Career Development

Western Health is committed to the career development of our employees.

Upon commencement, all employees receive a position description. This provides employees with an understanding of their role and is the reference point for their annual performance review and development meeting with their manager. This meeting provides for two-way feedback, discussion regarding the employees career goals and agreement upon a development and training plan.

At Western Health there are various graduate and post graduate programs available to develop our employees' careers:

Graduate Nurse Program

Our Graduate Nurse Program aims to facilitate the continuing development of the beginning practitioner of nursing, in a learning organisation. During this program graduates are supported by the clinical expertise of their colleagues, graduate support nurses, clinical educators, preceptors, and graduate mentors. It is a structured program of paid study days and debriefing sessions that focus on clinical decision-making, patient management and professional practice. For more details either go to the Education and Training section of this website or contact the Integrated Learning Centre on (03) 8345 6097.

Graduate Midwife Program

The Graduate Midwifery Program comprises a 52 week program giving newly graduated midwives the opportunity to develop and consolidate their knowledge and skills in midwifery care. The benefits of this program include clinical rotations, which encompass high and low risk maternity care and special care nursery, working in a collaborative model of maternity care, and team midwifery. The first two weeks of program are supernumerary, we also offer supernumerary time prior to new rotations, a team of midwifery educations and clinical midwife consultants guide the clinical setting, and the Program Co-ordinator supports, counsels and mentors graduate midwives throughout the program. For more details either go to the Education and Training section of this website or contact the Integrated Learning Centre on (03) 8345 1061.

Nurse Discovery Program

This program enables our nurses to try out another area of nursing for six months to determine whether they would like to change their specialisation. This program also facilitates supplementary training for those nurses who wish to return to their original area of expertise. For more details either go to the Education and Training section of this website or contact the Integrated Learning Centtre on (03) 8345 6328.

Clinical Nurse Specialists

At Western Health all Registered Nurses Division 1 who have either specific post basic qualifications and 12 months' experience working in the clinical area of their specified post basic qualification and is responsible for clinical nursing duties, or a minimum of four years' post registration experience including three years' experience in the relevant specialist field; and can demonstrate a high level of clinical skill, professional behaviour and professional development are encouraged to apply for advancement to the classification of Clinical Nurse Specialist. Applications are sought twice a year.

Nurse Practitioners

Western Health is a leader in promoting and establishing nurse practitioner roles. The Nurse Practitioner Resource centre website provides general information on identifying potential nurse practitioner models of practice suitable for implementation at Western Health. A two part application process has been developed for parties interested in establishing a nurse practitioner model of practice. Additionally, the website contains information on masters courses, pharmacology modules and DHS funding opportunities.

Medical Interns

We have a dedicated Director of Postgraduate Education who will work in conjunction with appropriate supervisors to ensure that the education needs of our Medical Interns are met. Senior Staff and Supervisors provide continuing support and mid and end of term feedback occurs for all interns in all units. Also, weekly tutorials provide informal tuition and address common clinical / management problems. For more details either go to the Education and Training section of this website or contact the Integrated Learning Centre on (03) 8345 6521.

Hospital Medical Officers and Registrars

For our Hospital Medical Officers and Registrars we offer clinical rotations tailored to the individual. Western Health offers a range of excellent training programs across all specialities. Junior Medical Officers have the opportunity to rotate through all three hospitals (or an external hospital depending on career interests), as well as, rotations through Drug and Alcohol, Psychiatry and Paediatrics. For more details either go to the Education and Training section of this website or contact the Integrated Learning Centre on (03) 8345 6521.

Allied Health New Graduate Program

The Allied Health Graduate Program has been designed to assist the transition from a student to clinician. Additionally, the provision of information specific to their role as a graduate clinician, will hopefully enable them to complete their job more efficiently and in a rewarding way. The Allied Health Graduate Program has been designed to be consistent with the Mission, Values and Strategic Themes of the Western Health Service and is run in conjunction with the other programs directed at new staff. These include orientation to the organisation and discipline orientation. For more details contact the Community Integration and Allied Health Division on (03) 8345 7387.

Pharmacy Pre-Registrants

The Pharmacy Pre-Registrant Program involves pre-registrants being rotated through key areas of the department, including Sunshine Hospital, on a three weekly basis while being supervised by a network of experienced pharmacists. During the clinical pharmacy rotations pre-registrants have the opportunity to work in a variety of wards, including speciaty areas. The pre-registrant education program includes weekly tutorial sessions with pharmacists, which are designed to develop practical and communication skills and extend knowledge of hospital pharmacy practice. In addition the program includes visits to other hospital departments, observation at various committee meetings and intensive exam preparation. There are also many opportunities to engage in sporting and social activities outside of the work environment. For more details contact the Pharmacy Department on (03) 8345 6436.