31 programmes and training pathways found from official sources. Confirm current availability, licensing, and operating privileges directly with each institution.
This summary describes the profiles indexed here; it is not a count of vacancies.
Read the individual participation terms: a broad clinical pathway label does not establish hands-on access.
8 focus areas are represented. Compare the curriculum and supervision within your intended subspecialty.
Functional & epilepsy comparison guide →General & multi-subspecialty comparison guide →Neuro-oncology comparison guide →Neurointervention comparison guide →Ask the selected host in Australia whether your qualifications fit this specific post, which patient-care activities are permitted, and who arranges registration and immigration documentation. Country coverage does not imply that every profile accepts international applicants.
International application checklist →Before committing, request the current cohort dates, supervisor, expected weekly activities and a breakdown of support and costs. Confirm whether the official source describes this programme, an institution-wide policy or an older intake.
Compare your shortlisted profiles →Clinical · Research · Directory · Travelling fellowship pathways are represented. Country-level licensing, language and visa requirements are not inferred; confirm them with the host and the current national or regional regulator.
International applicant guide →Recorded information is not a guarantee of funding, eligibility or a currently open intake.
Melbourne · Australia
Listed lead Bhadu Kavar (chief supervisor)
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.
Sydney · Australia
Listed lead Andrew Kam (supervisor)
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.
Newcastle, New South Wales · Australia
Listed lead Richard Ferch (chief supervisor)
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.
Brisbane · Australia
Listed lead Martin Wood (supervisor)
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.
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Melbourne · Australia
Listed lead Tiew Han (chief supervisor)
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.
Sydney · Australia
Listed lead Kevin Seex; Brian Hsu (chief supervisors)
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.
Pindara Private Hospital / Gold Coast Spine
Gold Coast · Australia
Listed lead Matthew Scott-Young (supervisor)
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.
The International Spine Centre
Adelaide · Australia
Listed lead YH Yau (chief supervisor)
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.
Sydney (Westmead), New South Wales · Australia
Application status: Official job page states this position has been closed (applications closed 10 July 2025).
Funding: Salaried fixed-term 1.0 FTE NSW Health postgraduate fellow position (Staff Specialists award pathway).
Exposure: Interventional neuroradiology at Westmead Hospital with credentialing/privileging potentially across Western Sydney Local Health District facilities.
Eligibility: Australian Citizenship or Permanent Australian Residency required on the published WSLHD selection criteria.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Examinations · Visa / work authorisation · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Programme director · Accreditation
Source: Official NSW Health Careers advertisement. Reviewed 17 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
Melbourne · Australia
Listed lead Gerald Quan (chief supervisor)
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.
Sydney · Australia
Listed lead Ralph Stanford (chief supervisor)
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.
The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
Melbourne (Parkville), Victoria · Australia
Listed lead Ms Alison Wray, Director of Neurosurgery
Funding: Salaried full-time fixed-term hospital medical officer post (classification HM25–HM30).
Exposure: Inpatient, outpatient, operating theatre and on-call paediatric neurosurgery at The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville.
Eligibility: MBBS or equivalent; completion of neurosurgery training equivalent to FRACS (Neurosurgery); applicants without this training but with an interest in neurosurgery will also be considered. National Criminal Record Check and Working With Children Check required.
Still to confirm: Current status · Commencement · Deadline · Positions · International eligibility · Examinations · Visa / work authorisation · Benefits · Fees · Insurance · Accommodation · Accreditation
Source: Official Royal Children's Hospital position description. Reviewed 13 Oct 2026. Status reflects the last review, not a live vacancy check. Completeness is not a quality rating.
