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.

The Department of Cardiology is a well-established, comprehensive service staffed by a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering high-quality, compassionate care. The team includes 15 consultant cardiologists, three cardiology fellows, four accredited advanced trainees, and two unaccredited advanced trainees, supported by Basic Physician Trainees and junior medical officers. Together, they form part of a large multidisciplinary team comprising specialist nurses, cardiac physiologists, sonographers, administrative personnel, and the cardiac rehabilitation team.

The department provides care for adult patients across all age groups and levels of acuity, frailty, and disability, managing a broad spectrum of acute and chronic cardiac conditions. The team is committed to excellence in patient care, community service, and professional collaboration.

In 2024, the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project introduced the state-of-the-art Heart Care Centre, integrating Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery services within the Acute Cardiac Care Unit (ACCU) and the Interventional Cardiology Laboratory (ICL). The ACCU is a 32-bed unit managing over 2,000 admissions annually. Outpatient services handle approximately 4,500 episodes of care each year, with demand continuing to grow. The department maintains a strong partnership with the Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit.

The Interventional Cardiology Service operates two dedicated cardiac catheterisation laboratories, performing approximately 900 coronary interventions and 1,700 angiograms annually. It provides a 24/7 primary PCI service for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) across the region and supports a structural heart disease program. The service also includes simple and complex cardiac device implantation and follow-up care.

Since April 2019, the department has offered comprehensive clinical cardiac electrophysiology services, including complex ablation procedures. A dedicated electrophysiology catheter lab was opened in 2024 to support this growing service.

The Echocardiography Unit performs over 4,000 studies annually, including transoesophageal and stress echocardiography, with emergency services available. A Cardiac CT program, launched in 2017 in collaboration with the Department of Radiology, further enhances diagnostic capabilities.

A dedicated Heart Failure Clinic, led by a Heart Function Advanced Practice Nurse, provides accessible phone consultations, patient education, and support for self-management. These services aim to reduce hospital readmissions and facilitate early transition to outpatient or home-based care.

Additionally, the department runs a nurse-led cardiac rehabilitation program, supported by cardiologists and actively involving patients and their families in recovery and long-term health management.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Cardiology Unit Directors you:

• Provide clinical services to clients and participate in the clinics and on-call rosters for the Cardiology service. This may include:
  • Management of patients referred to the cardiology outpatient clinics, including timely triaging, consultation, diagnosis, reporting and treatment of cardiac conditions (e.g. medical clinics including arrhythmia clinic, Holter monitoring, Exercise Stress Testing, and implantable device monitoring).
  • Participation in on-call rosters.
  • Participation in the coronary interventional services in the Cardiac Catheter Laboratories, including 24/7 primary PCI roster and regular Cath lab sessions Additional training and experience in structural heart intervention is desirable.
  • Contribute to regional interventional service development and delivery. Participation in education for trainees, nurses, and physiologists. Consultative service for referring hospitals as required.
  • Contributing to direct cardiology inpatient care, patient consultation requests from other units and timely ward rounds to ensure patient management is safe, optimal and expedited.
• Assist the Cardiology Unit Directors to ensure appropriate clinical governance mechanisms are in place for the Department.
• Actively engage in quality and safety activities, service redesign, and model of care development for the Department and the Division
• Contribute to regular teaching and training of Cardiology Advanced Trainees and the multidisciplinary clinical team and promote clinical research within the Cardiology Department.
• 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

In addition to meeting the core competencies for the applicant to be recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), the preferred candidate will have:

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• A commitment to practicing holistic medicine that considers and is sensitive to a patient’s unique psychological, spiritual and socioeconomic background.
• 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 Cardiology or an equivalent higher specialist qualification.
• Fellowship in interventional cardiology with adequate experience in managing routine and complex interventions. Additional training and experience in structural heart intervention is desirable.
• Not be the subject of an unresolved scope of clinical practice review of by a Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee or a current inquiry by AHPRA.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience and expert clinical judgement in interventional cardiology would be required. The candidate should have completed additional fellowship in interventional cardiology with adequate experience to manage both routine and complex interventions. Additional training and experience in structural heart interventions is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment in a clinical setting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding of the principles of Clinical Governance and how they apply in Cardiology and hospital environments.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience in clinical research and/or teaching is highly desirable.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

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:

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

• 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.
• Obtain and maintain 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. - Requirements for fractional on-call will be subject to clinical operational requirements and will be negotiated at the time of appointment on an individual basis.
• Approval for second job will need to be submitted annually. Commitment to second job must not impact on the agreed clinical duties of the specialist at Canberra Hospital.
• Adherence to agreed attendance hours including agreement to annual job planning for clinical operational requirements.
• It is expected that approximately 80% of attendance time will be focused on substantive clinical service delivery role, and approximately 20% to non-clinical duties.
• It is expected that the successful applicant will have a track record as a successful member of a clinical team and demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching at all levels including medical, nursing and allied health professional staff.
• 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 and experience.

1. Extensive clinical experience in the practice of General Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology to manage the varied caseloads and case mix, and to practice evidence-based person-centred care, along with a demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of these skills.
2. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, all aspects of clinical governance relevant to the specialty.
3. Demonstrated high-level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
4. Demonstrated interest and experience in teaching and research.
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.

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.