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 May 2026 commencement for 12 months with possible extension. To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must be PGY4+ by May 2026.

Applications for a later commencement date (August 2026) will be considered in line with service requirements. Provision for part-time and contracts of 3, 6 or 9 months are possible, by negotiation.

The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health is the principal centre for children’s medical and surgical services in the ACT. There is a large and energetic inpatient department for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine and Surgery. 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. 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 is accredited for training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. In discussion with the DPE, this position may be suitable for candidates wishing to commence Basic Physicians training in Paediatrics. The department is not a tertiary paediatric department. Successful applicants will work as part of the multidisciplinary paediatric team responsible for the care of infants, children and adolescents admitted to the High Care, Medical, Adolescent, Surgical and Day Stay Wards. Rotations may include Neonatology, General Paediatrics and Paediatric Surgery. This position is suitable for appropriate candidates wishing to undertake extended skills training under RACGP training pathway.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide assessment and management of paediatric patients under the supervision and direction of more senior medical staff appropriate to level of clinical experience.
• Participation in a shift work roster is expected including regular night, weekend and evening shifts.
• Demonstrate appropriate progression toward more independent medical practice, with concomitant development of clinical knowledge, skills and behaviours required for safe medical practice.
• Work within and support the multidisciplinary clinical team.
• Contribute to clinical audit and participate in changes that improve quality and safety of patient care.
• Participate in the supervision and education of more junior medical staff and contribute to the education of medical students.
• Maintain adequate medical records with legible entries, and complete discharge summaries on time.
• 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

• Good communication and organisational skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• Ability to take direction from more senior medical and nursing staff

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Has completed the equivalent of at least three years of clinical practice

Desirable

• Additional qualification such as GP training
• Significant prior experience appropriate to the position.
• 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.