Resident (RMO) positions

The Central Australia Health Service (CAHS) is accredited by the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) on behalf of the Northern Territory Medical Board for intern training and has a dynamic clinical training program incorporating all junior medical officers. There are more than 50 RMO positions with three to six-month rotations through a range of specialty and subspecialty areas, including rotations to Tennant Creek Hospital (TCH).

Teaching

CAHS provides an outstanding junior doctor training program with an award-winning team of educators and clinicians deeply committed to offering the junior doctor a rich and diverse education and training program, reflecting the challenges that come with working in Aboriginal health in rural and remote locations. Strong intern and RMO representation on the Medical Training Committee offers support to the junior doctor experience.

Junior doctors attend regular education and up-skilling sessions, covering broad areas of professional development, including simulation, with all teaching and training in the purpose-built, state- of-the-art Research, Education and Training (RED) Centre, supplemented by up-to-date junior doctor departmental teaching.

RMO Rotations

Junior doctors can choose to participate in the General RMO streamor apply for a limited number of Streamed Training Pathways.

General RMO stream – Participants can be in control of their own training and keep preference rotations to suit their learning needs. Whilst not a part of a formal training pathway support for specialty training program entry and development is offered.

Streamed Training Pathways – there are up to a total of four streamed training pathways for junior doctors interested in a two-year program in the following streams:

1. Critical care – Core rotations of ICU, Anaesthetics/ICU (year 2), Emergency medicine and General Medicine, plus a choice of elective rotations including TCH
2. Emergency medicine –  Core rotations of Emergency Medicine, ICU, Anaesthetics (Year 2) plus a choice of elective rotations including TCH. In year 2 the candidate may be eligible for ED SRMO positions
3. Rural Generalist – Core rotations of ICU, Anaesthetics, Paediatrics, O+G, Emergency medicine, and TCH and elective term(s)
4. Basic Physician Training – Core rotations of General Medicine, Renal, Emergency Medicine, and ICU plus a choice of elective rotations, including TCH. In year two the candidate may be eligible for Registrar positions

Streamed Training Pathways are open to internal and external applicants in their PGY2 year. The places for the two-year program are competitive, offering priority access to popular rotations. Trainee development is supported by a structured program including learning objectives, mentoring, participation in additional learning activities, completion of ALS and BASIC courses, assessments such as miniCEX/DOPS/Term Assessments, and participation in research and audit activities. Those that successfully complete the program will receive support towards further training and employment with partner organisations interstate.

RMO rotations available include

Applicants must rank rotations in order of preference. Rotations include:

• Addiction Medicine – 3 months, 4 positions
• Anaesthetics – 3 months, 8 positions
• Emergency medicine – 3 or 6 months, includes Emergency Certificate, multiple positions
• General Medicine – 3 months, up to 24 positions
• General Surgery – 3 months, 8 positions
• ICU – 3 months, up to 8 4 positions (Note –  for streamed training pathway candidates only) Obstetrics and Gynaecology – 3 or 6 months, up to 24 positions
  • Please note, RMOs are first call and receive supervision from Consultant staff in person or by phone and require some ability to work independently
• Oncology – 3 months, 4 positions
  • Please note, this is an RMO only unit with both distant and on-site Consultant supervision and support
• Orthopaedics – 3 months, up to 8 positions
• Paediatrics – 3 months, up to 16 positions
• Palliative care – 3 months, 4 positions
• Psychiatry – 3 months, 8 positions
• Rehabilitation and Extended care(ORW) – 3 months, 4 positions
  • Please note, this is an RMO only unit with Consultant supervision and support
• Renal – 3 months, 12 positions
• TCH -- Rural Generalist Term (Tennant Creek Hospital) – 3 months, up to 8 positions
• ED SRMO – 6 months preferred but 3, 9 or 12-month positions available – up to 12 positions.
  • must have completed two terms of Emergency Medicine since graduation
• ICU SRMO – 6 months, 2 positions

SRMO Rotations

For PGY3+ only:

• ED SRMO – 6 months preferred but 3, 9 or 12-month positions available – up to 12 positions.
  • must have completed two terms of Emergency Medicine since graduation
• ICU SRMO – 6 months, 2 positions

Career Development

CAHS offers many opportunities for career development for pre-vocational doctors. Rotations offer a general, well-rounded experience leading to a diverse range of vocational options. While contracts are offered on a 12-month basis, planning and pathways can be structured over one, two or three years, and take into account the needs of the individual junior doctor and tenure of employment.

Vocational Training

ASH is accredited for the following;

• Addiction Medicine (RACP)
  • Full Accreditation
  • Accredited rotation for Physician and General Practice Training Programs
• Anaesthetics (ANZCA)
  • Accreditation for 26 weeks Basic Training on rotation from the SA and NT Anaesthetics Training Scheme
  • Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Physician  and Rural Generalist (JCCA) training programs
• Clinical Forensic Medicine (RACP)
  • Accreditation currently pending
• Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
  • Accredited for 18 months FACEM Training Program
    • PLUS rotations available for non-ED time training time including Anaesthetics, ICU, O+G, Paediatrics, Medicine, Addiction medicine, TCH
  • Accredited for the ACEM Emergency Medicine Certificate and Diploma
  • Accredited rotation for General practice, Physician and Rural Generalist Training programs
• General Practice and Rural Generalist training (ACRRM)
  • Fully accredited Core hospital training
  • AST available in Surgery (2 years), Internal Medicine (12+ months), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics, Academic Practice and Anaesthetics (JCCA)
• General Practice and Rural generalist Training (RACGP)
  • Fully accredited Hospital time plus 6 months extended skills
  • Extended skills available in Emergency medicine, Internal medicine, Palliative Care, Addiction medicine, and O+G/Women’s Health.
  • AST available in Surgery (2 years), Internal Medicine (12+ months), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics, Academic Practice and Anaesthetics (JCCA)
• General Surgery (RACS)
  • Accredited for 6 months on rotation from interstate training sites
• Intensive Care Medicine (CICM)
  • Accredited for 6 months Core training
    • Plus rotations available for non-core time including Anaesthesia (12 months), Internal medicine (6 months) Emergency Medicine (6 months), Retrieval medicine (6 months)
  • Accredited rotation for Emergency medicine and Physician training programs
• Medical Administration (RACMA)
  • Fully Accredited
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG)
  • Accredited for
    • 6 months Basic Training on rotation from SA O+G Training Network – pending
    • 2 years Advanced Training
  • Certificate of Women’s Health, Diploma RANZCOG and Advanced Diploma RANZCOG
  • Accredited rotation for General Practice, Rural Generalist, Emergency medicine, Child Health Certificate training programs
• Ophthalmology (RANZCO)
  • Accredited for 6 months training on rotation from SA Training Network
• Orthopaedics (RACS)
  • Accreditation application pending
• Paediatrics (RACP)
  • Accredited for
    • Basic Training – up to 12 months on rotation from Women’s and Children’s Hospital Network  (SA)
    • Advanced Training – up to 24 months
  • Diploma of Child health
  • Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine, Physician, General Practice and Rural Generalist training programs
• Physician Training (RACP)
  • Accredited for
    • Basic Training – 12 months; application for 24 months accreditation pending 2020
    • Advanced Training  -- 12 – 24 months – General Medicine, Nephrology
  • Accredited for AST in Internal Medicine (Rural Generalist) and Clinical Diploma Palliative Care
  • Accredited rotation for Emergency medicine, Intensive care, General practice and Rural Generalist Training
• Psychiatry (RANZCP)
  • Fully accredited
• Public Health Medicine (RACP)
  • Fully accredited
• Retrieval medicine (ACEM/ANZCA/CICM/ACRRM/RACGP)
  • Conjoint Committee of Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine (CCPHRM)
  • Full Accreditation from 2021

Further information for Vocational Training at ASH for each department can be found in the following links;

• Anaesthetics
• Emergency Medicine
• Intensive Care Unit
• Department of Medicine including:
  • General Medicine
  • Renal
  • Addiction Medicine
  • Oncology
  • Palliative care and
  • Rehab/continuing care
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Surgery
• Rural Generalist at TCH

Orientation

RMOs undertake an orientation program prior to commencing ward duties. Key elements include cultural competencies, use of electronic health systems, and an introduction to the management of complex patient presentations.

Orientation to specific departments and their teams takes place at the commencement of ward work.

CAHS JMO Term Dates 2021

• Term 1: Monday 18 January to Sunday 18 April 2021
• Term 2: Monday 19 April to Sunday 18 July 2021
• Term 3: Monday 19 July to Sunday 17 October 2021
• Term 4: Monday 18 October to Sunday 23 January 2022

Contracts

RMO’s employed for the 2021 year will be offered contracts of 53 weeks to Sunday 23 January 2022. However CAHS supports workplace flexibility and shorter contracts to a minimum of three months can be negotiated.

For more information

Medical Recruitment
Phone: +61 8 8951 7989
Mail: PO Box 2234, Alice Springs NT 0871
MedicalRecruitmentASH@nt.gov.au