POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE :
Respiratory Physician
REPORTS TO :
Professor/Director Respiratory Medicine
AWARD/AGREEMENT :
Appointment up to 1.0 EFT or a sessional component
thereof
POSITION TYPE :
(e.g. Specialist, Principal
Specialist, Senior Specialist)
Medical Specialist
HOURS PER WEEK :
As per contract
1.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Austin Health is one of Victoria’s largest health care providers.
Comprised of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation
Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerous university and research
institute affiliations.
Catering to diverse multicultural and veteran communities, Austin Health delivers vital state-wide
services to Victorians and a vast array of specialty services to the people of Melbourne’s northeastern corridor in a safety-focussed, team-orientated and stimulating work environment.
The new 400 bed Austin Hospital Tower opened mid 2005 and further redevelopment is underway.
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
standards that we expect all staff to live up to in the way they undertake their duties and
responsibilities across the Hospital.
Our Values:

Integrity
We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships
across the whole organisation.

Accountability
We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating
effectively.

Respect
We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness.

Excellence
We continually strive to advance patient focussed care through innovation, research and
effective stakeholder management.
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2.
LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT
Respiratory & Sleep Medicine: Director – Professor Christine McDonald
Deputy Director – Appointment currently vacant: successful applicant may be considered for
this role (please contact Professor Christine McDonald for the Deputy Director position
description).
VRSS: Director – Dr. Mark Howard
The position is within the Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Austin Hospital, Austin
Health, a major public teaching hospital and tertiary referral centre associated with The University of
Melbourne. The Department includes a busy 22 bed inpatient ward (Ward 5 West,) located on level 5
of the Austin Tower and including a dedicated ventilation weaning bay and 2 inpatient sleep study
beds. Specialist clinics include multidisciplinary lung cancer, allergy, pulmonary hypertension, sleep
disorders and ventilatory failure. The Department runs the state wide Victorian Respiratory Support
Service, providing a state-wide service to persons diagnosed with chronic ventilatory failure who
require support with home ventilation. The Victorian Weaning Unit (VWU) state-wide service provides
support to other health services by accepting referrals of patients who are slow to wean from
ventilation. The allied Department of Thoracic Surgery is the largest of its type in Australia and is a
statewide referral service for thoracic oncology.
A comprehensive diagnostic investigation service is offered including a respiratory laboratory and two
sleep laboratories. A comprehensive domiciliary oxygen service is also provided, including
supervision of services to all veterans in Victoria requiring home oxygen.
The Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine has a strong research and teaching ethic and has
close links with the Institute of Breathing & Sleep (IBAS) which is also located on the Austin Hospital
site.
The Head of Department is Professor Christine McDonald. Respiratory & Sleep Medicine is part of the
Specialty Services Clinical Service Unit, which also includes Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, Thoracic
Surgery, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery and Ophthalmology. Ms. Leanne Turner is the
Director of Specialty Services CSU and Dr. Jennifer Johns, the Medical Director.
3.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this position are to provide inpatient and outpatient care, for respiratory patients of
Austin Health.
Sessions will include the following clinical activities:

participation in the ward service, referral and on-call rosters for both general respiratory
ventilatory failure patients

sleep reporting

bronchoscopies

outpatient consulting (including participation in sub-specialty clinics)

other clinical duties as directed.
and
Additional responsibilities will include:

supervision of advanced trainees in respiratory and sleep medicine (currently 4 trainees)

participation in departmental and hospital clinical, educational and audit meetings, including
Grand Rounds
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
teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate trainees within the ambit of the Department of
Respiratory and Sleep Medicine and University of Melbourne

develop research projects in the individual’s areas of interest

assist with administrative activities
4.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Participation in the staff performance appraisal program

Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time.

Participate in Austin Health performance appraisal program as required.

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.

Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency
Response Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management.

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.

Ensure safe work practices and environment in accordance with Austin Health Policies as
varied from time to time.
Position specific
Mandatory

Respiratory physician who is a fellow of RACP and member of the TSANZ.
Preferred

Extensive experience in the fields of respiratory and sleep disorders medicine.

Accreditation in sleep disorders medicine

A postgraduate university degree in Respiratory/Sleep Medicine.

Willingness to participate in the Respiratory and Sleep Medicine on call roster
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5.
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION (Other information to be made known to persons
interested in appointment to this position)
Pre-Existing Injury
Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of
any pre-existing 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:
February 2010
Signature of Manager:
Date:
____/____/____
Signature of Employee:
Date:
____/____/____
"Austin Health promotes a healthy work environment. Effective from 1 July 2009, Austin Health is
now entirely smoke free. Smoking is no longer allowed on any Austin Health site, including buildings,
vehicles or on the grounds of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot
Rehabilitation Centre."
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