealand; D014572:Urology / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history*
education; history; surgery; training; urology