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 the for the 2026 recruitment campaign, commencing February 2026 for one year with possible extension. To be eligible to apply for this position you must be PGY7+ by February 2026.

The Canberra Hospital is a major teaching centre for the ACT and surrounding regions and is strongly associated with The Australian National University Clinical School. The Department of Paediatrics at The Canberra Hospital provides general paediatric services to approximately 450 inpatients and 1800 outpatients each month. The Department is staffed by staff specialists (12.5 FTE General Paediatrics, 5 FTE Community Paediatrics, 1.4 FTE Endocrinology, 1 Gastroenterology and General Paediatrics, 0.5 Paediatric respiratory and general paediatrics), a general paediatric Senior Registrar, 12 Registrars and 10 SRMO/Residents. The Canberra Hospital has forty-four in-patient paediatric beds (High Care, Medical, Adolescent and Surgical) and a busy fifteen room outpatient department. It also has an eight bed Hospital in the Home (HITH).

Women, Youth and Children Community Health Programs delivers a range of health care community-based services to women, children, young people and families.  These services include support, education and information; counselling, assessment and screening; early identification and referral; and the delivery of public health programs.

Our busy Community paediatric service as well as Child protection services are run as part of Enhanced Child Health Services (ECHS). These specialist services are provided through the community paediatric outpatient services. The team work with an understanding of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on the physical, emotional, and social development of children and young people and collaborate with others across the Enhanced Health Services to provide holistic care.

This team provides medical services for children and adolescents requiring assessment, treatment or review relating to suspected or established developmental delay or disability, and behavioural or emotional disturbance.

The Department of Paediatrics is accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) as a site for advanced training in General Paediatrics. This position may also be suitable for advanced trainees in Community and Child Health, but individual training accreditation will need to be determined in conjunction with the relevant RACP training committee.

The Senior Registrar position incorporates three roles: clinical, leadership and education. The Senior registrar is expected to provide support and supervision to the junior medical staff. This involves administration/management duties, teaching, education and research, quality assurance and conflict resolution. Resources and time are provided to allow the fellow to carry out research and Quality Assurance activities.

Participation in a well-supported on-call consultant roster is desirable with first-on-call with the Staff Specialist Paediatricians in a 1 in 6 capacity in the acute paediatrics service. Opportunities exist to be involved in research or to be assisted in developing a research area of interest.

Key responsibilities

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

Clinical:

• Work collaboratively as a member of the Community Paediatrics service, collaborate with Nursing, Medical and Allied Health professionals across the Enhanced Health Services, and with external agencies and health care professionals, to facilitate comprehensive care and interventions for children and young people with developmental and behavioural concerns including those with a background of trauma and complex health needs.
• Prepare medical reports and actively participate in clinical consultations, collaborative multi-disciplinary assessments, and team meetings to ensure the provision of evidence based holistic care.
• Provide leadership, in the supervision of Community Paediatric Registrars, and developing research programs in the service as well as taking a leadership role in student teaching in the ANU Medical School.
• Currency in Advanced Paediatric Life Support or to be attained within three months of commencement.
• Completion of hospital mandatory training in accordance with hospital guidelines

Education/ Research:

• Demonstrate progress in CPD activities including participation in the relevant local teaching and activities, timely completion of assessments and involvement in research.
• To participate in on-going professional development activities and to encourage similar practices in departmental staff.
• Participate in the supervision, training and professional development of junior medical staff and medical students.
• To coordinate the teaching and orientation program for the JMOs in Community Paediatrics
• To contribute to the research activities of the Hospital, including Journal Club.
• To organise the FRACP clinical examination.

Clinical Leadership & Risk Management:

• To participate in clinical and/or organisational committees as determined by the Unit Director.
• To assist with the evaluation of and provision of feedback to junior medical staff with respect to performance.
• To support the evaluation of Hospital Services in relation to present and future needs and make recommendations to the Department as appropriate.
• Comply with the policies and requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and policies of the ACT 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.

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

• Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with other health professionals.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and abilities in teaching.
• Demonstrated commitment to further education and professional development.
• Basic computer skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Advanced Paediatric Life Support or equivalent
• Be an advanced trainee registered with the RACP Paediatrics and Child Health in General Paediatrics or Community and Child Health
• Have completed at least 48 months of full-time equivalent experience in recognised registrar training position and substantially completed fellowship training

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering for 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. Proven commitment to advanced clinical abilities and commitment in Paediatrics.
2. Excellent communication skills and demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with other health professionals.
3. Demonstrated capacity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, whilst providing leadership in clinical care, systems management and participating in the mandatory requirements of medical officers within the division.
4. Proven commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to the area of specialisation, including involvement in further education, professional development, and quality assurance activities.
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.