A one stop guide to Advanced Paediatric training in Victoria

Sites

Rural sites

Albury-Wodonga Albury-Wodonga has a population of over 100,000, is located on the Murray river downstream of Lake Hume - watersports, fishing etc. - and close to Victorian High Country and surrounded by gourmet food and wine regions of Rutherglen, Milawa, King Valley. There is a wide variety of restaurants and cafes, theatre, art galleries and cinemas. We provide paediatric services to Albury-Wodonga and surrounding areas covering acute, outpatient and community paediatrics.
Ballarat Ballarat is a town of 100,000 residents 90 minutes west of Melbourne, close to wineries, mountain hiking, spa towns and not far from coastal beaches. It also has a rapidly growing cultural life of its own, with plenty of restaurants, bars, music and theatre.  We provide paediatric care to the Grampians Region extending to the South Australian border, with a new Regional Paediatric Model of care in 2022, which our trainess will be a part of. Trainees find the positions here challenging but extremely rewarding given the high level of responsibility. The diverse range of patients that are often not managed directly by general paediatrics in the metropolitan setting, along with a high acuity neonatal throughput, allows our trainees a true experience of general paediatrics. We offer ample opportunity for broad outpatient exposure to many behavioural and community paediatric conditions and good exposure to assessment of child abuse and sexual assault cases.  There is also a broad range of outreach services.
Bendigo Bendigo is a lovely place to live. Australias 1st UNESCO listed city of gastronomy. Heathcote wineries nearby. Join a Saturday morning bike group. Live theatre with new shows every couple of weeks. A hospital that has a lot of energy, excitement and optimism as it faces a complete rebuild and a very active RMO group. Trains run to Melbourne hourly. An easy 90 minute drive to the centre of Melbourne. Good schools, long day care available. Ideally suits trainees in their final couple of years of training but can accept any post exam trainees.
Mildura Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH) as a 172-bed level 1 teaching hospital providing patient centred care when members of our community are at their most vulnerable.  MBPH is the major public referral health service for the Northern Mallee sub-region of the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria, the far west of New South Wales and the Riverland area of South Australia.  It has a catchment population of over 80,000. The paediatric unit covers General Paediatrics, Neonatology and Paediatric Emergency presentations.  We care for children from 34 weeks gestation up to 17 years.  Registrars work within the Children's Ward, SCN, Birth Suite, Postnatal Ward, ICU and theatre, being responsible for all paediatric and neonatal admissions.  There are over 9000 paediatric ED presentations, 2000 admissions and 900 births per year.  We manage a diverse case mix and have a close working relationship with paediatric specialists in tertiary centres of both Melbourne and Adelaide.  The Paediatric Advanced Trainee Registrar is a senior member of our team, with the primary function of this role being the provision of care for patients and families and a level of skill and autonomy consistent with Advanced Training in paediatrics.
Sale Sale is in the "Middle of Everywhere" (https//themiddleofeverywhere.com.au/en).  It is the gateway to a number of attractions along the southern part of Ninety Mile Beach.  The small towns of Seaspray and Golden Beach directly front the pristine coastline, while Loch Sport is situated on a peninsula wedged between Lake Victoria and the ocean of Bass Strait.  The snowy mountain of Hotham is within three hours drive of Sale and is a great place for everyone to get out and enjoy the snow; whether its learning to ski or snowboard, snow tube, cross country ski, showshoe, toboggan or build a snowman.   The Community Fellow position is an excellent opportunity to learn and fine tune the nuances of developmental and behavioural paediatrics.  The position caters for either a trainee in the Advanced program who would like a degree of autonomy, or a junior trainee who requires additional support.  We also provide an outreach indigenous clinic and a community clinic to East Gippsland that provide excellent opporuntities for an Advanced Trainee. 
Shepparton GV Health serves one of the most dynamic, fast-growing and multicultural communities in regional Australia. Only two hours north of Melbourne, we have strong ties with metro tertiary hospitals and education centres and can offer opportunities for teaching, further education and research. It is linked with the University of Melbourne, School of Rural Health and the Child & Adolescent Health Unit delivered through our Paediatric programme. There is a wide variety and depth of Paediatric medical experience to be had under supervision and mentoring, but also allowing your initiative and experiential development. There is much opportunity to be involved with both GVH RMO and university teaching. You will see the patient's "first hand" across acute and outpatient settings and be able to integrate your clinical knowledge and skills. Although within easy travel distance from Melbourne, it also has all the facilities you'd expect from a vibrant and fast-growing area. Yes you can get a great coffee, yes there's wonderful dining and quality shopping, great schools, gyms and sporting activities and entertainment. And there's the peace and beauty of the countryside. While there's a lot to enjoy in the Goulburn Valley, it's also easy to visit the Murray River region and the Victorian ski fields.
Traralgon Latrobe City is 1.5 hours to Melbourne CBD by car and offers easy access (within 1.5-2 hours drive) to the Walhalla Gold Field, national parks, Gippsland lakes, Wilson's Promontory, beautiful beaches including Inverloch, ski resorts and mountains, with excellent opportunities for horse riding, fishing and hiking.
Wangaratta Wangaratta is just 2.5 hours from Melbourne, with great cycling, wineries, and nearby ski fields. Lots of other rotating registrars and an active RMO society. All 5 consultants are hands on, with a very supportive team. A great cross-section of common general paediatric problems, but also acute management of complex and sick children.  Great roster with absolutely no weekends and no public holidays.  Natasha (Reg 2018): "I highly recommend working in Wangaratta as a paediatric advanced trainee and loved my time working there.  Wonderfully supportive consultant and paediatric nursing team, and a broad and interesting mix of paediatric and neonatal patients.  The roster was great and this, combined with Wangaratta's proximity to Melbourne, made the travel relatively easy."  Ajay (Reg 2018): "I found working in Wangaratta as a paediatric advanced trainee gave me broad exposure to wonderful people and a diversity of cases, and the ability to practice both independently and/or with the support of some of the best nurses I've ever encountered plus experienced mentoring clinicians.  It's an undiscovered gem and any travel time to/from Melbourne is easily made up for by the fantastic work-life balance."
West Gippsland Healthcare (Warragul) The Warragul Senior Registrar (SR) position is perfect for trainees considering a career in general paediatrics, particularly if rural practice is a possibility. The SR acts as a junior consultant with their own patient load, but closely mentored by senior colleagues. They are exposed to all facets of rural and community practice as well as being able to participate in subspecialty clinics and acute paediatrics at West Gippsland Hospital. The West Gippsland Paediatric Group consists of 6 paediatricians working closely together in a very positive and harmonious environment, all of whom have a strong committment to training. The beautiful rural environment of West Gippsland within an hour of the surf, the snow, the wineries and the gippsland foodie circuit, but only 50 mins from Melbourne, is an added bonus. This job also allows trainees to see the workings of a paediatric private practice in a safe and secure environment.
Southwest Healthcare Warrnambool This is an excellent position to take towards the end of training, providing the opportunity to develop the competencies and confidence to go on and provide unsupervised comprehensive medical care in paediatrics. There is sufficient leisure time to become involved with activities in the local community, from the performing arts/music to sports, surfing, sailing, fishing, waterskiing and the like (but no snow skiing).
Echuca This position is ideally suited a senior trainee looking to experience regional paediatrics.  There are opportunities to work with hospital and community teams and to learn about Aboriginal community health.   Echuca is on the banks of the River Murray, approximately 2.5 hours from Melbourne and 1 hour from Bendigo.  There are wineries and many outdoor activities in the area and the town is steeped in history.
   
  Rural and Regional Paediatric positions are a great way to truly experience General and Community Paediatrics - you will get to do a bit of everything!  To make the most of these positions, we encourage you to consider applying for the full 12 months so you can really get to experience everything these towns and positions have to offer.

 

Outer Metro Sites
Austin Health Austin Health provides general paediatric services, as well as specialised treatment in the areas of Eating Disorders, Diabetes, Mental Health, and Epilepsy.  The Austin also has a dedicated Paediatric Emergency department.  The hospital is located in Heidelberg, an attractive, leafy north-eastern suburb of Melbourne - only a 20 minute drive from the city, with easy access to trains and buses.
Barwon Health  Geelong is a city located approximately one hour south-west of Melbourne.  There are beautiful beaches and parks across the Geelong region, with easy access to some of the best surfing beaches in Victoria.  There are plenty of opportunites for outdoor activities in the area, whilst retaining ready access to all the cosmopolitan features of a regional city.  The hospital is centrally located and provides a range of high acuity paediatric experiences in a busy general unit, as well as ample opportunities to experience community or outpatient paediatrics.
Casey Hospital Casey is part of Monash Children's Health and is situated in the suburb of Berwick, approximately 40km southeast from Melbourne.  Bewick is a mix of old and new development with a High Street commercial centre and tree-lined streets, historic buildings, and attractive parks.  The paediatric unit provides a broad range of general inpatient, outpatient, and neonatal experiences for trainees at basic and advanced training levels.
Dandenong Hospital Dandenong is part of Monash Children's Health and is situated in the migrant hub area of Dandenong, 35km southeast of Melbourne.  Dandenong business district is one of the largest in Greater Melbourne.  The paediatric unit is accredited for advanced General Paediatric training as well as an extended skills post with Eastern Victorian GP training.  
Eastern Health Eastern Health provides paediatric and neonatal services across Box Hill and Angliss Hospitals.  Box Hill hospital is approximately 20 km east of Melbourne CBD.  Angliss is locaed 39 km from the CBD in Upper Ferntree Gully, near the Dandenong Ranges National Park.  There are opportunities for trainees to gain experience in management of Eating Disorders and Child and Youth Mental Health, as well as acute management of General Paediatric conditions.
Northern Health Northern Hospital is located in Epping, approximately 21 km north of Melbourne CBD.  The health service is located opposite Epping Shopping Plaza.  Community trainees will also attend Craigeburn Health Service which is 30 km north of the CBD.  The paediatric department is supported by both paediatric and neonatal consultants and serves a busy SCN, paediatric ward, and outpatient service. 
Werribee Mercy Hospital The newest paediatric inpatient unit in Victoria, Werribee Mercy is rapidly growing to meet the needs of the large, multicultural community.  The hospital is located near the Hoppers Crossing train station to the west of Melbourne, and is an easy 30 min drive from the CBD.  Trainees will work across inpatient, outpatient, SCN, and the mixed ED and will see a wide range of general paediatric conditions in a supportive educational environment.   
Western Health - Bacchus Marsh and Melton Bacchus Marsh and Melton Community Health are located approx 50 km from Melbourne - 14 km from each other.  Trainees will experience a broad range of general, developmental, and behavioural outpatient paediatrics under supervision of a team of enthusiastic and dedicated consultants.  There is a strong multi-disciplinary focus to assessment and management and will prepare trainees well for General or Community paediatric practice.  Bacchus Marsh also supports a small SCN and the trainee based at this site will participate in the on-call for this service.
Western Health - Sunshine / Joan Kirner Women's and Children's The Joan Kirner Women's and Children's building opened in 2019, with a new level 6 NICU and 24 bed paediatric ward.  The hospital is located approx 23 kkm west of Melbourne CBD with easy access via train or car.  The paediatric unit offers a broad range of opportunities across acute and outpatient paediatrics, with a large amount of outpatient exposure for all trainees.  

 

Tertiary Sites - Hospital and Community positions
Royal Children's Hospital Royal Children's Hospital is located in Parkville, with good public transport access.  As a tertiary paediatric hosptial it provides the full range of paediatric specialist care for the state of Victoria.  Positions at RCH are varied and include General Paediatrics, Subspecialty Paediatrics, ED, PICU, and Community Paediatrics.  Note that only a few positions available at RCH are currently recruited via this site.  For all other roles, please contact the Medical Workforce Unit or the specialty department at RCH directly.
Monash Children's Hospital Monash Children's Hospital is located in Clayton, with further campuses at Casey and Dandenong.  The Clayton campus provides a range of tertiary level care across several subspecialty areas.  At this time, the Clayton campus is not recruiting via this site.  Please contact the Medical Workforce Unit of the specialty department directly.

 

Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU)
Mercy Hospital NICU  
Monash Newborn Services  
Royal Children's Hospital NICU  
Royal Women's Hospital NICU  
Sunshine Hospital / Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Newborn Services (NICU)  

 

Paediatric Emergency Departments.  Please note that most of these departments currently do their own recruitment - please contact these departments directly.  
Monash Children's Hospital  
Northern Hospital  
Royal Children's Hospital  
Sunshine Hospital - Western Health Recruited via VPAT process for all positions
Austin Health