Position overview

The Cardiology Department at Canberra Hospital provides both inpatient and outpatient services to the ACT and surrounding region. The Acute Coronary Care Unit (ACCU) manages approximately 2,000 acute admissions annually. The department also provides approximately 7,000 occasions of service per year to outpatients, including medical clinics, nursing clinics and cardiac diagnostic investigations and therapeutic interventions (including electrophysiology and cardiac CT). The department provides a 24/7 service for primary PCI for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction for the region. New state of the art cardiac catheter laboratories and a dedicated electrophysiology laboratory opened in in 2024, as part of the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project.

The Cardiac Physiology team works across the outpatient and inpatient setting, including performing ECGs, Holter Monitors, Exercise Stress Tests, supporting Stress Echoes, and a physiologist-led cardiac device follow up service that sees more than 3000 services per year. In the cath lab, the physiologists support haemodynamic monitoring (including the 24hr primary PCI service) and cardiac device implants. Cardiac Physiologists also participate as members of the multidisciplinary team in research and clinical trials being conducted by the department.

An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic and experienced Senior Cardiac Physiologist to join the allied health team. This position requires a high level of subject matter expertise and the ability to work autonomously to provide complex cardiac physiology diagnostic investigations and therapeutic interventions according to procedures and published standards. The role will involve participation in an on-call roster. The role is part of the cardiology allied health’s leadership team and includes supporting the management of the cardiac physiology service and allied health staff, the development and provision of education and training for staff and students and requires participation in and contribution to continual professional development of the allied health group.

Within CHS, the cardiac science profession is part of the Clinical Measurement Science (CMS) disciplines. The CMS disciplines are cardiac, neurophysiology, respiratory and sleep sciences. Scientific staff employed across CMS work under a collective vision; Clinical Measurement Science professionals deliver compassionate service through collaboration and excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

• Provide leadership, clinical expertise and independently perform high quality routine and advanced cardiac diagnostic testing within the Cardiology Unit.
• Support the Allied Health Manager (Cardiac Physiology), by helping to manage the day-to-day operation and organisation of the cardiac physiology services of the Cardiology Department, ensuring patient-centred care, efficient service delivery, and equipment acquisition and maintenance.
• Coordinate Quality Management Systems (including maintenance and review of clinical standards, policies, and protocols) for the Service that meet CHS, professional and national requirements including quality improvement and research activities.
• Plan and provide comprehensive education frameworks for training, performance feedback, mentoring and coaching of existing and new staff including student Cardiac Physiologists, Cardiology Advanced Trainees, other visiting health professionals, and students.
• Proactively develop your own knowledge and expertise required to perform the functions of the role.
• Engage in, and represent the Service, in allied health and/or CHS-wide initiatives and projects.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following:

• Strong organisation skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet operational needs.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to build and maintain effective professional relationships.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and ability to mentor staff.
• Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor of Biomedical Science, or similar undergraduate degree with a strong human physiology component.
• International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE) accredidation (Certified Cardiac Device or Certified Electrophysiology specialist) or equivalent
• OR Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Electrophysiology (CEPIA).
• Have a driver’s licence.

Desirable

• Member of Professionals in Cardiac Sciences Australia (PiCSA) and/or affiliate member of Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
• Be eligible for accreditation with the Australian Council for Clinical Physiologists (ACCP).

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years’ experience working professionally in all areas of invasive and non-invasive cardiology including supporting complex Cath lab procedures, CIED implant and follow up.
• The successful applicant will need to be available for after hours on-call.

Desirable

• Cardiac device remote monitoring experience would be highly regarded.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven expertise in the theoretical, technical application and clinical analysis involved in cardiac diagnostic testing, including CRMD implantation and testing, cardiac catheterisation laboratory procedures and non-invasive electrocardiography-based testing.
2. Demonstrated high level organisational and problem-solving skills, including capacity to manage competing priorities to efficiently achieve service delivery, whilst maintaining high quality care as part of a senior clinician in a multi-disciplinary team.
3. Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide education, training and mentoring in the field of cardiac physiology, and commitment to continuing professional development and education.
4. Demonstrated well-developed written, oral and interpersonal communication skills including rapport building, to effectively engage with patients and staff with empathy and clarity, while maintaining patient confidentiality and keeping appropriate clinical records.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.