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 a February 2027 commencement for a period of two -years, with possible extension. To be eligible to apply you must be PGY5+ as of February 2027.

General Physicians provide high quality, holistic and comprehensive care for patients with complex medical needs in hospital and ambulatory care settings, working closely with subspecialty colleagues and within a multidisciplinary team environment.

General Medicine advanced training at Canberra Health Services provides trainees with the necessary diverse clinical and educational experiences to develop into accomplished general physicians.  Trainees who have completed our program have graduated into successful and fulfilling physician careers in a range of clinical settings across metropolitan and regional settings.

Canberra Health Services is accredited for 2 years of advanced training in General and Acute Medicine by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. Advanced training in General Medicine is undertaken via terms at Canberra and North Canberra Hospitals.

General Medicine at TCH admits a majority of complex and undifferentiated patients who have multiple active medical conditions, eating disorders and toxicology syndromes requiring medical stabilisation.  
The Acute Medical Unit is a 48- hour stay ward, designed to deliver timely, evidenced-based, and holistic care during the admission phase of medical inpatient care. The model of care allows further work up of patients with acute undifferentiated conditions in a non-ED clinical space before they either discharge or transfer to a home ward under an appropriate inpatient team.

North Canberra Hospital is a 297–bed secondary care facility. It has a large general medical unit with fewer subspecialties represented and therefore admits a large variety of disorders across the full spectrum of adult medicine. NCH is well supported by a level 4 ICU, CCU, and stroke unit together with 24-hour endoscopy service and surgical services.

General medicine ATs also rotate through the Hospital in the Home service which manages patients requiring hospital-level care that can be delivered in the home environment. This term has exposure to a wide variety of conditions, especially infectious disease relaed.

Ambulatory care experience is incorporated into the clinical terms in General Medicine and sub-specialty clinics.

As part of the General Medicine AT program, there is dedicated learning and research time with a dedicated education program.  We encourage trainees to undertake research, attend scientific meetings and gain experience in healthcare system management, teaching and training of medical students and junior medical officers.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of patients of CHS under the supervision and direction of consultant physicians in general medicine at both Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital campuses. Clinical duties will include assessment and management of acute presentations to the emergency departments, in-patient care, diagnosis and management of patients in outpatient clinics, ward consults and clinical handover.
• Participate in the supervision, training and professional development of junior medical staff.
• Assist with facilitating patient flow through the hospitals by working with Integrated Operations Centre personnel
• Demonstrate progress in training in the specialty including participation in the RACP PREP Advanced Training program, timely completion of assessments and involvement in research.
• Participate in the after-hours and on-call roster.
• Contribute to clinical audit and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient are.
• Comply with the policies and requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the policies of Canberra Health Services.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
• The successful applicant will need to be available on weekend and after-hours work.

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

• Enthusiasm for clinical excellence.
• Sound written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a clinical team.
• Commitment to continued professional development, including ongoing teaching and learning.

Qualifications

Essential

• Hold an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Current Basic Life Support skills and Advanced Life Support skills.
• Success in the RACP written examination and clinical RACP Examinations. (Applicants likely to achieve this latter exam by June 2026 are invited to apply)
• At least PGY5 with clinical experience comparable to basic physician training with rotations in multiple relevant medical specialties

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. Clinical competence at a level commensurate with postgraduate years.
2. Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development, including formal education and self-directed learning.
3. A commitment to quality and safety procedures in healthcare.
4. Ability to participate in the after-hours roster.
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.