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 from 1 February 2027 for 12 months. To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must be a minimum of Post Graduate Year (PGY) seven from 1 February 2027. This position is for 0.5FTE Retrieval Medicine (Capital region retrieval service) and 0.5 FTE general anaesthesia fellowship

Canberra Hospital is a modern 600 bed hospital and the major tertiary teaching hospital for the Australian Capital Territory and surrounding NSW region serving a population of 0.5 million. The annual caseload is over 19,000.

The Canberra Hospital Anaesthetic department has positions for 33 Registrars and four Senior Registrars. The Senior Registrar positions are equivalent to Provisional Fellows as per ANZCA (and recognised as such by ANZCA).

The Canberra Hospital has 24 operating theatres (including a dedicated MRI neuroanaesthesia suite) and a 40-bed intensive care unit. The new clinical services building, which includes 22 new state-of-the-art operating theatres, opened in August 2024.

North Canberra Public Hospital is accredited for six Registrars. It is a modern healthcare service complex comprising a 174-bed public district general hospital.

Both hospitals are teaching hospitals of the Australian National University (ANU) Medical School and have strong research links to the John Curtin School of Medical Research at the ANU as well as to the University of Canberra.

This position will have access to National Capital Private Hospital, Calvary John James Private Hospital and Calvary Bruce Private Hospital, all of which are ANZCA-accredited satellite sites.

Anaesthesia (General)

The Department of Anaesthesia, Perioperative Medicine and Pain management at Canberra Hospital provides a comprehensive range of clinical anaesthesia services for most surgical specialties including cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery, upper GI, orthopaedic surgery, ENT, vascular surgery, maxillofacial surgery, urology and paediatric surgery along with an active preadmission clinic, and an acute and chronic pain management service. In addition, the Department of Anaesthesia services several out-of-areas requirements for general anaesthesia or sedation, such as gastroenterology, angiography, electrophysiology and brachytherapy.

The provisional fellow will get broad exposure across these areas with the potential to develop specific interests as opportunities arise. This position will be required to provide general anaesthetic services to a wide variety of specialties in a busy anaesthetics department and at times supervise junior trainees.

This position is required to participate in the after-hours roster, including rostered after-hours shifts, weekends, night shifts and on-call.  It is expected that the on-call requirement will help the transition to consultant practice.

The successful applicants are expected to participate in education and quality improvement projects within the department.

Retrieval

The Capital Region Retrieval Service (CRRS) provides the medical crewing for the principal rescue helicopter for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Greater Southern New South Wales (NSW). The SouthCare Helicopter is one of eight identical aircraft that service the rescue and retrieval functions for the southern half of NSW and the ACT. The helicopter service has a high primary trauma workload and a significant secondary retrieval workload. The CRRS also undertakes a small number of road retrievals in ACT and NSW. Clinical time would be equally divided between the Retrieval Service and the department of anaesthesia. The position is accredited for training with ANZCA.

Please note this is a combined anaesthesia/retrieval fellowship and other recruitment to CRRS occurs separately to this position.

Key responsibilities

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

Anaesthesia Provisional Fellowship

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of patients of the Health Directorate under the supervision and direction of the Consultant Medical Practitioner.
• Participate in the ANZCA training programme.  Candidates are expected to have passed the final examination ad completed the requirements of advanced training prior to the commencement date of the fellowship.
• Contribute to clinical audit and research and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Comply with the policies and requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the policies of the Health Directorate. This includes the promotion and application of workplace relations, workplace equity and diversity and workplace safety.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Capital Regional Retrieval Service

• The Retrieval Registrar is operationally and professionally responsible to the Medical Director of the Capital Region Retrieval Service through the on duty supervisory Retrieval Consultant.
• Provide timely and appropriate clinical management to the patient under the supervision of the on duty Retrieval Consultant. This may include patient care and transport of patients in a number of environments, including pre-hospital and regional referral hospital.  Transport may occur by rotary wing, fixed wing and road vehicles.
• Work within and support a multidisciplinary clinical team including the maintenance of cooperative relationship with ACTAS, helicopter crew, NSWAS, ACC, ACT and regional healthcare facilities.
• Participation in a supervised rotating roster operating from the Hume helicopter base during day and night shifts. The roster is to be structured in accordance with the current ACT Public Sector and Medical Practitioners Union Collective Agreement and AMA safe hours provision.
• Participation in the CRRS familiarisation program, ground school training, Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) and any other program deemed necessary to support and maintain safety and skills acquisition. Adherence to OH&S principles especially those requested by the aircraft operator or ambulance and scene manager and the correct application of safety clothing, helmets and other equipment as supplied by the service.
• Active participation in ongoing Pre-hospital and Retrieval Quality Assurance and Trauma Service Quality Assurance initiatives. While ongoing research is encouraged.
• 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

• Participate in the supervision, training and professional development of junior medical staff and medical students affiliated with Australian National University.
• Motivated, enthusiastic and able to work effectively with a wide range of people.
• Strong academic and clinical background.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks and plan well ahead when required to achieve academic goals.
• Demonstrate commitment to training and continuing professional development including participation in relevant teaching programs, activities, and feedback opportunities.
• Ability to work well within a team as both a team leader and a junior member of a team as circumstances dictate; and
• Be responsive to feedback and thrive in an environment where you may be expected to both give and receive this on a regular basis.

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent in medicine and eligibility for membership of ANZCA
• Ability to be able to swim and complete Helicopter Underwater Escape Training
• Have completed all requirements for the completion of ANZCA Advanced Training, or be able to show these will be satisfied prior to commencement date of this position
• Has completed at least 48 months of full-time equivalent experience in recognised Registrar training position and substantially completed fellowship training
• Must be PGY7+

Desirable

• Demonstrated interest in research or higher-level academic achievements
• 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. Demonstrated commitment to non-clinical skills such as teaching and/or quality assurance activities.
2. Proven highly developed written and verbal communication skills in the areas of medical record keeping with an appreciation for medical ethics and patient confidentiality, clinical handover and the timely and efficient liaison with the on-duty Retrieval Consultant.
3. Demonstrated sound skills in resuscitation, airway management and clinical assessment of the critically ill and/or injured patient
4. 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.