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.

Canberra Hospital provides secondary and tertiary referral services for general gastroenterology, liver and inflammatory bowel diseases, pancreato-biliary disorders and advanced therapeutic endoscopy and is the hub for continuing medical education, quality assurance, teaching and research in these specialties within the ACT and southern NSW regions.

Canberra Hospital is the major teaching hospital of the ANU Medical School and has well-developed postgraduate teaching programs and a state-of-the-art medical library. There are excellent opportunities for collaborative research.

The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Service

The IBD Service is one of the largest in Australia with three IBD consultants and 2.3 full-time equivalent registered nurses who manage over 450 patients on biological agents and an additional 1500 on standard therapies. The outpatient clinics are being expanded into a multidisciplinary IBD service at which patients will have access to colorectal surgical, dietetic, and psychological advice when necessary.  There are several clinical trials of new therapeutic agents accessible to patients.  The IBD Service also participates in various national research consortia.

This is an excellent opportunity for a gastroenterologist with IBD experience in a tertiary centre and teaching hospital. The successful candidate will be well supported in the IBD clinic by two other IBD consultants, an advanced trainee, and two IBD clinical nurse specialists. In addition, a dedicated IBD fellow will commence work on 1^st of August 2025. The IBD service encompasses a weekly IBD meeting, a monthly surgical multi-disciplinary meeting and running IBD clinical trials and research.

For the right candidate there will be an opportunity to function as the clinical lead for the IBD service.

In addition to IBD, the GEHU at Canberra hospital offers a broad range of services including advanced endoscopic, pancreato-biliary and hepatology services.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Unit Director, you will perform inpatient management and provide a clinical consultative service. You will:

• Manage the diagnosis, treatment and discharge plan for inpatients in GEHU.
• Conduct GEHU outpatient clinics including general gastroenterology and inflammatory bowel diseases in keeping with the GEHU requirements set by the Director of GEHU to maintain a robust clinical service to the territory and surrounding regions.
• Perform regular endoscopy lists for both outpatients and inpatients within the unit and for high-risk patients within the operation theatre environment.
• Contribute to the on call/after hours and weekend roster, in conjunction with other specialists, at a frequency required to cover the roster throughout the year set by the Director of GEHU.
• Contribute to the clinical governance of the Unit by undertaking clinical audit, morbidity and mortality review and practising evidence-based medicine.
• Participate and actively contribute to all departmental educational meetings and training and contribute to the education and training of the clinical team (in particular, actively participate in the supervision and training of junior medical staff including interns, resident medical officers and registrars).
• Contribute to the teaching program of the ANU Medical School under the broad direction of the Dean or delegate and undertake research in areas relevant to the science and/or clinical practice of the specialty.
• Demonstrate an understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience.
• Display behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.
• Undertaking other duties as appropriate, within the level of classification and the approved scope of clinical practice, to 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

To be successful in this position, it is expected that the successful candidate will include but are not limited to the following attributes:

• Demonstrate a continuing commitment to providing quality health care in clinical medicine and upholding customer service principles in keeping with organisational values. Be familiar with and demonstrate commitment to all relevant ACT Health policies and guidelines.
• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate, and manage, change and provide responsive services to meet the needs of clients and the organisation.
• Professional with excellent communication, organisational and time management skills; while adhering to ACT Health confidentiality policies and procedures;
• Ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels and across disciplines.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Hold a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) in Gastroenterology/Hepatology or equivalent. Gastrointestinal endoscopy certification in upper and lower GI endoscopy.
• Be granted a Scope of Clinical Practice through the Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee
• Obtain a Compliance Certificate from OMU (Occupational Medicine Unit) relating to assessment, screening & vaccination processes against specified infectious diseases.

Desirable

• A PhD or equivalent higher degree.
• A dedicated IBD fellowship.
• A proven track record in clinical or lab-based research and publications.
• Experience as an IBD consultant at a teaching hospital.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• Sound clinical experience in the practice of gastroenterology & hepatology and gastrointestinal endoscopy and ability to manage the required caseload and case mix, and to practice safe medicine.
• Recent experience as a consultant within a tertiary referral hospital which included direct supervision of GI advanced trainees and on-call commitments.
• 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.

Desirable

• Knowledge of 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.

For Senior Specialist we will also expect that you:

1. Have demonstrated advanced clinical experience outlined in a CV that clearly and comprehensively outlines the applicant’s professional history.
2. Have been employed at the equivalent of a Specialist Band 5 for a period of at least three years.
3. Have demonstrated their advanced ability to provide leadership to their colleagues through either clinical or administrative means.
4. Have gained demonstrable advanced experience and attained such ability in the relevant speciality that is acceptable to CHS, to justify a recommendation for advancement to Senior Specialist by the Review Panel.
5. Be able to demonstrate their ability to undertake duties and responsibilities deemed by CHS as those expected of a Senior Specialist.
6. Be able to demonstrate that they are performing at a level consistent with this competency framework.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for medical professionals.

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.

What you require (key selection criteria)

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

1. Demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills in the specialty, including involvement in further education and continuing professional development.
2. High level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment. It is expected that the successful applicant will have a track record as a successful member of a clinical team.
3. Demonstrated strong commitment to teaching at all levels including medical, nursing and allied health professional staff, and evidence of prior experience in supervision and teaching, or relevant skills and interest in supervision and teaching.
4. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to all aspects of clinical governance relevant to the specialty.
5. Demonstrated interest in research and preferably some ability to plan, conduct and supervise medical research in a relevant clinical or scientific area.

Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.

For consideration at the Senior Specialist level, you will require the above and:

1. Clinical: Show advanced clinical expertise in their speciality area, which may include the ability to work without supervision, as recognised by their peers.
2. Safety and Quality: Provide leadership through:
   1. a demonstrated ability to be effective in leading safety and quality activities, including experience relevant to specialist college accreditation
   2. providing senior medical input to the safety and quality activities of the medical unit and clinical division, and
   3. participating actively in specialist college accreditation, as overseen by the Australian Medical Council.
3. Teaching: Provide senior input using demonstrated experience in the development and provision of teaching and training at CHS and services in the surrounding region.
4. Research: Undertake speciality-specific research and/or have relevant publications of research in a respected health or medical journal.
5. Administrative functions: Support the medical unit director in the administration of the unit and provide senior medical input to the development of policies and practices of the unit.

Senior Specialist applicants must also provide two detailed supporting statements from referees including:

1. A supporting statement from the relevant medical unit director or equivalent, attesting to:
   1. the applicant’s ability to work at a senior level in the relevant unit or department,
   2. compliance with CHS policy and guidance documents, and
   3. behaviour consistent with CHS’ values
2. A supporting statement from a second referee who is a Senior Specialist.

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.