Westmead Hospital (Stream 1 - 8 Acute Positions) (Stream 2 - 4 Positions)

Katherine Maka - Head of Department

Telephone: 8890 7105

Stephen Harvey - Deputy Head of Department

Telephone: 88906503

• Demonstrated skills in managing patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Demonstrated effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities to improve the quality of service as well as a commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Ability to work in and contribute positively to a team.

All FYGs will complete four rotations of approximately 13 weeks duration.   

Stream 1 Acute - FYGs complete a nights rotation and a secondment. Experience provided during the Westmead Allocation year includes Musculoskeletal Outpatients (which may be undertaken at either Westmead or Goulburn), Acute, Acute Rehabilitation and Aged Care

Stream 2 Rehabilitation - FYG complete a secondment. Experience provided during the Westmead Allocation year includes Musculoskeletal Outpatients, Neurosciences / Orthopaedics, Geriatrics and Rehabilitation

Physiotherapy Department working hours during the week are 0800 hours to 1630 hours.  Weekend and public holiday day time working hours are also 0800 hours to 1630 hours.  

Stream 1 Acute: Weekend shifts are linked to your acute rotation in which you will need to complete 5-6 consective weekend days either working a Sunday-Thursday or Tuesday to Saturday roster. All new graduates are included in the public holiday roster. Additional weekends may be required if staffing is needed.

Stream 2 Rehabilitation: Weekends form part of your rehabilitation workload during one of your rotations

Stream 1 Acute - The evening roster is 1300 to 2130 hrs, followed by "On Call"  from 2130to 0800.  However, start time may vary between 1300 and 1600 dependent upon clinical need.

Stream 2 Rehabilitation - Currently no evening shifts during these rotations

Staff accomodation may be available at Westmead. Please refer to the Goulburn information page regarding Goulburn secondment accomodation. 

The hospital is easy walking distance from Westmead Station. There are also a number of bus routes which stop at the Hospital.

New Graduate staff will be involved in extensive onboarding during their first two weeks. This will include lectures, case studies, practical activities as well as shadowing of clinical staff. New graduate staff will be integrated into their clinical role during the onboarding period.

The department has a strong focus on quality improvement and research. Educational programs are provided to support these intiatives.

There is a general departmental inservice held on a monthly basis. There is also a weekly inservice or case presentation held in each clinical area.

The opportunity exists for FYGs to attend other relevant hospital clinical training lectures and programmes.

Onboarding at Westmead commences on day 1 of your new graduate program. The Physiotherapy department does not expect any specific pre-work to be completed. We welcome our new graduates to come onsite ready to listen, learn, grow and develop their skills.

Department Social Club organises regular social activities. These include celebrations for events such as RUOK day, World Physiotherapy Day, Christmas Breakfast and an Easter egg hunt just to name a few. 

There is a professional support / mentoring program provided to FYGs. Each FYG will also have a designated clinical senior for each rotation. There is also an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) available to all staff. 

Annual leave is considered in consultation with both clinical seniors and departmental heads.