Royal North Shore Hospital

(02)   9462 9747

Peter Young,  Acting Head of Department   

Barbara Lucas,  Deputy Head of Department

1.      Strong academic and clinical placement performance.  Submission of course results and APPs to date is required.

2.      Demonstrated effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

3.      Demonstrated ability to prioritise and manage busy workloads in a multidisciplinary clinical environment, work within scope of practice and seek assistance when required.

4.      Demonstrated ability to respond to feedback and incorporate into clinical practice.

• 10 weeks Musculoskeletal Outpatients
• 5 weeks Orthopaedics/Trauma Inpatients and Fracture Clinic
• 5 weeks ICU
• 5 weeks Acute Neurology and Neurosurgery
• 5 weeks total evening shift – ICU, ED and wards
• 10 weeks total covering inpatient areas including medical or surgical wards
• 10 weeks secondment to Lismore Base Hospital

• Day Shift: 0800 to 1630 (30-minute lunch, 20-minute morning tea)
• Evening Shift: 1615 to 0045, with on-call from 0045 to 0800

• One shift every three weekends, with a rostered day off in lieu
• Required to work some public holidays

• Evening shift is from 1615 to 0045
• Total of 5 or 6 weeks over the 12 months
• Two blocks per year of 7 consecutive evenings, followed by 2 days off, 3 day shifts, and 2 days off – repeated 2 or 3 times
• Evening duties include physiotherapy interventions to prevent respiratory deterioration and facilitating patient discharge, including from the Emergency Department
• On-call from 0045 to 0800, either sleeping in an on-call room on site or at home

• None at RNSH
• On-site "on-call" room available for evening physiotherapist to sleep after shift and while on call
• See Lismore Base Hospital page for accommodation details during secondment

• Train, metro (to Crows Nest), and bus available to the hospital
• Staff parking available on-site at a cost (there are wait times for staff parking applications)
• Street parking available a short walk from the hospital
• Go Active Hub with showers and lockers available for cycling or running

• Initial orientation and training for new graduates over several weeks
• Online and hard copy resources available for new starters

You will be contacted by a member of the department following allocation to organise details of secondment and first rotation.

First year graduate Orientation Day on the Thursday in the week before the start date for allocation. 1 day off in lieu taken during the year to cover this day.

• New graduate education process over the first few months
• Fortnightly departmental inservices by staff and invited guests
• Specialty area inservices and journal clubs held regularly
• Physiotherapists encouraged to participate in clinical area meetings and education
• Education sessions for new graduates to gain skills in specialised clinical areas such as casting, ED, ICU, spinal cord injuries, and preparation for weekend and evening work

Interest in complex acute care.

• Friendly department with regular lunches, morning teas, and social events
• Close to local and city entertainment and eateries
• Several on-site hospital cafés

• Well-established new graduate mentoring and training program
• Individual clinical supervisor for the year
• Experienced Senior Physiotherapists in each area with a strong track record of supporting new graduates
• Many staff have previously completed the allocation program at RNSH
• Employee Assistance Program available to all staff

• Annual leave generally not approved for new graduates in their first year. It may be considered under exceptional circumstances with approval from the Head of Department
• A week of Rostered Days Off and Accumulated Days Off can usually be arranged during the allocation year