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. To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must be PGY7+ by February 2027.

Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS) provide health services directly and through partnerships with community organisations. The services provided range of services from prevention and treatment to recovery, maintenance and harm minimisation. Consumer and carer participation is encouraged in all aspects of service planning and delivery. MHJHADS works in partnership with consumers, carers and a range of government and non-government service providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients. The Division delivers services at several locations, including hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, detention centres, other community settings including people’s homes.

The senior registrar role combines advanced clinical training with leadership and mentoring responsibilities. Senior Registrar supports the ACT RANZCP Training Program by contributing to teaching, training governance, and registrar support, while acting as a key link between psychiatry trainees and MHJHADS leadership to support high‑quality training and service delivery.

The Senior Registrar position is for a fixed term of one year and is only open to current RANZCP trainees in accredited training.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of MHJHADS clients, including assessment and management of presentations to emergency departments, acute admissions, inpatient care, outpatient clinics, and general hospital consultations. This includes working within multidisciplinary teams, engaging with clients and their families, providing therapy where appropriate, and ensuring effective clinical handover and documentation.
• Contribute to the ACT RANZCP Training Program, including participating in teaching activities, and involvement in research and quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrate satisfactory progress in psychiatry training through participation in the RANZCP education activities, timely completion of RANZCP assessments, and involvement in research.
• Contribute to the orientation of new psychiatry registrars to CHS, MHJHADS and act as a mentor to other registrars, providing guidance, support and peer leadership.
• Support the psychiatry registrar cohort, including seeking feedback and acting as a first point of contact for registrars when necessary.
• Liaise with CHS Medical Officer Support Unit and MHJHADS rostering teams regarding Registrar rosters.
• Participate in the supervision, training, and professional development of junior medical staff and medical students.
• Participate in the ECT, after-hours and on-call rosters.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the effective 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

• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong reflective capacity, with an ability to seek, receive and incorporate feedback, and to model lifelong learning for junior colleagues.
• Clinical curiosity which drives attainment of knowledge and skills, supports clinical leadership, and improves understanding of individual clients within a recovery-oriented framework.
• Demonstrate commitment to training and continuing professional development, including participation in relevant teaching programs and activities, involvement in research, and leadership in the teaching and supervision of junior medical staff and/or medical students
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet health service and clients’ needs, including supporting others through change.

Qualifications

Essential

• Must have an Australian MBBS medical degree or equivalent
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• You are required to be a current RANZCP trainee in accredited training
• Has completed at least 48 months of full-time equivalent experience as a registrar.
• Must be at least PGY7 by February 2027

Desirable

• 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 experience in a leadership role with the ability to provide support to registrars’ and their roster management.
2. Proven high-level communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to provide leadership while working as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
3. Demonstrated strong commitment to teaching at all levels including medical and multidisciplinary staff, and evidence of prior experience in teaching.
4. Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development, including RANZCP formal education and self-directed learning.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays’ behaviours consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

How to Apply

Applications for a Psychiatry Senior Registrar position with CHS and applications to be a trainee on the ACT RANZCP Fellowship program will be considered simultaneously.

Applying for a position with Canberra Health Services

• Applications must be submitted via CHS e-recruitment system.
• Applications must include:
  • A current resume`
  • A pitch of no more than two pages outlining your skills, knowledge, experience, and suitability for the role.
• When preparing your pitch, address the ‘key selection criteria’ and where possible, include clear and relevant examples from your clinical and other experiences.

Applying to transfer RANZCP training to the ACT

If you are a current RANZCP trainee seeking to transfer to the ACT RANZCP program

You are encouraged to clearly outline in your application:

• Your RANZCP training trajectory/RANZCP training record
• Your RANZCP training needs and outstanding mandatory training requirements.

Referee requirements

• A single set of referee reports will be used for both CHS employment and RANZCP training.
• Three referee reports are required and must be submitted on RANZCP referee report forms.
• At least one referee must be your current direct supervisor.
• Referee details must be included in the initial application or resume`.

Trainees transferring to the ACT must also provide:

• A referee report from their current or most recent RANZCP Director of Training.
• A letter of good standing from their training zone outlining their training record.

RANZCP referee report forms can be requested and should be completed by referees and sent directly to CHS.PsychRegTraining@act.gov.au

ACT RANZCP Branch Training Committee and Director of Training Office Contact:

ACT RANZCP Branch Training Contact: Office of Director of Psychiatry Training

Email: CHS.PsychRegTraining@act.gov.au

CHS, MJHHADS Medical Recruitment Team-  CHS.MHJHADSMedicalRecruitment@act.gov.au

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.