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 12 months with possible extension. To be eligible to apply for this position, you must be PGY4+ by February 2027.

Canberra Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit is a tertiary level, mixed adult Intensive Care admitting over 2500 patients a year. The ICU is accredited by the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM). North Canberra Hospital ICU is a 10 bed intensive care that is also accredited for CICM training. Registrar positions are shared between the two campuses.

A Registrar in Intensive Care Medicine plays a key role in the delivery of medical care to critically ill patients. Supervised by the intensive care specialists, provisional fellows and senior registrars, intensive care registrars are expected to provide supervision for the critical care senior resident medical officers, as well as direct clinical care for patients.

We offer a structured teaching program tailored for the needs of the individual junior or advanced trainee while providing support from Staff Specialists experienced in the practice of Intensive Care Medicine. For those in the training program we can tailor the training experience to include rotations to Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital ICU in Nowra which is accredited for rural training through CICM, and medicine, anaesthesia, and ED rotations.

It is not expected that all appointees will be registered with the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM), and trainees from ANZCA and FACEM may be considered suitable for appointment to this role.  It is expected that an ICU registrar has some previous experience at a junior level in the ICU, such as previous resident medical officer in an Intensive Care Unit.  It is also expected that an ICU registrar will have some basic airway skills and be familiar with the procedure of central line placement though may not hold competency for independent insertion at the commencement of their training year.

Our registrar positions are also accredited for training in Anaesthesia through FANZCA and Emergency Medicine through FACEM. A well-established helicopter retrieval service is associated with the campus, Capital Regional Retrieval Services.

Rotations may include:

• Intensive Care Medicine, Canberra Hospital Bruce  ACT
• Intensive  Care Medicine, North Canberra Hospital Bruce ACT

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of patients of Canberra Health Services under the supervision and direction of Specialist Medical Practitioner’s. While clinical management includes acute admissions, in-patient care, attendance and participation in the Medical Emergency Team, inter-disciplinary consults and clinical handover.
• Participate in the supervision, training and professional development of ICU junior medical staff and undergraduate medical students.
• Training in the specialty including participation in the relevant teaching program and activities, timely completion of assessments and involvement in research.
• Participate in the junior medical staff roster including night shifts as required for the operational needs of the intensive care unit as defined by the Division of Surgery, Canberra Hospital Consultation Paper detailing the roster and leave approval process for junior medical officers in the Intensive Care Unit.
• Contribute to clinical audit and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Participate and complete mandatory training set by ACT health and procedural credentialling program of the intensive care unit, Canberra hospital, North Side and Woden
• 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
• The successful candidate will be required to participate in the organisation’s Performance Review & Development Program which will include a regular review of the candidate’s performance against the responsibilities and key result areas associated with their position and a requirement to demonstrate appropriate behaviours which reflect a commitment to ACT health values and strategic directions.
• Maintain adequate medical records and ensure that the clinical team completes discharge summaries in a timely manner.
• 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

• The ability to efficiently manage and prioritise own workload.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to appropriately manage difficult conversations with patients and family members and create a safe and pleasant working environment within the unit.
• High level interest in the teaching of medical students, interns and RMOs.

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Currency in an Advanced Life Support Course (if not at the time of appointment, to be attained within three months of commencement).
• Has completed the equivalent of at least three years of relevant full time clinical experience

Desirable

• Ability to rotate to regional units to satisfy College training requirements.
• 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. Proven commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to the area of Intensive Care, including involvement in further education and quality assurance activities.
2. Post graduate medical and academic qualifications and experience relevant to the position.
3. Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and provide leadership where required.
4. A commitment to the importance and provision of teaching at all levels, including medical, nursing, scientific and allied health professional staff, both postgraduate and undergraduate.
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.