Trainee

The purpose of the position is to provide effective specialist psychiatric health services to patients and their families, whilst undertaking learning and professional development activities with the aim of progressing through training to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP). The successful applicant will demonstrate a commitment to working within a multidisciplinary team to enhance the assessment and management of those under their care utilising a biopsychosociocultural framework that supports integrated mental and physical health care. They will have a passion and commitment to learning, education and professional development within Psychiatry demonstrated by ongoing development in expertise and progression towards attainment of Fellowship competencies of the RANZCP. Across time, the position holder will provide high quality patient care throughout the mental health care continuum, in differing settings and with people across the lifespan. The successful applicant is expected to contribute to improving mental health care for Aboriginal people, and suitable Aboriginal applicants will be given priority in Network allocation.

Entry to the position is suitable for doctors who have successfully completed Stage 1 of RANZCP training for Stage 2 positions and successfully completed Stage 2 of RANZCP training for Stage 3 positions.

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH) is the principal rural referral hospital within the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD). It offers a comprehensive range of inpatient and community based services.  For Psychiatry, there are a total of 66 gazetted mental health beds, specifically: 22 adult acute low dependency (LDU), 8 adult acute high dependency (HDU), 20 adult mental health recovery unit (subacute), 8 Specialist Mental Health for the Older Person Service (SMHOPS) and 8 older person dementia (T-BASIS).
Trainees will work closely with all members of staff on the unit focusing on high quality patient care and safety.  Consultant supervision is always available.  Duties will vary on a day to day basis, but will include: - Clinical assessments of new presentations
- Daily review of inpatients
- Communication with families, carers and other stake holders in a timely and appropriate manner
- Maintain high standard of documentation including contemporaneous progress notes and discharge summaries
- Comprehensive management plans in consultation with consultant psychiatrist
- Attendance at regular unit meetings, including handovers and transfer of care meetings, maintaining and ensuring excellent communication skills
- Maintain excellent knowledge of the NSW mental health act and present cases as needed at mental health review tribunals
- Participation on the ECT roster
- Participation in education activities 
- Providing education for medical students
- Perform all duties to a high ethical standard with the upmost respect to confidentiality and patient care
- Participation in rostered overtime

 

Where you'll be working

Wagga Wagga Base Hospital (WWBH) is one of the busiest rural hospitals in NSW and has been recently been transformed by a $431million redevelopment. It was delivered in three stages and completed in 2021. The health campus includes: 

- a referral hospital called Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. Opened in 2017, it supports over 40,000 emergency presentations, 1,100 births and approximately 11,000 operations each year. 

- a 24-hour Emergency Department equipped with telehealth cameras to connect the team in Wagga Wagga with other specialists or GPs across the state through the Critical Care Advisory Service, ensuring you get the care you need.

- a purpose-built Health Services Hub which opened in 2021. The new facility, linked to the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, offers a range of important services from a single site. The multi-storey building accommodates acute aged care inpatient beds, rehabilitation inpatient beds, an older person's mental inpatient unit, Hospital in the Home, expanded renal dialysis unit, expanded oral (dental) service, 60 clinic rooms and treatment spaces for allied health, outpatient, and community health services. There is also a Staff Hub and 30 staff meeting rooms of varying sizes with an electronic booking system and the latest presentation technology; a new lecture theatre and two nearby conference rooms, new clinical education and training spaces, including a simulation room and skills area and facilities for virtual training; a library, a dedicated Aboriginal meeting room and cultural courtyard; cafe; new multi-faith space; and facilities for corporate volunteers. There is also secure parking for fleet vehicles under the Health Services Hub. 

- a specialised Mental Health Unit, which opened in 2013, to provide a large modern and comfortable facility. Community mental health services are co-located on the campus in the new Health Services Hub.

Wagga Wagga Health Service provides services including critical care, medical, surgical, paediatric, obstetric, and rehabilitation care. We also provide mental health and community health services. We work with a team of specialists which include cardiovascular, gastroenterology, renal medicine, obstetrics, orthopaedics, psychiatry, and paediatrics. There is also the provision of a full range of allied health and support services such as oral health, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, sexual health and violence prevention and response services.

Location

Wagga Wagga is the largest regional city in NSW with an urban population of around 67,000 residents, nestled on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

Located midway between Sydney and Melbourne, Wagga Wagga was recently recognised as being one of the ‘top family’ friendly cities in Australia, and is the hub of the Riverina.

Wagga Wagga offers a myriad of activities to enjoy, including a wonderful selection of restaurants, cafes, markets and wineries, galleries, and museums. It has terrific gardens and recreational areas and caters to both the cultural and sporting enthusiasts.

There are extensive education options from early childhood through to tertiary, including public and private primary and secondary schools, the TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, Charles Sturt University, The University of NSW Rural Clinical School, and The University of Notre Dame – Rural Clinical School.

Wagga Wagga is only a 60 min flight from Sydney or Melbourne and 3.5hr drive to Thredbo Village.