From learning complex surgical skills to networking with local Canberra surgeons, the ANU Surgical Society is dedicated to bringing the world of surgery to students.
In 2026, we’re excited to deliver a dynamic calendar of events that combine practical learning with meaningful connection. Our surgical skills program will include suturing workshops, dissection programs and a complex skills workshop designed to build confidence and technical ability. Alongside this, we will host a range of social and networking events, including our Surgeons + Physicians Trivia Night, EMPOWER, Women in Surgery networking events and many more.
Last year marked the inaugural year of our Mentor Program, an initiative we are incredibly proud of. We are committed to growing this legacy, pairing students with surgeons across Canberra for personalised mentorship and guidance as you explore a potential career in surgery.
We are proud ambassadors of the Australasian Students’ Surgical Association (ASSA) and remain in close communication with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), ensuring our members stay connected to national opportunities, conferences and developments within the surgical profession.
We are always open to new ideas and strongly encourage our colleagues to reach out with suggestions for events, initiatives, or collaborations you would like to see. We have an incredible team representing you and cannot wait to see you at our events.
We’re also excited to launch a brand new Facebook page in 2026 so keep an eye out for that.
– Charlotte
Surgery is at a pivotal point for gender equity. Programs, leaders and (slowly) cultures are changing. Empowerment is everything and toxic competition is so *ugh* yesterday. Joining forces with peers and leaving the door open behind you is the only way we’ll see more women and non-binary folk in surgery.
We have had some brilliant initiatives in the last 12 months, spear-headed by our previous Women in Surgery and Women in Medicine officers – the wonderful Bridget Nielsen and May Erlinger – that I’m excited to build on in 2023. In addition to International Women’s Day events and other opportunities for mingling within and between years at ANU, we have a number of other events in the works. EMPoWER “Empowering and Motivating Pre-SET Women in surgERy” is a collaborative effort between Australasian Students’ Surgical Association (ASSA), Adelaide University Surgical Society (AUSS), Australian National University Surgical Society (ANUSS), and the Sydney University Surgical Society (SUSS), featuring key-note speakers, break out rooms and Q&A panels. It truly is such an empowering event and I always walk away brimming with new knowledge and motivation. We also had a fantastic Meet-A-Mentor event late in the year where students speed-dated female doctors interested in mentoring. This session was especially brilliant for connecting me with the ACT’s Women in Surgery group, who we are excited to collaborate further with this year!
Aside from all these exciting events, I’d like to be regarded as your go-to gal for any questions, complaints or discussions regarding the intersection of feminism and surgery! I am very approachable and always down for a chat. I want to build a community of fem-folk in ANUMS that look out for and lift each other up. We’re only going to tackle those disgusting gender stats in surgery if we help each other out!
Semester 1:
Semester 2:
(she/her)
Year 2 Representative
(he/him)
Year 3 Representative
(she/her)
Year 4 Representative
Tell us about it, and we’ll rectify it ASAP!
