Spine fellowships and training in Oceania

Funding: Stipend of AUD 100,000 per the AOA accredited fellowship summary (NSA list: more than $75,000).

Exposure: Minimally invasive and open surgery for degenerative, neoplastic and traumatic spinal pathology across Royal Melbourne, Melbourne Private and Western hospitals, with a combined workload of more than 1,000 patients, trauma and oncology liaison, pain service involvement and clinical research.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Remuneration of more than AUD 75,000.

Exposure: Degenerative cervical and lumbar disease, spinal trauma, primary, metastatic and intradural tumours, metabolic bone disease, infection, congenital anomalies, failed back syndrome and syringomyelia, using endoscopic, microscopic and minimally invasive techniques, with inpatient and outpatient responsibility plus basic and clinical research.

Eligibility: International applicants must meet AHPRA registration and NSA/AOA PFET post requirements for appointment to an accredited Australian PFET post.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Stipend of AUD 80,000 per the AOA summary (NSA list: more than $50,000 and less than $75,000).

Exposure: Combined neurosurgical and orthopaedic adult spine surgery from occiput to sacrum, including degenerative disease, tumours, adolescent and adult deformity, infection and trauma, with the statewide Victorian Spinal Cord Injuries Service and prospective outcomes research (at least two papers expected).

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Participation level · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Approximately AUD 120,000 per annum.

Exposure: Advanced management and complex spinal surgery at Prince of Wales Hospital and Prince of Wales Private Hospital in Randwick.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Participation level · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Full salary commensurate with experience (NSA list: more than AUD 75,000).

Exposure: Clinical attachment to neurosurgical and orthopaedic spinal services with a busy trauma service, paediatric and adult spinal disorders, anterior and posterior approaches, fixation and deformity correction, a monthly combined audit meeting and clinical research using a prospective database.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Remuneration of more than AUD 75,000.

Exposure: Minimally invasive spinal surgery for predominantly degenerative pathology using intra-operative CT and navigation, within a Centre for Neurosciences service of 8 neurosurgeons and 4 orthopaedic spinal surgeons that has performed more than 3,000 MIS procedures, with outpatient, theatre and ward responsibilities.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Stipend of more than AUD 75,000.

Exposure: Degenerative cervical and lumbar disease and complex spinal instrumentation for degenerative, trauma and tumour cases across St Vincent's public and private hospitals, from diagnosis through surgery to outpatient follow-up, with research and teaching of registrars.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: AUD 100,000 funded stipend.

Exposure: High-volume adult private-sector spine surgery including deformity correction, anterior lumbar approaches, navigated and robotic surgery, disc replacement and occipito-cervical pathology, with opportunities in paediatric spine and Chiari/syrinx/CSF neurosurgery and enrolment in a Master of Advanced Surgery programme.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Remuneration of more than AUD 90,000.

Exposure: Complex spinal operating, instrumentation, endoscopic techniques, image-guided navigation and intra-operative monitoring across Calvary Adelaide, Calvary North, The Memorial Hospital and St Andrew's Hospital, with research through the centre's partner organisation and training in medico-legal reporting.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Participation level · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Funding: Remuneration of more than AUD 75,000.

Exposure: Diagnostic assessment and higher-order spinal surgery with particular focus on anterior cervical, thoracic and lumbar reconstruction, total disc replacement and deformity correction in the ageing spine, plus outcomes research with Bond University.

Eligibility: AOA/NSA spinal PFET scheme (2026): overseas-qualified neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons can qualify through the specified specialist-training/assessment routes, including demonstrating appropriate education and training for non-competent-authority countries. Employer appointment, medical-registration eligibility, work rights and at least 50 appropriate spinal cases as primary surgeon or first assistant are required. Committee approval and host selection remain separate.

Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · Examinations · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents

Source: Official NSA/AOA 2025 accredited post list. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.

Application status: Posting is for the 12-month part-time fellowship commencing February 2024; applications closed Friday 26 January 2024.

Funding: The official page does not publish funding details.

Exposure: Fellow is assigned to both the Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics departments, takes part in spine surgery and clinics, and leads in the departments' joint audit and clinical meetings.

Eligibility: Applications will be considered from recently-qualified surgeons from Australia and overseas, provided they satisfy several regulatory and immigration requirements.

Still to confirm: Current status · Training level · Examinations · Language · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Application documents · Application route · Official contact · Programme director · Accreditation

Source: Official Alfred Health careers listing (2024 intake). Reviewed 17 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.