Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Senior Medical Practitioner
Remuneration:
Hours Per Week: 40

Lead the Future of Emergency Medicine in Queanbeyan

This is more than a specialist role. It is an opportunity to build a service, shape a culture, and improve lives across all ages in a rapidly growing region.

Southern NSW Local Health District is seeking an outstanding Emergency Physician to join Queanbeyan Hospital's newly evolving Emergency Department as both a Staff Specialist/Senior Staff Specialist/Visiting Medical Officer and Head of Department.

Underpinning this position is an appointment as a permanent Staff Specialist/Senior Staff Specialist or quinquennial Visiting Medical Officer, with the Head of Department role held for a three-year term extendable to five years dependent on satisfactory performance. Re-appointment as Head of Department after five years will be by application.

Where you'll be working

Queanbeyan Hospital is a 29-bed Level 3 acute care facility with a 24-hour 16-bed Emergency Department, an Inpatient Unit, a Day Surgery Unit, and a Renal Dialysis Unit. Community and comprehensive mental health services are co-located on site. It is a modern facility, having undergone a major $51 million redevelopment in 2009, including construction of a new main hospital building.

The hospital is a 20-minute drive to both the Level 4 North Canberra Hospital and Level 6 Canberra Hospital in the Australian Capital Territory, the latter of which provides tertiary referral support. Queanbeyan Hospital serves a population of 69,000 residing in the area served by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, as well as those residing in the nearby Australian Capital Territory. Planning is underway for a future expansion of the hospital in view of the growing catchment population.

The ED sees a varied case-mix of approximately 27,000 presentations per year. It has a relatively low admission rate of 6% and a transfer rate of 5-6% due to the department being bypassed for STEMI, stroke, and trauma. Children (16 years) comprise 23% of presentations, with 25% of these being 3 years of age. There is a considerable Indigenous health flavour to the ED, with 7.8% of presentations being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

The ED is currently staffed with senior doctors only (a mix of FACRRMs and FACEMs). There has been a recent recruitment drive for Emergency Medicine specialists and by 2027 there will be a total of 4 FTE Staff Specialist FACEMs, with plans to introduce a junior doctor for 2 shifts a day on weekdays only for 2027.

There is significant opportunity to attain core accreditation with ACEM for registrar training, given the good collegial relationships with the other EDs in SNSWLHD. Many of the Emergency specialists that work in Queanbeyan will also provide services at Cooma Hospital, South East Regional Hospital, and Goulburn Base Hospital. This will allow those hospitals to apply and attain accreditation for blended supervision of ACEM trainees during their mandatory rural term starting in 2027. The ED also has an excellent relationship with Canberra Hospital ED and many of our doctors work at both sites.

In addition, there are strong collegial relationships with the Rural Generalist inpatient VMOs, many of whom also do shifts in the ED. There is no conflict regarding admissions to the hospital as all consultations are senior doctor to senior doctor. In 2027 the Inpatient Department will transition to having both specialist General Physicians and Rural Generalists, and similarly the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department.

What you'll be doing

This position is for a Staff Specialist/Senior Staff Specialist (preferred) or Visiting Medical Officer Emergency Physician, who will also serve a fixed term as Head of the Emergency Department (ED) at Queanbeyan Hospital. The dual role offers a unique opportunity to balance senior clinical practice with leadership responsibilities.

The postholder will contribute to the development of a contemporary, sustainable ED at a time of change as it matures into one with both Rural Generalist (FACRRM) and specialist (FACEM) Emergency Physicians, with a focus on training for both Fellowships.

Why This Opportunity Is Different

As Head of Department, you will have the rare opportunity to:

• Lead the transformation of a growing Emergency Department.

• Shape the future model of emergency care for the Queanbeyan community.

• Develop and expand training programmes for junior medical staff.

• Mentor and support Rural Generalists and clinicians across disciplines.

• Build on a strong foundational culture of excellence in clinical governance, education, research and teamwork.

• Partner with executive, nursing, and allied health leaders to create integrated, patient-centred care.

This is an opportunity for a clinician who wants to leave a lasting legacy, not simply fill a roster.

About the role

As a specialist Emergency Physician, the postholder will provide expert and safe medical assessment and management of patients within the Southern New South Wales Local Health District (SNSWLHD) Emergency Medicine service. At Queanbeyan Hospital, the ED provides 24/7 emergency care in a 16-bed unit. The postholder will also provide training and supervision to multi-disciplinary clinicians working in the ED.

As Head of Department, the postholder will provide strategic, clinical, and operational leadership of the ED. This will include the development and clinical governance of Emergency Medicine services, supporting a culture of learning and best practice, and managerial responsibility, including rostering, for medical staff in the department. The postholder will be a key member of the Queanbeyan Hospital leadership team, working in partnership with nursing, allied health and executive colleagues to deliver integrated, person-centred services aligned to the goals of SNSWLHD.

The Head of Department role will attract a management allowance (Staff Specialist/Senior Staff Specialist only) and dedicated time for leadership and management activities. This is in addition to a minimum allocation of non-clinical support time. The exact balance of clinical, non-clinical, and leadership and management time will be negotiated as part of job planning with the postholder's Line Manager and formally documented at the time of commencement. Job plans will be reviewed annually as part of the performance review process.

The postholder will serve as Head of Department for a three-year term, extendable to five years dependent on satisfactory performance. Continuation as Head of Department beyond five years will be by re-application. At the conclusion of the postholder's tenure as Head of Department, their job plan will be re-negotiated.

The postholder will be primarily based at Queanbeyan Hospital but may be required to work at other facilities in the District.

This position reports operationally and professionally to the Director of Medical Services - Inland South and District Services who is also based at Queanbeyan Hospital. It has a close working relationship with the Site Manager/Director of Nursing and Midwifery.

Selection Criteria: * Specialist registration with AHPRA and Fellowship of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (FACEM) and/or equivalent.

• Demonstrated commitment to education, with experience in teaching and training.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Demonstrated skills and attitudes appropriate to a senior medical leadership role. Experience managing a clinical unit, service, or program will be viewed positively.
• Demonstrated experience in clinical governance, quality improvement, and risk management.

Support for

• Sustainable Healthcare:
• Health and Wellbeing benefits including Fitness Passport, and annual Influenza vaccinations
• A team that values your expertise, invests in your development and supports your lifestyle

Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur where no suitable permanent resident or citizen of Australia has been identified and must not exceed the duration or conditions associated with the current visa.

Southern NSW Local Health District has the potential to support visa sponsorship for eligible applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.