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, for a period of 12 months with possible extension. To be eligible for this position you must be PGY7+ by February 2027.

The Division of Surgery is responsible for delivering inpatient and outpatients surgical services to the ACT and surrounding region. The Division includes Surgical Bookings and Pre-Admission Clinic, Peri-operative Services, Day Surgery Unit and Extended Day Surgery Unit, specialist surgical ward areas, medical and nursing outpatient services, ACT Trauma Service, Intensive Care Unit, Capital Region Retrieval Service, Pain Management Unit and the Trauma and Orthopaedic Research Unit.

These services are supported by administration support officers who engage in a range of duties including reception responsibilities in patient service areas, and general business support and personal assistant activities in the business offices of the division’s clinical units. The clinical units within the Division of Surgery include:

• Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine
• ACT Trauma Service
• Acute Surgical Unit
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• General Surgery
• Intensive Care
• Neurosurgery
• Oral Maxillofacial Surgery
• Paediatric Surgery
• Plastic Surgery
• Retrieval Services
• Urology
• Vascular Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

The General Surgery Unit at CHS provides tertiary level surgical care to the ACT and surrounding region. This HPB Post Graduate Fellow position will be rostered to work in General Surgery and the Acute Surgical Unit and may include the provision of endoscopy services.

The successful applicant is required to demonstrate training, experience, and competence working in the clinical services and areas listed above. It is an opportunity for a General Surgeon to work in a multidisciplinary team focused on providing high quality best practice care to patients and to engage in teaching, training, and clinical research.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide specialist hepatobiliary and general surgical services to inpatients and outpatients working collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team to provide high quality and safe person-centred care.
• Contribute to the daytime and on call/after hours roster, in conjunction with other specialists, at a frequency required to cover the roster of General Surgery and Acute Surgical Unit.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary education and training and actively participate in the training of junior medical staff including interns, resident medica officers, and registrars within the Division.
• Actively engage in the clinical governance and ensure services are high quality and safe, adhere to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and participate in relevant committees and meetings including regular audit meetings.
• Develop, implement, review, and update new best practice service models for example, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols
• Strive for continuous professional development and undertake research relevant to the science and/or clinical practice of the specialty.
• Utilise digital health and health information systems to enable the provision of safe and timely access to 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 organisational skills with a high degree of drive
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet client needs
• An ability to work as a constructive and positive team member, with an ability to also lead and influence change

Qualifications

Essential

• Hold an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Relevant Tertiary qualifications (or equivalent) in General Surgery (FRACS) and eligibility for membership of the appropriate professional organisation with a minimum of two years’ experience working professionally as a Fellow.
• Hold a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS) or an equivalent higher specialist qualification
• Must be at least PGY7 from the commencement of this position

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 significant interest in one or more of the areas of HPB Surgery, General Surgery and Emergency General Surgery/Training with a proven ability to practice competently, manage required caseload and case mix, and to practice safe medicine.
2. Proven high-level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
3. Demonstrated understanding of clinical governance and the ability to engage in quality assurance, audit and service improvement initiatives/projects.
4. Demonstrated significant interest and capability with respect to teaching and research.
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.