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 12 months with possible extension. To be eligible for this position you must be PGY3+ by February 2026.

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) for two years of core training and for the subspecialities of Trauma, Cardiothoracic, and Neurosurgery.

North 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).

Our intensive care residents are exposed to a broad case mix of critically ill patients. There are 39 physical bed spaces. This includes a dedicated cardio-thoracic bay and four fully vented negative/positive-pressure isolation rooms. Our unit is accredited for training in Anaesthesia through FANZCA and Emergency Medicine through FACEM as well as CICM. A well-established helicopter retrieval service is associated with the campus, Capital Regional Retrieval Service.

A Resident in Intensive Care Medicine plays a key role in the delivery of medical care to critically ill patients. Supervised by the intensive care registrars, senior trainees and specialists, intensive care residents are expected to provide direct clinical care for patients and some supervision & training to students rotating through the unit.

We offer a structured teaching program tailored for the needs of the individual junior doctor in training while providing support from Staff Specialists experienced in the practice of Intensive Care Medicine.

It is not expected that the applicant has had any previous experience in ICU or anaesthesia. It is also expected that the applicant has worked for at least two years in a hospital setting working in different specialties and ED.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide day- to-day medical care for patients of Canberra Health Services. The clinical management expected includes acute admissions, in-patient care, attendance and participation in the Medical Emergency Team, inter-disciplinary consults and clinical handover
• Maintain adequate medical records with legible entries.
• Participate in the supervision and education of more junior medical staff and medical students.
• 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.
• 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 mandatory training set by ACT health and procedural credentialling program of the intensive care unit, Canberra hospital
• 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.
• Contribute to clinical audit and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Work within and support the multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Comply with the policies and requirements of the Medical Board of Australia and the policies of Canberra Health Services. This includes the promotion and application of workplace relations, workplace equity and diversity and workplace safety, and completion of mandatory training
• 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.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change in a dynamic medical environment.

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Currency in Basic life support by the time of commencement in the position
• Has completed at least two years clinical practice including successful completion of an accredited internship.

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. Demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to the level of a resident medical officer, involvement in further education and quality assurance activities
2. Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team and provide leadership where required
3. 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
4. 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.