ANZTBCRS Selection Process

The Training Board periodically refines its processes, including the Selection Process for new Fellows.

Commencing January 2023, the following conditions apply.

Date	Action
1 April	Opening date for applications
1 May	@ 11.59pm AEST - Closing date for applications
1 June	References to be in
14 June	Shortlist determined
21 June	Applicants notified if they have / have not been shortlisted for an online interview
19 July (Friday)	Online interviews for shortlisted applicants

The opening date for applications will be 1 April of the current year and the closing date will be 11.59pm AEST,1 May of the current year.
Applicants for the program must use the ANZTBCRS online application form. Those not using the online form, will not be considered.
Evidence of FRACS will be required before an applicant will be scheduled for interview, however an application may be made before the FRACS exam results (for the first Fellowship exam of the year) are known.
A non-refundable application fee must be paid at the time of application irrespective of whether the applicant passes the FRACS exam. If the fee is not paid at this time, the application cannot progress and therefore will not be considered.
Applicants may not apply to the Rural PFET and ANZTBCRS Program at the same time, nor can they apply to the ANZTBCRS Program whilst they are an active Rural Trainee.

Academic integrity is the ethical of practice of scholarship and research. It is a professional behaviour:
"the expectation that teachers, students, researchers and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility”¹
Academic misconduct includes plagiarism and misrepresentation. Plagiarism² is the misrepresentation of ideas and words as one’s own. Accurate citation prevents plagiarism by acknowledging the original source. Citations should also be used to recognise an author's prior work, as well as figures and images, in academic writing and in presentations. Misrepresentation includes changing authorship of a publication, presentation or grant, by adding or altering the order of authors.
Academic misconduct may result in penalties, as well as notification of other bodies.

¹https://www.teqsa.gov.au/what-academic-integrity
²https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/avoiding_plagiarism/plagiarism_faq.html

You may elect to apply for a Research Year for your first year on the Program, but in doing so you will not be considered for a clinical placement for that year.
There is a maximum of 4 Research positions available each year.
An outline of your research project, your supervisor, institution, and a research time/paid work expectation statement must be submitted with your ANZTBCRS application, and your supervisor must be included as one of your application referees.
If approved in principle and you are offered a Research Year, the Training Board will advise if additions or revisions to the plan are required.

Referee reports will be automatically requested on an applicant’s behalf once the online application form is submitted. Please note, it would be wise to ask your referees if they are happy to provide a report before you complete the application form.
- The referee reports must be received by 1 June of the current year or will not be considered. Applicants will need to ensure that their chosen referees are able to submit the reference by 1 June and are aware of the importance of progressing your application.
- References from current Training Board Members are not permitted. CSSANZ link – Training Board Members
- Referees will be asked to provide detail of the following specific items:
  - Clinical Skills
  - Relationships
  - Work ethic
  - Why they should be selected
  - Whether they would employ the candidate or not
  - Future job prospects
  - Other Information which they may deem relevant, including whether they are aware of any problems.
Should the applicant be successful and participate in the ANZTBCRS program, the hospital at which the ANZTBCRS Fellow is placed may ask for the referee report as part of the employment process.

Each applicant is marked according to a ratio of 20% for Covering Letter (including CV), 20% for research, 20% for references.
Board members do not discuss their marking for any of the components with other Board Members.
The applicant scores from each board Member are collated and ranked. Please note that applicants will not be provided with any specific information on ranking or scores.
The selection panel will review and shortlist the applications for interview by 14 June.
Applicants will be notified during the week following 14 June as to whether they have been shortlisted for interview.

Interviews will be held online via video conference (see table above for date).
The interview selection panel will comprise all ANZTBCRS Board members whenever possible.
Interviews are capped at 20 minutes, with a warning at 15 minutes. Please note, the interview will be terminated at 20 minutes.
Each member of the panel will ask a predetermined standard question. While some questions are repeated and predictable, the Board does vary other questions each year.
Each interviewee is marked according to a ratio of 20% for Covering Letter (including CV), 20% for research, 20% for references and 40% for Interview.
Board members do not discuss their marking for any of the components with other Board Members.
After all shortlisted applicants have been interviewed, the interview scores from each board Member are collated and from this applicants are ranked. Please note that applicants will not be provided with any specific information on ranking or scores.

Placements for the existing Fellows are also made at this time and existing Fellows have precedence in the allocations.
Depending on the number of existing Fellows requiring a clinical placement and the number of unit places available, the highest-ranking applicants will be allocated to the remaining units, according to their preferences.
The maximum number of applicants accepted for training per year (including a maximum of 4 research positions) will be at the discretion of the Training Board but it is unlikely to be more than half the number of accredited units. The Board is mindful of the need for colorectal specialists in rural centres and other areas of need, however placements are made on merit only.

For any applicant considering a year in an overseas unit, documents must be submitted with their application. For more information: Policy: Overseas Training as part of the ANZTBCRS Training Program.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by the Chair of the ANZTBCRS. Feedback and advice is given when requested. Unsuccessful applicants may re-apply the following year.

For details of requirements for the ANZTBCRS program, please refer to the ANZTBCRS Regulations and Policies.