Membership information

Membership of the New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons

The Association works to represent the interests of its members in many areas and provides the following membership benefits:

• Managing the Association’s website, which is a source of information on plastic and reconstructive surgery for members, surgical trainees and the public. The Find a Surgeon  link on the Association’s website provides easy-to-find contact information for the increasing number of consumers who are choosing to research their options online.
• Providing accreditation of members facilities to perform rooms-based procedures, recognised by ACC and Southern Cross.
• Convening the Association’s Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Advocating for its members on a range of issues across a number of agencies.
• Producing newsletters and general information to keep members up-to-date on the Association’s activities.
• Enabling members to join the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and so gain access to its information resources through the special agreement between the Association and the Society.
• Managing media enquiries and placements on behalf of the Association.

Membership Categories

There are five categories of Association membership. Following is a brief description of the membership categories.  More detailed information can be found in the Association Constitution or by contacting the NZAPS office via info@plasticsurgery.org.nz

Full membership

Full membership applicants must:

• be a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons trained as a specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery or hold a comparable qualification in plastic and reconstructive surgery; and
• be fully vocationally registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand to practice plastic and reconstructive surgery, hold an annual practicing certificate and currently practicing in New Zealand.

Associate membership

Associate membership applicants must be:

• surgeons whose primary practice is in plastic and reconstructive surgery and resident in New Zealand but without full vocational registration; or
• resident in countries other than New Zealand and who have adequate training in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Associate members are not eligible to vote but are entitled to receive notice of and attend general meetings of the Association.

Associate members resident overseas for more than one year, or permanently, pay a reduced membership subscription as determined by the Council.

Trainee associate membership

To be eligible for trainee associate membership applicants must be:

• a  Surgical Education and Training (SET) trainee selected for the New Zealand Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Surgical Education and Training (SET) program by the New Zealand Board of Plastic and Reconstructive  Surgery.
• or in a current fellowship role recognized by NZAPS.

Training membership automatically ends on exiting the SET programme and entering specialist practice or on the completion of approved fellowship positions.

Trainee associate members are not eligible to vote but are entitled to receive notice of and attend general meetings of the association.

Trainee associate members are eligible to be co-opted as members of the Council and receive the usual benefits and privileges of  membership.

After gaining FRACS, a training member is invited to full membership via written notification from NZAPS.

Trainee associate members are not liable for payment of any subscription to the Association but are entitled to all the privileges of the Association.

Honorary membership

The following persons may apply or be nominated to be honorary members of the Association, subject to Council approval:

• members who have retired from active practice
• members who have reached the age of 70 years
• such other persons as the Council may from time to time determine.

Honorary members do not pay a subscription to the Association but are entitled to all the privileges of the Association.

Overseas membership

A person practicing in the Specialty in countries other than New Zealand may be elected as an overseas member of the Association on the recommendation of the Council. Overseas members are not entitled to vote and are ineligible to be an Office Bearer in the Society. Overseas members are not liable for payment of any subscription to the Association.

Full, Honorary, Associate and Trainee members who are or intend to be overseas for a term exceeding one year should notify the Association, and such members are entitled to become Overseas Members from the time of their departure from New Zealand.

Applying for membership

Applications for all categories of membership are considered by the Association’s Council which will take into account the applicant’s training, experience and expertise.

For more information about membership or to apply, contact the Association at info@plasticsurgery.org.nz