bongiorno group women in surgery grant
founded in memory of Tony Bongiornopromoting gender equity in surgery
coffee & chat
value: $10,000
apply from 1 April to 30 June 2025
about the grant
The Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery Grant champions gender equity in the surgical field by supporting women who are Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) Victorian and Tasmanian surgical trainees, specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) and surgeons. The grant funds learning and knowledge-sharing initiatives that contribute to gender equity in surgery and have a meaningful impact on the profession and others.
Established in 2024, the grant honours Tony Bongiorno, a friend to many surgeons and a trailblazer in promoting gender equity since the 1970s. As a founder of Bongiorno Group, Tony was a mentor, teacher, and thought leader dedicated to education and the principle that career advancement should be based on ability, not gender. The grant is fully funded and administered by the Bongiorno Group.
grant activity
This grant supports a variety of professional development activities, including:
- conference and course participation
- skills development
- research
- advocacy
- mentoring
Grant-funded activity may commence prior to application and must be completed by 31 December of the year following application.
grant timing
open
1 April '25
close
30 June '25
selection
July '25
awarding
August '25
activity
completion
eligibility
you are eligible to apply if you are a woman and:
- are a current RACS Fellow or Trainee who is also an Australian citizen or permanent resident OR
- are an SIMG on the pathway to Fellowship
- AND live, train or have a primary practice in Victoria or Tasmania
You may apply on behalf of a mixed-gender team, provided you lead and actively participate in the proposed activity. However, applicants with practice restrictions or under regulatory review are not eligible to apply.
how to apply
When applications are open, click ‘apply now’ at the top of this page to access the online form (hosted by Jotform). You’ll be guided through a series of questions with specific word limits. Once started, you have up until the closing date to complete and submit your application.
important notes
Applications must be completed by the applicant (not by a third party).
All submitted data is securely stored in compliance with the Bongiorno Group Privacy Policy
your application will require
- your name, email, mobile number, RACS ID
- a CV-style summary (including career background and employment history)
- details of your proposed grant activity (timeline and estimated costs)
- justification for the activity (why it’s needed and its expected impact)
- how the activity supports gender equity in surgery
selection and awarding
A selection panel of three to four women from RACS Women in Surgery Section and the Bongiorno Group will assess each application based on:
- application clarity and detail
- need for the proposed activity
- potential impact of the activity
- feasibility and achievability
- contribution to gender equity in surgery
receiving the grant
The highest-scoring eligible applicant is offered the grant. To accept, they must:
• agree to the grant conditions
• submit a profile photo and a short (two-minute) video explaining their planned activity (video may be filmed on mobile or desktop)
• allow their video and photo to be used in promotional materials
See last year’s recipient video below.
Grant conditions include:
• the planned activity must align with the original application
• any proposed changes must be approved by the Bongiorno Group
• the grant is non-transferable
• payment is processed via EFT upon submission of an invoice
play video
meet our 2024 recipient – Dr Amy Gibbens
We were thrilled to award the inaugural 2024 Bongiorno Group Women in Surgery Grant to Dr Amy Gibbens.
At the time of receiving the grant, Amy was a final year Orthopaedic Surgery Trainee in Melbourne who planned to move to Launceston in early 2025 to begin her career as the state’s first female Orthopaedic Surgeon.
The Women in Surgery grant is supporting Amy in 2025 to embark on a Clinical Fellowship in Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Oxford University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust in Oxford, UK. Amy plans to help bridge a gap in Tasmania by offering a dedicated paediatric orthopaedic service, reducing a need for children and their families to travel to Melbourne for care.
Learn about Amy’s grant and career plans in her grant acceptance video.
completing the grant
Following completion of the funded activity, recipients must:
• submit a final report summarising their experience and outcomes
• record a short video outlining the impact of their grant activity
The recipient will receive a trophy recognising their achievement. Recipients may also be invited by the Bongiorno Group and RACS to speak at an event or participate in networking opportunities within their home state.
Repayment of funds will be required if:
• the final report and video are not submitted on time
• the report does not meet standards, even after an opportunity to revise
• the agreed activity is not completed within the grant period
