Names in the programme record: Stephen Tham and Victorian Hand Surgery Associates faculty
Profile completeness89%
Comprehensive · Source does not publish funding, application deadline
DECISION SUMMARY
Key facts at a glance
Eligibility
Entry requirements published; check international conditions
Funding
AU$95,000 plus AU$3,000 support towards conference expenses (AOA PDF) Conflicting official information: Stipend: AOA PDF says AU$95,000 plus AU$3,000; vhsa.com.au/fellowship says 'For review on application'
Deadline
At least 12 months before the proposed commencement date
Duration
12 months
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Clinical exposurePublic and private hand-surgery practice with up to 16 clinical and operative sessions weekly and approximately 4,000 annual cases, spanning emergency and elective hand/distal-arm surgery, wrist, rheumatoid, congenital, microsurgical and brachial-plexus reconstruction, rehabilitation and clinical research
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
Can an international surgeon apply?
≈Partially published
International applicants
Specialist international medical graduates may be eligible for Australia's short-term training in a medical specialty pathway for up to 24 months. Eligibility requires recognised qualifications, completed internship, specialist or near-completion status, a confirmed host offer, college assessment and Medical Board/Ahpra registration; AOA accreditation alone does not guarantee host acceptance.
?Confirm directly with host
Clinical role
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific. Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
An eligible specialist IMG undertaking up to 24 months of advanced training may use the Medical Board of Australia's short-term training pathway. This requires primary-source verification, a confirmed position, specialist-college assessment, supervised-practice documents and limited registration for postgraduate training or supervised practice.
✓Published by official source
Language
Australian medical registration applicants must meet the current Ahpra English-language skills standard through an accepted education or test pathway; the standard includes IELTS Academic, OET, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT and Cambridge routes with current score and validity rules.
—Not published
Visa or work authorisation
Visa sponsorship and work-authorisation information are not published.
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY83% of core application fields verifiedChecked 23 Sep 2026 · Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-04-01
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ language✓ registration✓ required documents✓ application portal✓ official contact✓ faculty✓ verified faculty photograph✓ verified institution logo✓ official source✓ institutional source✓ accreditation / organisation source✓ verification date— Funding information not published · official sources conflict— accommodation / relocation · not published by the cited official source— visa / work authorisation · not published by the cited official source— Current deadline not yet published · official sources conflict— application process · official sources conflict
APPLICATION TIMELINE & CONTACT
Plan the application
Application deadlineAt least 12 months before the proposed commencement date
Commencing dateFebruary (AHSS PFET page)
Application route / cycleAOA PDF: applications at least 18 months before the intended fellowship year. VHSA website: at least 12 months before commencement Conflicting official information: Lead time: AOA PDF says at least 18 months; vhsa.com.au says at least 12 months
Completed residency or specialist training in plastic or orthopaedic surgery
Eligible for current medical registration in Australia
Provide personal medical-indemnity insurance and health insurance for the fellow and accompanying family
For the Medical Board short-term training pathway: a primary medical qualification recognised by the AMC and World Directory of Medical Schools
Completed medical internship or comparable overseas training
Qualified as a specialist in the country of training, or within two years of completing specialist training
A confirmed Australian training-position offer and specialist-college suitability assessment before limited-registration application
Application documents
Published by official source
Letter of intent
Current CV
3 reference letters
Detailed CV with letters of recommendation from three referees (VHSA website wording)
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
A 12-month, AOA- and PFET-accredited hand fellowship with high-volume public/private practice, multidisciplinary rehabilitation and a required clinical research paper.
Intended for: Qualified plastic or orthopaedic surgeons planning full-time or substantial part-time hand-surgery practice
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Support to attend the Australian Hand Surgery Society Annual Scientific Meeting is published; insurance and family health cover remain the fellow's responsibility.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Victorian Hand Surgery Associates / St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
VHSA brings together orthopaedic and plastic hand surgeons, hand therapists, on-site radiology and public/private hospital rotations at St Vincent's hospitals in Melbourne. Australian registration pathway: medicalboard.gov.au ↗. English standard: ahpra.gov.au ↗.
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