Ballarat Health Services
 PO.BOX 577, BALLARAT 3353 Telephone (03) 5320 4238  Facsimile (03) 5320 4554 diannek@bhs.org.au
Ballarat Health Services offers opportunities for Intern, HMO and
Registrar Training.
Ballarat Health Services comprises the Base Hospital (221 acute beds), Queen Elizabeth Centre
(Sub Acute Care 70 beds) and Psychiatric Services (67 beds]. New short stay unit and modern,
emergency, critical care, ambulatory, aged care and rehabilitation facilities uniquely integrate inpatient, ambulatory, community and home based services. Ballarat Health Services is a major
training site for the University of Melbourne and Deakin Rural Clinical Schools. Senior staff are
strongly committed to teaching and the professional development of Interns, HMOs and
Registrars.
Ballarat offers a superb regional lifestyle with excellent public and private schools, recreational
and sporting facilities, shopping, entertainment and cultural pursuits. Country or city living is
available within minutes of the hospital and there is easy access to Melbourne (80 minutes).
INTERNS: 23 positions appointed through the PMCV Intern Computer
Match. 1 position [Urology] is filled via rotation from Melbourne Health.
Interns complete five (5) terms of 10 or 11 weeks, with rotations in General Medicine, General
Surgery, Emergency Medicine and sub specialties; Orthopaedics, ENT, Cardiology, Geriatrics,
Neurology, and Gastroenterology. Two weeks annual leave is allocated during the clinical year
and the remaining three weeks are taken at the completion of Intern year. Paired applications
are accepted and every effort is made to allocate paired annual leave. Interns choose their
rotations by mutual agreement and this is finalised prior to the commencement of the clinical
year.
A comprehensive three day orientation program is held in the week prior to the
commencement of the Intern year. Shared accommodation is available for the duration of intern
year.
Applications can be made on the attached application form and must include passport photo;
current CV; copies of relevant Qualifications and Registrations; and an extensive cover letter
detailing the reason/s why you have applied for Ballarat Health Services. The closing date for
receipt of applications by the hospital is Wednesday 8 June 2011. Selection will be based on
attendance at information session, cover letter, links to Ballarat and academic performance.
Prospective interns are encouraged to attend an information session at Ballarat Health
Services on Sunday 15 May from 2-4pm to be held in the Lecture Theatre, Education
Resource Centre. V-Line Service (8115) departs Southern Cross Station at 12:08;
arrives Ballarat Station 13:33. V-Line Service (8144) departs Ballarat at 16:12; arrives
Southern Cross Station 17:28. Public Car parking is available at the rear of the
hospital.
HMO Year 2:
6 positions are appointed through the HMO2 PMCV
Computer Match. HMO Year 2-4: 20 positions are appointed directly by
Ballarat Health Services.
HMO2/3: Five (5) terms of 10 or 11 weeks, with rotations available in Emergency Medicine,
Intensive Care Medicine, Oncology, General Surgery, Geriatrics/Palliative Care, Rehabilitation,
Psychiatry, Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Applications are to be made on the attached application. Ballarat Health Services participates in
the Computer Match for six HMO2 positions. The closing date for receipt of applications by the
hospital is Thursday 18 August 2011.
All remaining HMO positions are filled through direct application to Ballarat Health Services.
Applications should be received by Thursday 18 August 2011.
Ballarat Health Services now offers a second year surgical training stream. Successful applicants
complete rotations (13 weeks in duration) in Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine,
Urology and Orthopaedics.
HMO3/4: Two 12 month Critical Care positions are available and offer 6 month rotations in
Anaesthesia and ICU. Three and six month O&G rotations are available. Six month rotations
allow interested hospital medical officers to complete the Diploma in Obstetrics. Recruitment is by
direct application to Ballarat Health Services.
REGISTRARS
The following positions are available for 12 month appointments: General Medicine; Advanced
Trainee in Oncology; Advanced Trainee in Gastroenterology, Advanced Trainee in Rehabilitation;
Advanced Trainee in O&G; Advanced Trainee in Geriatrics, Emergency Medicine Registrars;
Advanced Trainee/Provisional Fellow in Anaesthesia; and Non-Accredited Orthopaedic Registrar.
Two Basic Physician Trainees are appointed locally and the remaining eight positions are filled
through the consortium process, either on rotation from Melbourne Health or Western Health.
Surgical, surgical sub specialties and Obstetric and Gynaecology positions are filled via rotation from
Melbourne Health, St Vincents Hospital or specific College training programs.
Anaesthetic Registrars rotate from Melbourne Health and rotations vary from 3 to 6 months.
The closing date for receipt of applications by the hospital is Monday 15 August 2011.
Medicine
Director of Physician Training: Prof James Hurley
(03) 5320 4322
The Internal Medicine Service is committed to the provision of high level general medical services
alongside busy services in Oncology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Neurology. In addition,
individual Physicians have major subspecialty interests in respiratory and sleep medicine, renal
medicine, endocrinology, infectious diseases, geriatric medicine, rehabilitation medicine, oncology
and palliative care. The Service provides inpatient and outpatient medical and consultative services.
Specialty investigations and procedures include: coronary angiography, cardiac pacing,
echocardiography, holter monitoring, advanced pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy,
gastroscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP, renal biopsy, dialysis, pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation and
special clinics in diabetes, dementia, continence and falls.
Opportunities for Training and Experience:
Intern - Broad based, hands on, general medical training with exposure to sub-specialty disciplines.
HMO – Acute, Oncology, Geriatric/Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine
Registrar - Rotation through the medical units with exposure to sub-specialties depending on
attachment and involvement in the investigations, procedures and clinics described above.
Advanced Trainees - Advanced Training is available in Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Geriatrics
and Oncology. The Cardiology post is filled by rotation from Barwon Health (Geelong).
Gastroenterology and Oncology posts are filled by specialist colleges and the Geriatrics post is filled
by direct application to Ballarat Health Services
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Surgery
A/Clinical Director:
Miss Ruth Bollard
(03) 5320 6858
The Division of Surgery provides a full range of general surgical and sub-specialty surgical services.
Sub-specialties include Orthopaedic surgery, Vascular surgery, Urology, ENT surgery, Head and Neck
surgery, Ophthalmology, Thoracic surgery, Plastic surgery and Facio-maxillary surgery. The Division
provides inpatient and outpatient surgical and consultative services. Facilities include six major
operating theatres, day ward / Endoscopy Unit and Perioperative Service.
Opportunities for Training and Experience:
Intern - Broad based general surgical training; Lower GI, Upper GI and Vascular/Plastics with
exposure to sub-specialty disciplines including Orthopaedics and ENT. Training includes theatre,
outpatient and pre admission clinic responsibilities relevant to each unit. Urology intern post is filled
via rotation from Royal Melbourne Hospital.
HMO – 2nd year surgical stream training. Successful applicants complete 13 week rotations in
Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care Medicine, Orthopaedics and Urology which are all prerequisites
for SET.
Registrar - Four surgical registrar positions provide excellent training and experience in general
surgery and selected sub-specialties (including vascular and plastic surgery). An ENT surgical
registrar post is filled via rotation from St Vincents Hospital. Six month accredited position in
Orthopaedic surgery and twelve month accredited position in Urology are appointed through the
respective training colleges. Ballarat Health Services also offers two twelve month non-accredited
Orthopaedic registrar positions. The Ophthalmology registrar position rotates from Royal Victorian
Eye and Ear Hospital. Appointment to the Surgical Registrar and Orthopaedic (non-accredited)
Registrar posts is by direct application to Ballarat Health Services.
Teaching, Professional Development and Quality Activities:
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Weekly radiology / pathology / morbidity and mortality / case presentations
Consultant led teaching ward rounds
Unit and service based utilisation review and audit activities
Registrar topic presentation
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Critical Care
Clinical Director of Emergency Medicine:
Dr Jaycen Cruickshank
(03) 5320 6455
Clinical Director of Anaesthesia:
Dr Fred Rosewarne
(03) 5320 4590
Clinical Director of Intensive Care:
Dr Tony Sutherland
(03) 5320 4590
The Division of Critical Care includes Anaesthetics, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine.
The Emergency Department sees in excess of 50,000 patients per annum (28% paediatric) with an
18% admission rate. The department services in excess of 200,000 people in the Grampians
Region. Emergency Registrar posts are generally twelve month appointments however six month
rotations are considered. Fully self contained accommodation is available at a significantly reduced
rate which assists medical officers who are based in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Paediatric
Logbook training is available and limited rotations to ICU and Anaesthesia.
The Department of Anaesthesia offers registrars a great place to gain some experience prior to
commencing their specialist career. Ballarat Health Services has six main theatres and two day
theatres that undertake nearly 10,000 cases per year. Registrars are able to use non-clinical time
for research, teaching and other professional development activities. All surgery specialties are
catered for with the exception of elective cardiac surgery and neurosurgery. In particular,
opportunities exist to gain further experience in paediatric and obstetric anaesthesia prior to
commencing specialist practice. There is a long established culture of audit activities with M&M
meetings being held every second week, and reports prepared and presented in the VCCAMM
format.
The Intensive Care Unit is a twelve bed unit; six beds are ICU and six beds are CCU/HDU. It is
accredited for basic registrar training. All residents are actively involved in the care of ICU patients
and fully supported by Intensive/Coronary Care Consultants.
Appointment to the Senior Anaesthetic Registrar/Provisional Fellow, ICU Registrar post and
Emergency Registrar posts is by direct appointment to Ballarat Health Services.
Opportunities for Training and Experience:
Intern: Ten week term in emergency medicine providing experience in all areas of emergency care.
HMO 2-4: Emergency medicine and short stay unit rotations are available at each HMO level with
accredited training and progression to registrar training in emergency medicine or general practice.
Registrar - Anaesthetic registrars rotate from Melbourne Health. Accredited emergency and
intensive care registrar positions are appointed by Ballarat Health Services.
Advanced Trainee - Provisional Fellow in Anaesthetics is appointed by Ballarat Health Services.
The post can be tailored to pre Fellowship/Senior Registrar.
Teaching, Professional Development and Quality Activities:
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Scheduled weekly training is provided for all junior emergency medicine staff and FACM trainees.
Daily ward round including clinical teaching in ICU and Coronary Care
Weekly divisional meeting and structured tutorials in Anesthetics
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Women’s and Children’s Health
(Comprising Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Paediatrics)
Clinical Director:
Dr Paul Davey
(03) 5320 4000
The Division of Women’s and Children’s Health provides obstetrics services (1200 deliveries per
annum), general gynaecology, gynaecological oncology and a comprehensive neonatal, paediatric
and adolescent health service.
The O&G unit consists of a team of six resident doctors [HMO2-4] and three registrars. Three and
six month rotations are available for HMO2-4. The unit is supervised by two fulltime staff specialists
and four part time visiting medical officers.
The Paediatric Unit is a 19 cot bed unit staffed by two residents [HMO2-3], two registrars, a full time
staff specialist and visiting paediatric consultants. Ten 10-11 week rotations are available for HMOs.
The paediatric rotation is highly sought after especially for those interested in general practice
training.
Opportunities for Training and Experience:
HMO - Paediatric term includes coverage of Special Care Nursery and outpatient services. Positions
in Obstetrics and Gynaecology offer general experience across all areas including theatre, birthing
suite and antenatal/outpatient clinics. The Diploma of Obstetrics is available for general practice
trainees.
Registrar – Two third year O&G registrar position is filled via the respective college. It provides
experience in all areas of obstetrics and gynaecology practice. The senior O&G registrar and two
paediatric registrar posts are filled by direct recruitment to Ballarat Health Services.
Teaching, Professional Development and Quality Activities:
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Diploma of Obstetrics
Advanced Obstetric training
Specialist registrar training
Two lectures per week from consultants and registrars
Monthly obstetric, gynaecology and paediatric lunchtime meetings
Monthly screening meetings
Grand Rounds
Divisional meetings
Current research program in gynaecological oncology
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Psychiatric Services
Clinical Director:
Dr Abdul Khalid
(03) 5320 4870
Ballarat Health Services Psychiatric Services provides a comprehensive; community based rural and
regional mental health service. The service includes general adult, child and adolescent and
geriatric psychiatry. Psychiatric Service has a multidisciplinary teams operating in all areas of
patient care. The service is focused in the routine delivery of evidence based and best practice
clinical treatments for a person with a mental disorder, in a family inclusive context. There is an
emphasis on early detention and intervention in the care and treatment of psychiatric illnesses.
Wherever possible, services are provided in the client’s home with family involvement as an integral
part of treatment.
Staff Members and Special Interests:
Grampians Psychiatric Services has a total of 13 Psychiatrists covering a range of particular interest
areas.
Opportunities for Training and Experience:
All levels - Regular supervision is provided at individual and team level. All staff participate in the
weekly Continuing Education Program at Ballarat Health Services – Psychiatric Services. This
consists of:
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Journal Club
Case Presentations
Visiting Speakers
Video Presentations
Departmental Round
Training opportunities occur through participation in ward rounds, outpatient clinics, community
visits and multidisciplinary team meetings. Training is also provided in the use of teleconferencing
facility for patient/family interviews in outlying areas of the region.
HMO - HMO2 or HMO3 take 10-11 week rotations which provides excellent training and experience
for general practice trainees. Tutorials are provided in ECT and trainees are encouraged to
participate in research programs and quality improvement activities. Experience is provided in
specialist areas of psychiatry including general adult (inpatient), rehabilitation and old age
psychiatry.
Teaching, Professional Development and Quality Activities:
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Staff hold lecturer and senior lecturer positions at the University of Melbourne of which GPS is an
affiliated Clinical Academic Unit.
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Regular publications in international peer reviewed journals
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Designated Quality Improvement position with all medical officers actively involved
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RANZCP Indicators used routinely and variances are developed into QI projects
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