Position Description
Position title :
Reports to :
Award:
HMO 2 General/HMO3 General
DiT Manager and Director, Medical Workforce Unit
(administrative) and relevant Clinical Services Unit Directors and
senior clinical staff
Victorian Public Health Sector (AMA Victoria) – Doctors in Training
– multi-enterprise agreement 2013-2017
Classification:
HM12/HM13
Hours per week :
38 hours base – as per unit roster
Period of Establishment:
April 2014
1.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Austin Health comprises the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital (HRH) and the Royal Talbot
Rehabilitation Centre (RTRC). Austin Health operates 980 beds across acute, sub-acute and mental health with a
2011-12 annual operating budget of more than $700 million. Austin Health is an internationally recognised leader in
clinical teaching and training, affiliated with eight universities. In addition, it is the largest Victorian provider of
training for specialist physicians and surgeons. With the recent addition and partnership of the Mercy Hospital for
Women, Austin Health continues expand and develop its health services to the community.
State-wide services
Austin Health is renowned for its specialist work in cancer, liver transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology,
endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation including a number of state-wide services:
 Victorian Spinal Cord Service
 Victorian Respiratory Support Services
 Victorian Liver Transplant Unit
 Acquired Brain Injury Unit
 Child Mental Health Inpatient Unit
 Austin Toxicology Service
 Victorian Poisons Information Centre
Austin LifeSciences
Austin LifeSciences brings together internationally-renowned research institutes and over 800 Austin Health
researchers, with a focus on cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, liver disease, heart disease, stroke, epilepsy and
psychiatry.
The Austin Health research institutions include:
 The Florey Neuroscience Institutes
Revised April 2014
Position Description
 Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
 Institute for Breathing and Sleep
 Austin Medical Research Foundation
 Parent-Infant Research Institute
 Spinal Research Institute
External research funding to Austin Health is over $20 million per annum.
Our facilities
Austin Hospital
The Austin Hospital features:
 Over 560 acute beds
 A 20 bed Intensive Care Unit
 A 42 cubicle adult emergency department containing a specialist six-bed unit for children
 A purpose-built, 26-bed high-tech spinal unit to serve all of Victoria and Tasmania
 An expanded mental health precinct with 55 adult mental health beds
 A unique teaching, training and research precinct including a teaching space and laboratory on each level of
the Austin Hospital Tower.
Austin Hospital is also home to a number of state-wide services. The Olivia Newton-John Cancer & Wellness
Centre opened in July 2013.
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital
The Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital has a proud history of caring for veterans and war widows. Originally built in
1941, the hospital became part of Austin Health in 1995.
Today the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital continues to treat veterans and war widows and the wider community
with day surgery, palliative care, mental health services, aged care, and a range of outpatient services.
With the opening of four additional operating theatres at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in 2013, it now fills a
substantial elective surgery role.
Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Hospital
The Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre is a specialist provider of intensive rehabilitation programs, providing a
comprehensive and coordinated range of medical, nursing, therapy and support services to people with a wide range
of disabilities.
Areas of specialty include acquired brain injury rehabilitation, amputee rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation,
spinal cord injury rehabilitation, orthopaedic rehabilitation and orthotic and prosthetic services.
Services are provided on an inpatient and day patient basis.
Further information on Austin Health can be found at www.austin.org.au
Revised April 2014
Position Description
Austin Health Values
The Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation. They influence our
performance planning, recruitment, training and development, and relationships with colleagues, work mates, our
patients and their relatives and friends. The Austin Health values set standard that we expect all staff to live up to in
the way they undertake their duties and responsibilities across the Hospital.
Our Values:
2.
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Integrity
We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships across the whole
organisation.
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Accountability
We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating effectively.
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Respect
We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness.

Excellence
We continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, research and effective
stakeholder management.
LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is a joint appointment with Northern Health, a major community hospital based in Epping. Some
rotations are associated with locations associated with Northern Health’s partner organisations, such as Bundoora
Extended Care Rehabilitation facility. Further positions may rotate through PGPPP placements associated with
either Austin Health or Northern Health.
Rotations for HMO2 General positions include ICU, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, General and specialty medical and
surgical rotations, as well as rotations through PGPPP placements.
HMO3 rotations may also be available upon request depending upon rosters.
Rosters are flexible and may be changed in-year providing suitable swaps are arranged at no inconvenience to the
clinical unit/s concerned.
Applicants seeking specific terms prior to application for training programs are encouraged to discuss their needs
with either the DiT Manager or the Director of Clinical Training.
Our Clinical Education Unit (Medical Education) delivers diverse training and education session, both targeted to
specific training programs and general development session covering generalist skills. Dedicated Intern and HMO2/3
training sessions are given weekly at both Austin Health and Northern Health. Other programs include weekend
surgical skills workshops, study groups, exam preparation tutorials, practice interviews, journal groups, conference
presentations, etc.
There are also handbooks for all rotations outlining hours, duties, basic common drug protocols for the unit, staff
(medical and nursing), clinic and ward details.
Revised April 2014
Position Description
Smoke-free organisation
Austin Health promotes a healthy work environment and is progressively moving toward achievement of an entirely
smoke free environment. Smoking is no longer allowed in any Austin Health building or vehicle or on the grounds of
Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst smoking is still allowed in
designated outdoor areas at Austin Hospital, this site has become totally smoke free from 1 July 2009.
3.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
To provide excellence in patient care whilst undertaking comprehensive learning, training and professional
development opportunities and uphold Austin Health’s values.
4.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
CLINICAL DUTIES
Patient Support
To provide appropriate patient care to:
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All inpatients within the Unit/Department and to undertake a daily ward round of all patients
Unit outpatient clinics
Pre-admission clinics
Patients for whom consultation is requested
Relevant Hospital In The Home (HITH) patients.
Relevant patients in day surgery, medical imaging and endoscopy
Please note that the first responsibility is to inpatients and attendance in theatre is only acceptable if all ward work
has been completed.
Unit Support
To support the Unit Registrar and other relevant registrars and senior medical staff in the care of the patients under
the care of your allocated unit or department.
Daily Duty Requirements
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Attend the hospital regularly both in-hours and out-of hours according to the daily duty statements and
rosters.
Participate in regular receiving duties as per duty roster.
Hours may vary according to rotations however the normal range is between 43 – 53 hours per week.
Extraordinary Obligations
To provide clinical support for other interns/registrars where this may be required due to workload or other
unforeseen circumstances. To support the following services to a limited extent:

Medical and Surgical sub-specialties
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Position Description
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Inpatient psychiatry
Inpatient paediatrics
ICU/CCU
Quality
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Ensure that patients and their families are given adequate information upon which to base treatment
decisions and follow-up.
Participate in the relevant divisional/unit quality activities program(s) as requested by the Unit/Department
registrar and/or senior staff.
Be responsive to patient and relative complaints, liaising with appropriate senior staff and the patient
representative if required (refer to Patient Representative section in the Junior Doctor handbook).
Notify appropriate personnel in a timely manner of any incident leading to an adverse outcome for a patient
or staff member if such an incident occurs, and to complete a RiskMan report if it is deemed necessary.
Ensure a high level of work quality, develop, implement and monitor quality improvement activities within
the department/ward, in accordance with Austin Health Policies as varied from time to time.
Communication
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Facilitate excellent communication and liaison with other staff, general practitioners and others involved in
patient care.
Access the Clinical Education Unit Homepage on the intranet to ensure you are kept up to date on important
hospital information.
Use and access your Austin email address on a regular basis to ensure that you are not excluded from Clinical
Education Unit organised activities such as workshops and tutorials, and kept up to date with
communications from the Medical Workforce Unit and Austin Health as a whole.
Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients and
employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make public statements relating to the affairs of
Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer.
Patient Discharge
To facilitate the timely admission and discharge of all patients in accordance with Austin Health policy.
Medical Records
To complete appropriate documentation in the patient’s hospital record. Entries should be legible, timely, regular
and comprehensive so as to document important changes or decisions, and ALL entries must be dated, designated
and signed. Notes should include adequate information fir coding and patient care purposes.
ADMINISTRATION AND NON-CLINICAL DUTIES
Medical Workforce Unit (MWU)
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Promptly inform the Deputy Director, MWU of any relevant administrative issues
Provide timely notification of inability to attend duties for any reason
Notify MWU in writing of all roster swaps before the swap is to take place.
Submit a properly completed timesheet for each pay period in a timely manner.
Revised April 2014
Position Description
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Complete an annual leave form at least 28 days prior to commencing annual leave
Promptly advise the roster coordinator, MWU if you have a roster clash (E.g. night duty commences at 2130
hours on Sunday evening)
Notify the unit you are working in and the MWU of any absence from the hospital during rostered hours of
duty, including arrangements for cover
Notify the After Hours Site Manager through the switchboard of any sick leave occurring in the after hours
roster
Policies & Procedures
To abide by Austin Health policies and procedures.
Education, Training & Support
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Attend and participate in the formal Intern and HMO education and training program coordinated by the
Clinical Education Unit together with the Supervisor of Intern Training.
Attend and participate in ALL mandatory training requirements at Austin Health, including CERNER training
and OH&S training as required.
Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency Response
Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management.
Orientation, Feedback, Assessment & Unit Evaluation
To follow Austin Health’s protocols with regards to Unit Orientation, Mid Term Feedback, End of Term Assessment
and Unit Evaluation.
Human Resources
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5.
Ensure up to date contact information is available to the hospital.
Salary packaging – In the event tax becomes payable on fringe benefits, the total cost of the package to the
hospital does not increase.
Ensure safe work practices and environment in accordance with Austin Health Policies as varied from time to
time.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential for Performance of the Position
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Appropriate tertiary medical qualification from either Australian Medical School or recognised overseas
training.
Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) of Australia (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.
One year post-graduate medical experience.
Revised April 2014
Position Description
Desirable but not essential for Performance of the Position

6.
Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
Pre-Existing Injury
Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any preexisting injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position.
7.
DOCUMENT REVIEW DETAILS
Date Position First Documented (if known):
____/____/____
Date of this Position Description Review:
____/____/____
Signature of Manager:
Signature of Employee:
Revised April 2014
.
Date:
____/____/____
Date:
____/____/____