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Children's Hospital at Westmead, The

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    Participating hospital information 2025. Please contact the hospital directly if further information is required.

    Photos

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    Website

    http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/

    Address

    Cnr Hawkesbury Road and Hainsworth Street, WESTMEAD NSW 2145

    Manager/Contact

    Kerry WEST (HOD)

    Johanna Newsom ( Deputy HOD)

    Ph: (02) 9845 3369

    Fax: (02) 9845 3685

    No of FYGs

    4

    No of Physios (PT) and Assistants (A)

    44 F/T equivalent

    No of Hospital Beds

    330

    Selection Criteria

    1. Demonstrated interest in working with children.  This may be from a paediatric clinical placement or from employment, volunteering or life experiences.

    2.  Experience working in a multidisciplinary team and the ability to work independently when reqiured.

    3.  High level communication and interpersonal skills ( including negotiation and conflict resolution skills).

    4. Strong time management and prioritisation skills with an ability to work flexibly within clinical and administrative service demands.

     

    FYG Clinical Rotations

    1. General Paediatric outpatients: includes aquatic physiotherapy, orthopaedic clinics, general paediatric conditions, musculoskeletal and sports injuries.
    2. Critical Care / respiratory: includes PICU, medical and post- surgical cardiopulmonary experience.
    3. Rehabilitation / evenings: independent cover of evening acute cardiopulmonary service (2 evening per week) and inpatient rehabilitation (3 days per week) including acute brain injury, spinal cord injury, general neurology and neurosurgery, and oncology.
    4. Secondment to Shoalhaven Hospital: variety of experience including adult inpatients and outpatients and some further paediatric work in a rural setting.

    Working Hours

    Hours of duty vary according to the rotation.

    Outpatients: typically 0830 - 1700 (occasional late start/finish)

    Critical care / respiratory: 0800 - 1630

    Evening rotation -  Monday & Tuesday: 1500 - 2330; Rehabilitation Wed-Fri: 0900 - 1730

    In addition there are regular on-call commitments overnight and after hours shifts (weekends and some public holidays) according to roster.

    Weekend Shifts

    Regular respiratory weekend shifts - some are as rostered full shifts, and some are on call shifts

    Evening shifts

    Night rotation - Monday and Tuesday evenings: 1500 - 2330.

    On-Call overnight from 2330 - 0800  Tuesday or Wednesday depending on rotation.

    Accommodation

    Temporary accommodation available at secondment hospital.

    Travel

    Train to Westmead station, 10 min walk to hospital

    Street parking very limited, public transport preferable

    Staff parking available for evening shifts

    Orientation Process

    1 day orientation specific to CHW physiotherapy department in week before commencement - likely Thursday 1st or Friday 2nd February. This is a compulsory requirement and time in lieu will be given for attendance.

    CHW Corporate orientation within 3 months of commencement.

    For the Shoalhaven Hospital secondment, graduates are also nvited to attend the Illawara Shoalhaven 2-day orientation/training sessions, details TBC. It is highly recommended to attend this free program.  This is on your own time as it is prior to official employment commencing.

     

    Education Programs

    Team Inservice - weekly.

    Departmental Inservice - once a month.

    New Graduate training and inservice program: fortnightly.

    Pre-Requisites e.g. D/L; Interest in clinical areas relevant to facility

    Interest in clinical area of paediatrics.  Preferably some experience working with or dealing with children.

    Social Activities

    Active social committee within the department.

    Staff swimming Pool.  

    Support Mechanisms

    Structured senior staffing, providing ongoing clinical supervision.

    Specific orientation and training for each rotation.

    Departmental Mentoring program.

    Interdisciplinary programs available within the hospital.

    Annual Leave Policy

    No leave available in the first 3 months of employment.

    Up to 2 weeks of leave will be structured within the 12 months depending on rotation order and staffing.