Position overview

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.

Applications are sought for the 2027 clinical year commencing February 2027. To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must be PGY7+ by February 2027.

The Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit at Canberra Hospital provides consultative and endoscopic services for persons with digestive diseases, including liver and biliary tract disease.

The Unit provides:

• Inpatient care of  patients with gastroenterological diseases.
• Consulting  service.
• Endoscopic  procedures.
• Clinics for  patients with viral hepatitis, liver disease, IBD, inherited gastrointestinal  cancer and complex gastrointestinal disorders; and
• Clinics, support  and follow up for participants in the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

The Luminal Service

The purpose of this training program is to train accomplished gastroenterologists to perform therapeutic endoscopic procedures. To that end, the major goals are to:

• Develop a detailed  understanding of the risks, indications, and contraindications of invasive  endoscopic procedures.
• Gain experience in  the performance and management of patients undergoing these procedures.
• Perform with  supervision, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic  ultrasound, and ultrasound directed biopsies, endoscopic mucosal resection,  luminal stenting and other advanced procedures.
• Develop skills in  clinical research associated with these procedures.

The fourth-year Endoscopy Training Program will provide the fellow with the cognitive and technical skills required to perform EUS and ERCP and related endoscopic procedures at the expert level. The program seeks to train the future leaders of academic endoscopy in Australia as well as internationally.

Training will encompass 12 months of clinical duties including endoscopic procedures, ward consults relating to advanced endoscopic procedures, on-call, outpatient clinics, and other duties encompassed in the clinical application of these techniques.

The Post Graduate Fellow is expected to:

• Provide service  delivery (including outpatient clinics and general endoscopy lists) for 50% of  their work time, while the other 50% would comprise of their advanced  endoscopy training.
• Lead a weekly  Rapid Access Clinic, a General Gastroenterology Clinic and an advanced  endoscopy clinic.
• Be proficient in  general endoscopy skills and will be expected to perform at least two routine  endoscopy lists per week.
• This will ensure  that the basic endoscopy skill set are maintained while the focus is on  advanced procedures.
• Undertake  significant publishable research during their period of employment in the  GEHU. Partake in active research projects and initiate their own projects.  Applicants are advised to familiarise themselves with the research interests  of the Unit and to make specific enquiries regarding their proposed research.  A developed research plan in an area of endoscopy is likely to be highly  regarded by the Selection Advisory Committee, and it will be expected that the  successful applicant will take up the position with a research plan already  developed and that they will publish at least one paper in a peer-reviewed  journal during the year and present at a national or international conference.
• Contribute to the  Unit’s on-call roster, inpatient care and endoscopy service as well as playing  a role in the scientific and quality assurance meetings.
• Play a major part  in the multi-disciplinary care of patients, particularly those that are  acutely ill.

Currently there are three dedicated interventional endoscopy faculty who perform approximately 300 EUS and 500 ERCP procedures per year, providing suitable experience to train one advanced fellow. There is an expectation that advanced tissue resection procedures would also be performed starting early to mid-2026.

This is a one-year position intended for an RACP Fellow who has successfully completed their three year Gastroenterology Advanced Training program and have the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (CCRTGE) certification for gastroscopy and colonoscopy.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of patients independently and in consultation with other consultant physicians. Clinical duties will include assessment and management of acute presentations, inpatient care, diagnosis and management of patients in outpatient clinics, consultations and clinical handover.
• Participate in the supervision, training and professional development of junior medical staff and participate in the teaching of medical students attached to the GEHU.
• Demonstrate progress in training in the specialty including participation in the relevant teaching program and activities and involvement in research.
• Have currency in an Advanced Life Support Course or attain this within three months of commencement with annual refreshers.
• Participate in the GEHU AT after-hours and on-call roster as directed by the Director of GEHU.
• Contribute to clinical audit and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Comply with the policies and requirements of the Medical Board of Australia and the policies of Canberra Health Services.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

About you

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

Competencies

• Strong commitment to learning.
• Strong personal commitment to patient care in all aspects and willingness to participate in out-of-hours on-call roster.
• Ability to function well as part of a team.
• Enthusiasm for, and willingness to be involved in, research and teaching.

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Completed the three-year Gastroenterology Advanced Training programme and have the Conjoint Committee for the Recognition of Training in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (CCRTGE) certification for gastroscopy and colonoscopy.
• Have currency in an Advanced Life Support Course or attain this within three months of commencement with annual refreshers.
• Must be at least PGY7+ or equivalent

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Please note prior to commencement, successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

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.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

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, experience and referee reports.

1. Excellent theoretical knowledge and clinical judgment especially in regarding endoscopic procedures.
2. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary clinical team - diligence, punctuality, organisation, record keeping, time management, problem solving skills, teamwork.
3. Excellent communication (verbal and written) with patients, their families, medical and non-medical colleagues with the ability to provide empathetic and expert clinical care.
4. Demonstrated commitment to Advanced Training education, research, teaching and continuous quality improvement.
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.