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 2026 clinical year, 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 provides general paediatric services to approximately 450 in-patients and 1800 out-patients each month. The Department is staffed by staff specialists (12.5 FTE General 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).

The Department of Paediatrics is accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) and is a site for the RACP Fellowship clinical examinations.

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.

The successful candidate is encouraged to pursue their clinical interests with clinics in General Paediatrics, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Gastroenterology and Respiratory Medicine available. Opportunities exist to attend other visiting subspecialty clinics.

Participation in a well-supported on-call consultant roster is expected, with first-on-call with the Staff Specialist Paediatricians in a 1 in 6 capacity. 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:

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of infants, children and adolescents within General Paediatrics under the supervision and direction of a Consultant Medical Practitioner(s). The clinical management includes acute admissions, inpatient care, outpatient care, inter-disciplinary consults and clinical handover.
• Support junior medical staff in the management of acutely unwell patients.
• Assist with the management of chronic long-term general paediatric patients.
• Work within a multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Participate in the after-hours on-call roster.
• To organize the Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity meeting as well as contribute to and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Maintain adequate and legible medical records and ensure that the clinical team completes discharge summaries in a timely manner.
• Weekly General Paediatric clinics
• 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
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

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 JMO’s.
• 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 Department Clinical Lead.
• 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 consult 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
• Completion of the written and clinical FRACP examinations
• Demonstrate commitment to training and continuing professional development including participation in relevant teaching programs, activities, and feedback opportunities, involvement in research, and teaching of junior medical staff and/or medical students.
• Must be PGY7+ by February 2026

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.