To provide information for the planning of general surgical manpower in Victoria for the next 2 decades, an attempt was made to establish a statewide profile of surgical practices and an analysis of surgical activity to determine whether surgeons' and the community's needs were being met. Of 343 practising general surgeons, 280 furnished returns to a questionnaire--a return rate of 81.6%. Responses to the questionnaire reveal that the current surgeon-to-population ratio is optimal, although certain imbalances and concerns exist. Surgeons are fully occupied regardless of age, location of practice or type of practice, and they work long hours. Most surgeons regard themselves as not overworked and most are satisfied, although not all do the type of work they would prefer. Current surgical training programmes, however, appear inadequate for future needs.