HMO3 CritCare Anaesthesia
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Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across three campuses in the north-east of Melbourne and state-wide. We have a highly engaged, diverse and collaborative workforce that is unified by our goal to help people live healthy and fulfilled lives.
About Anaesthesia Department
The Department of Anaesthesia is located on Level 2 of the Austin Tower. The Department comprises 38 full-time Staff Anaesthetist, 76 Visiting Anaesthetist, 23 Anaesthesia Registrars/Fellows, 6 Critical Care HMOs, 4 Research Nurses, 3 Pain Nurses, 3 Anaesthesia Resource Nurses, and 4 Administrative Staff. There is a separate Department of Intensive Care Unit.
Most surgical specialties, with the exception of obstetrics and complex paediatric surgery, are undertaken at the Austin and are covered by the Department. Surgical specialties include thoracic, cardiac, neurosurgery, hepatobiliary, upper GI, colorectal, general, orthopaedic, ENT, plastics, maxillofacial, ophthalmology, urology, gynaecology and vascular. The Austin is a state-wide referral centre for liver transplantation and spinal injuries.
About the role
Note: Applicants are required to clearly indicate in their cover letter a preference for either the Anaesthesia or ICU stream. Applicants interested in both streams must state a clear preference for one stream in order to be considered. Applications that do not contain a clear statement of preference may not be considered for either stream.
There are 13 HMO3 positions in Critical Care incorporating rotations through the Austin Hospital Anaesthesia Department, Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Department (ICU). These positions aim to provide a high-quality, broad-based practical experience for potential entry into vocational training positions in critical care (Anaesthesia, ICU, ED).
Successful applicants will spend a minimum of 6 months in their allocated specialty stream. The remainder of the year is spent rotating through the other two Critical Care specialties and providing planned leave cover for other members of the Critical Care HMO/PGY3 Stream. Each HMO is offered at least 3 months in their preferred specialty stream in the first 6 months.
The Critical Care HMO program is supported by a regular education program delivered by members of each specialty department on themes important to HMO's in Critical Care. Workshops, tutorials and clinical simulation modes of education are offered. Each applicant is also entitled to a period of 5 weeks annual leave.
Anaesthesia Department Role
The anaesthesia component of this job involves assisting with the provision of anaesthesia services within and outside the operating suite, before, during and after procedural lists requiring an anaesthesia presence. You will always be assigned to either a supervising consultant or registrar. The roster involves a default 38 hour week, with a 5 week rotating roster including day and evening shifts. When rostered on evening shifts, you are required to assist the anaesthesia registrar on call and provide anaesthesia support in theatre as well as to the wider hospital.
Emergency Department Role
The Emergency Department component involves participating in the clinical management of patients attending the emergency department. Currently we see over 250 patients per day, with approximately 30% paediatrics. You will be expected to assess and manage patients according to your level of experience, Although you are encouraged to participate in the management of all triage categories, there is consultant cover from 0800-2300hrs, 7 days a week, with close supervision, should you need it. You will be required to rotate through a day, evening, and night roster. At times during night shift, you will assist in managing the Shirt Stay Unit while supervising the SSW intern or working relatively independently in the Fast Track area. All applications/enquires to the Austin Emergency Department should be directed to that unit on 9496 5000.
Austin ICU Role
This role is within the Austin Hospital's tertiary metropolitan practice offering complex medical, surgical services including cardiothoracic and neurosurgical intensive care. Exposure to state-based specialised in Acute Liver Failure, Liver Transplantation, Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Complex Epilepsy is available. The HMO role importantly supports the clinical activity in admissions, daily care, discharge planning of complex patient care in 3 'pods' of ICU work teams comprising consultant, registrar & HMO. The rotation involves approximately 50% night shift on a rotating roster.
Austin Health prefers applicants who will have completed 24-months since graduation by February 2026, or who will have completed 36-months since graduation without a critical care year or anaesthesia term in their third year. If you have already an anaesthesia rotation of at least 3-months duration after your HMO 2-year (i.e. third year post graduation or later) and you are considering anaesthesia as a vocation, you will be ineligible for the anaesthesia stream. We strongly encourage and advise you to apply for a position as a Registrar in Anaesthesia.
About you
To be successful in this role you will bring with you:
- A commitment to Austin Health values.
- Hold MBBS or equivalent qualification.
- Completed a minimum 24 months full-time (or equivalent) employment as Hospital Medical Officer (or equivalent) since graduation.
- Full Registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- To be eligible for the anaesthesia stream, candidates should not have undertaken or have planned a term in anaesthesia of 3 months or greater duration at HMO3 level or above
- Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) (note- eligible applicants will be assisted through this process).
- Dedication to delivering excellent service – to patients, all colleagues (nursing, medical, managerial, support staff), GPs and other contact points.
Our benefits
Working at Austin Health means enjoying a strong sense of purpose, engaging in meaningful work every day. Our people also receive a variety of rewarding benefits, including:
- Greater take-home pay through generous salary packaging for living expenses, meals, and holiday accommodation
- A suite of wellness initiatives designed to support you, including discounts on fitness memberships and health insurance, and a comprehensive wellbeing program
- Mentoring and career development opportunities
- Onsite childcare, easy access via public transport, car parking and end of journey facilities for cyclists
Work with us!
We are committed to cultural safety and health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander People. We celebrate, value, and include people of all backgrounds, genders, identities, cultures, bodies, and abilities. We welcome and support applications from talented people identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, people with disability, neurodiverse people, LGBTQIA+ and people of all ages and cultures.
If you feel this role is right for you, we encourage your early application. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews may take place prior to the closing date. This means we reserve the right to close a job ad prior to the advertised closing date.
All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check and if required, a Working With Children Check. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or have questions about this opportunity, you are welcome to reach out to the hiring manager: Rochelle Simon, Business Manager at Rochelle.Simon@austin.org.au
Interested in finding out more about this opportunity? Read the position description and information sheet for further details.
Application closing date: Monday 26 May 2025
