Well sourced · Missing funding, application deadline
✓ Primary programme source linked✓ Dated source review current✓ Current cycle evidenced✓ Faculty identity sourced✓ Institution mark verified
DECISION SUMMARY
What matters before you keep reading.
Eligibility
International route mentioned
Funding
Not published
Deadline
Not published
Duration
Normally 12 months; one currently advertised intake permits 6–12 months
Hands-on
Unclear — confirm privileges
Last checked
26 Aug 2026
Duration · publishedNormally 12 months; one currently advertised intake permits 6–12 months
Clinical exposureComplex upper-limb trauma from digital replantation to shoulder arthroplasty, with microsurgery, arthroscopy, arthroplasty, reconstruction and clinical or basic-science research
Funding · not publishedNot published by the official programme pages; the published training model includes assisting in affiliated private practices
DestinationAustralia
Participation levelClinical participation and hands-on restrictions must be confirmed directly with the host.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANT CHECK
What the official evidence currently supports
Decision-critical fields are separated into confirmed facts, partial information and points requiring direct confirmation.
≈Partially published
International applicant eligibility
Applicants trained in Indonesia may apply as overseas-trained surgeons if they meet the published examination, English-language and registration requirements.
✓Published by official source
Required training level
Pass the relevant surgical examinations equivalent to FRACS before the fellowship commences · Overseas-trained surgeons must state their intention to return to their home country after the fellowship
✓Published by official source
Programme classification
Clinical or combined training pathway; exact duties remain appointment-specific.
?Confirm directly with host
Hands-on restrictions
Hands-on participation and operative restrictions are not explicitly published.
≈Partially published
Medical registration
The fellow must satisfy Australian Medical Board registration requirements; the programme FAQ specifically publishes IELTS 7 or higher in every component.
?Confirm directly with host
Licensing examinations
Any examination requirement must be confirmed with the relevant regulator and host.
✓Published by official source
Language requirements
IELTS score of 7 or higher in every section is required for Medical Board registration.
—Not published
Visa or work authorisation
Visa sponsorship and work-authorisation information are not published.
—Not published
Funding availability
Not published by the official programme pages; the published training model includes assisting in affiliated private practices
DATA QUALITY & AVAILABILITY
86% of core application fields verified
Checked 26 Aug 2026. Next scheduled editorial review: 2027-02-22. Every unresolved field keeps its exact evidence state—unpublished, not yet researched, historical, conflicting, inaccessible or not applicable—so an absence is never converted into a fact.
✓ programme title✓ institution / department✓ city and country✓ programme classification✓ subspecialty✓ current status evidence✓ duration✓ positions✓ commencement / intake✓ benefits✓ eligibility✓ international eligibility✓ language✓ registration✓ application process✓ 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 · queued for source review— accommodation / relocation · queued for source review— visa / work authorisation · queued for source review— Current deadline not yet published · queued for source review
CONSOLIDATED PROGRAM PROFILE
One fellowship, multiple annual intakes
OrthoFellow groups these intake records into one directory listing so the same programme does not appear repeatedly.
Application deadlineNo current deadline published in the cited evidence
Commencing dateCurrent openings: flexible start August 2026–February 2027, February 2028 and August 2028
Application route / cycleThe current programme page advertises three Upper Limb openings: a flexible 6–12 month placement starting between August 2026 and February 2027 and ending in August 2027; February 2028–February 2029; and August 2028–August 2029. Advanced applications are accepted.
Official contactFellowship Coordinator · Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Instituteresearch@upperlimb.com
Deadlines and intake dates can change between cycles. The data-quality ledger above explicitly labels application fields that the cited official source does not publish.
ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS
Published entry requirements
Clinical / academic eligibility
Pass the relevant surgical examinations equivalent to FRACS before the fellowship commences
Overseas-trained surgeons must state their intention to return to their home country after the fellowship
Registration, licence & examinations
The fellow must satisfy Australian Medical Board registration requirements; the programme FAQ specifically publishes IELTS 7 or higher in every component.
Visa / work authorisation
Visa sponsorship or work-authorisation requirements are not stated by the cited source.
Application documents
Online application form
One combined PDF containing the curriculum vitae
Three written supervisor references from the preceding 12 months, with referee contact details
Cover letter naming the desired programme and commencement date and addressing motivation, career aspirations, contribution and FRACS-equivalent examination status
Licensing, visa and document rules depend on the individual programme and application cycle. OrthoFellow does not infer USMLE, AHPRA, ECFMG, recommendation-letter or visa requirements from the country alone.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What this program offers
Three AOA-accredited upper-limb fellowships covering shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand and microsurgery. The official programme publishes the current intake periods, four directors, examination and IELTS requirements, application documents, research environment and direct fellowship contact; it does not publish a stipend.
BENEFITS & SUPPORT
Published benefits and support
Public-hospital training, private-practice assisting and research links with BHULRI, QUT and the University of Queensland, including access to biomechanics and animal-research facilities.
Benefits may depend on appointment type, training level, visa status and the active academic year. OrthoFellow keeps stipend and benefits separate so a salary figure is not mistaken for the full package.
HOST INSTITUTION
About Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute / Princess Alexandra Hospital
The programme is based at Princess Alexandra Hospital and extends into affiliated Brisbane private practices. BHULRI connects clinical training with research and teaching relationships at QUT and the University of Queensland.
Fellowship supervisor / program leadershipOfficial profile & photo verified
Current position
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery; Director, Upper Limb Fellowship Programme
Affiliation
Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute / University of Queensland / Princess Alexandra Hospital
Clinical focus
Shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist reconstruction, arthroscopy, arthroplasty and microsurgery
Qualifications
MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA, CIME
Mark Ross is listed in the cited programme evidence as fellowship supervisor / program leadership for Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Shoulder, elbow, hand and wrist reconstruction, arthroscopy, arthroplasty and microsurgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Professor Ross is a founder and co-director of the Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute and director of the Princess Alexandra Hospital Upper Limb Fellowship Programme. His official profile records Kleinert Institute fellowship training and university leadership in upper-limb surgery and research.
Hand and wrist surgeon; Co-director, Upper Limb Fellowship Programme
Affiliation
Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute / Princess Alexandra Hospital / QUT
Clinical focus
Hand and wrist surgery, wrist arthroscopy, reconstruction, replacement and biomechanics
Qualifications
MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA, PhD
Greg Couzens is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Hand and wrist surgery, wrist arthroscopy, reconstruction, replacement and biomechanics. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Dr Couzens is a hand-and-wrist surgeon with more than 25 years of specialist experience. His official profile records a Princess Alexandra Hospital appointment, an adjunct professorship at QUT, co-directorship of BHULRI and doctoral research in wrist biomechanics.
Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute / Mater Private Hospital Brisbane and Redland
Clinical focus
Hand and upper-limb surgery, microsurgery, shoulder and elbow surgery
Qualifications
Not published on the cited profile
Mark Robinson is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Hand and upper-limb surgery, microsurgery, shoulder and elbow surgery. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
The current fellowship page lists Dr Robinson among the four upper-limb fellowship directors. Mater's official specialist profile describes his practice in hand and upper-limb surgery, including microsurgery and shoulder-and-elbow care, across Mater Private Brisbane and Mater Private Redland.
Co-director, Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship Programme
Affiliation
Brisbane Hand & Upper Limb Research Institute
Clinical focus
Shoulder and upper-limb arthroscopy, reconstruction and arthroplasty
Qualifications
MBBS, FRACS, FAOrthA
Phillip Duke is listed in the cited programme evidence as teaching faculty / co-leadership for Brisbane Hand and Upper Limb Surgery Fellowship. The verified individual profile describes a focus in Shoulder and upper-limb arthroscopy, reconstruction and arthroplasty. This association does not by itself confirm personal supervision, operative privileges or availability for a future intake.
Dr Duke's official profile describes a career in shoulder, hand and upper-limb surgery with a focus on shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty. It states that he has retired from active private surgery but remains involved in research and teaching; the current fellowship page continues to list him as a programme director.
Names and fellowship roles come from the cited programme source. A green “individual profile verified” label means the position, qualifications and biography were also checked against an official personal or institutional profile. OrthoFellow displays a portrait only when it can be tied to an official profile or faculty source; otherwise the host institution brandmark is shown, with initials retained only when neither image is available. Faculty rosters may change.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Published fellowship history
The official programme history dates the Princess Alexandra Hospital Upper Limb Fellowship to 1982 and describes its later expansion into affiliated Brisbane private practices and BHULRI research activity. AOA Upper Limb-filter identity brisbane-upper-limb-microsurgery checked 2026-08-25; directory summary updated 2025-07-31. AOA Hand-filter identity brisbane-upper-limb-microsurgery checked 2026-08-26; directory summary updated 2025-07-31.
APPLICANT PROFILE
Orthopaedic surgeons who will have completed the relevant surgical examinations equivalent to FRACS before commencing; overseas-trained surgeons may apply.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
Published language requirement
IELTS score of 7 or higher in every section is required for Medical Board registration.
OrthoFellow keeps language requirements separate from clinical eligibility. A programme may use English operationally without publishing a formal test score.
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INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Published international eligibility information
Applicants trained in Indonesia may apply as overseas-trained surgeons if they meet the published examination, English-language and registration requirements.
This note is shown only when the official source publishes information relevant to overseas applicants. Applicants should confirm licensing and visa eligibility directly with the host.
