The Department of Neonatology at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children is the ACT’s only tertiary Level 5–6 neonatal service, delivering highly specialised care to infants from across Canberra and surrounding NSW. Our service encompasses the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Special Care Nursery (SCN), ACT NETS Retrieval Service, Newborn and Parent Support Service (NAPSS), and the Newborn Growth and Development Clinic—offering an exceptional breadth of clinical experience.

With 39 funded beds across NICU and SCN, and approximately 3,800 births each year at CHWC, our team cares for 750–800 neonatal admissions annually. This ensures a dynamic, expertly supported environment where clinicians can develop and refine advanced neonatal skills while making a meaningful difference for the children and families we serve.

Our units are designed around the principles of family‑integrated care and developmentally supportive practice, with state‑of‑the‑art technology that enhances, rather than replaces, the human connection fundamental to neonatal care. We partner closely with families, recognising them as essential members of the care team and supporting them through every step of their newborn’s journey.

You will join a deeply committed, highly skilled multidisciplinary team that prides itself on collaboration, compassion, and excellence. Our Clinical Support Nurse and Clinical Development Nurses provide strong, practical, on‑the‑floor support to ensure staff feel confident, capable, and continually growing in their practice.

If you are seeking a place where your skills can truly transform outcomes for the smallest and most vulnerable patients—and where you can enjoy the lifestyle and opportunities Canberra offers—our Neonatology Department is an inspiring, rewarding, and enriching place to advance your career.

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

Under limited direction of the Clinical Nurse Manager, you will perform the role of Registered Nurse Level 1. You will:

• Provide direct patient care within an ethical and professional framework around a neonatology environment.
• Practice in accordance with the relevant legislation.
• Practice in a way that acknowledges the dignity, culture, values, beliefs & rights of individuals & or groups.
• Advocate for individuals and or groups & their rights for nursing care within the organisational & management structure.
• Understand and practice within own scope of practice.
• Integrate nursing and health care knowledge, skills & attitudes to provide safe & effective nursing care.
• Integrate organisational policy & guidelines with professional standards.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Strong organisational skills, including simultaneously managing and prioritising multiple issues, with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• An ability to work respectfully in partnership with a range of stakeholders while simultaneously demonstrating leadership.
• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate nursing care in collaboration with individuals, peers, and the healthcare team to achieve goals and health outcomes.
• Make appropriate referral to, and consult with peers, other relevant health professionals, service providers, and community and support service
• Adhere to established guidelines, protocols, procedures, standards, and systems of work as set out by the organisation.
• Contribute to quality healthcare through lifelong learning and professional development of self and others

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

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification in nursing
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• A minimum 1 year of experience nursing in acute care setting.

Desirable

• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances.

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

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.

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven commitment and competency in the provision of nursing care that promotes best professional practice and improved health outcomes within a multidisciplinary team.
2. Evidence of flexibility and skills to provide a high standard of care within a range of disciplines with a proven commitment to professional development with an understanding of the National Safety and Quality Health Services and the ability to reflect on practice.
3. Well-developed communication and interpersonal skills reflecting professional and organisational standards.
4. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety and the positive patient experience. Displays behavior consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful, and kind.

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.

Administrative	Frequency
Telephone use	Occasionally
General computer use	Frequently
Extensive keying/data entry	Frequently
Graphical/analytical based	Never
Sitting at a desk	Occasionally
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Never
Frequent travel – driving	Never

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Never
Working outdoors	Never

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Occasionally
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Never
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Never
Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Never

Specific hazards	Frequency
Working at heights	Never
Exposure to extreme temperatures	Never
Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift	Never
Confined spaces	Never
Excessive noise	Never
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Never
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Never

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 – 15kg	Never
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Never
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Occasionally
Bending/squatting	Occasionally
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Never
Push/pull	Occasionally
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Never