Graduate Careers

The program - purpose, philosophy and aims

The purpose of the graduate programs at Barwon Health is to provide a professional development program for Graduate Nurses and Graduate Midwives that supports and fosters professional independence for the beginning practitioner.

The program is based upon a model of skill and professional development that enables the graduate to move along a continuum toward independent practice. The role of the support staff is to guide clinical learning and skill acquisition, and to promote reflective practice in the clinical setting. Self-directed learning and continued professional development are expected throughout the program. A problem-solving approach to clinical decision making is fostered with the graduate adopting accountability and responsibility for their practice with the ability to recognise their individual limitations. Graduates will be provided with the opportunity for personal and professional development of interpersonal, clinical and leadership skills.

Aims of the program

• To build upon the undergraduate program and facilitate the transition of the graduate from student to registered practitioner.
• To integrate the graduate into the workplace by providing clinical support and educational experiences and activities to ensure the graduate understands their role in the patient journey and interdisciplinary team.
• To assist the graduate to develop clinical competency to perform safely, confidently and professionally within his / her scope of practice.
• To ensure the graduates practice within the Barwon Health values, code of conduct and accepted practice standards whilst adhering to all guidelines, policies and procedures.
  

General information

In 2021, Barwon Health will offer the following programs:

• Graduate Nurse Program
• Graduate Nurse / Midwife Program (combined program for double degree graduates only)
• Graduate Midwife Program
• Barwon Health and Great Ocean Road Health Collaborative Graduate Nurse Program 

Graduates at Barwon Health are employed to work part-time for 12 months, with opportunities for further employment upon the conclusion of the graduate program. All graduates attend a comprehensive orientation program at the beginning of the graduate program. Our programs commence in February and May of each year. Barwon Health participates in the PMCV computer match process for all graduate nurse and midwife positions.

Graduate support and education – all programs

During your graduate year at Barwon Health, you will receive support from a variety of people including your preceptors, clinical staff, managers, other graduates and of course the graduate team.

Both nursing and midwifery graduates are supported by a team dedicated to the clinical and professional education of all graduate nurses and midwives. The team consists of the Graduate Program Coordinator, Clinical Support Nurses and a Clinical Support Midwife. Graduates working across all sites and areas are supported by the graduate team. The graduate team are available to assist graduates in areas such as medication administration, time management and prioritisation, performing clinical procedures, assisting with accessing resources or just for a general chat and reassurance. The graduate team can be contacted easily and are always happy to help graduates when needed.

As part of the transition from student to registered nurse/midwife, graduates are also provided with opportunities to learn outside of their clinical areas. This includes:

• Clinical skills workshops offered prior to starting your graduate program
• Comprehensive orientation program
• Supernumerary time in each rotation
• Weekly graduate professional development – topics cover a range of clinical and professional topics presented by guest speakers and the graduate team
• Weekly clinical simulation sessions – focusing on the identification of the deteriorating patient, escalation of care and clinical communication
• Graduate study days – all graduates attend seven paid study days held throughout the year. Topics cover a range of clinical and professional topics, clinical simulation and clinical case studies
• Professional development leave - graduates are also entitled to additional leave as per the EBA. Graduates are encouraged to attend study days, courses or workshops either held within Barwon Health or provided externally to enhance their own professional development.
• Clinical competencies, learning modules and mandatory training – Barwon Health provide staff with access to Grow, a learning management system accessible online. 
  Graduation ceremony – held at the end of the program; a great celebration at the end of a rewarding and sometimes challenging year.

Graduate Nurse Program

Nursing graduates can choose from a wide selection of clinical rotations at our acute site (University Hospital Geelong), sub-acute site (McKellar Centre), community nursing and partner sites. Rotation preference forms are completed by applicants as part of the recruitment process and further discussed prior to commencing the graduate nurse program. 

Nursing graduates complete two clinical rotations in any of the areas listed below:

• Community nursing (Belmont, Corio or Newcomb)
• Barwon Medical Imaging
• Mental Health 
• Emergency Department (six month and 12 month positions)
• Gretta Volum Day Surgery Centre
• Operating suite and recovery
• Paediatrics
• Special Care Nursery
• Cardiac Services
• Oncology
• Specialist medical units
• Specialist surgical units 
• Inpatient rehabilitation
• Palliative care 

Graduate Midwife and combined Nursing/Midwifery Programs

Barwon Health Maternity Services provides pregnancy, birth and post-natal care to the Geelong community and the wider Barwon South West region. Maternity Services cares for more than 2,500 pregnant women and their babies born at University Hospital Geelong each year. Our staff are dedicated to providing quality, safe and culturally appropriate care in partnership with women and their families using evidence based care to achieve the best health outcomes.

Please note: Applications for midwifery and combined nursing/midwifery programs will only be taken from those completing undergraduate midwifery or midwifery/nursing courses. Barwon Health does not currently offer a graduate program for those completing post graduate midwifery studies. For those completing post graduate studies, please click here for employment opportunities.

Graduates participating in the combined nursing/midwifery program will spend six months within a specialist medical nursing unit and six months in maternity services. Graduates wishing to undertake a midwifery graduate program will spend the entire year within maternity services.

Combined Nursing/Midwifery Program:

• Birth suites
• Postnatal
• Acute specialist medical
• Special Care Nursery

Graduate Midwife Program:

• Birth suites
• Postnatal / antenatal
• Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU)

In addition to the extensive education program provided to all graduates, those undertaking the combined Nursing/Midwifery program and Graduate Midwife program will also attend the following study days:

• Practical Obstetric Multi-Professional Training (PROMPT)
• Fetal Surveillance Education Program
• Breastfeeding study day 

Barwon Health and Great Ocean Road Health Collaborative Graduate Nurse Program

This program is an introduction to rural health and provides a six month rotation at Barwon Health and a six month rotation at GORH (Lorne Community Hospital).

There are two positions in this program, with a February intake.

For further information about Great Ocean Road Health, visit https://www.greatoceanroadhealth.com.au/graduate-program/lch/

Information sessions

Information sessions for our 2021 Graduate Programs will be held online using Zoom. To register for a session please visit https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au and use the code 9r2rp to make a booking.

Please note the sessions do not cover the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service Interprofessional Graduate Program. Please visit https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/careers-volunteers/graduate-careers/mental-health-drugs-alcohol-service for more information.

Recruitment Process – Applications

Applications for 2021 graduate programs open on Monday 13 July and close on Wednesday, 5 August 2020. It is important to remember that late applications will not be accepted. 

STEP 1: ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?

To apply for a position in any of our graduate programs at Barwon Health you must be eligible to participate in Computer Match. Visit the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria’s (PMCV) website http://allocations.pmcv.com.au to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.

If you are eligible, you will need to apply/register to participate in the match. This must be done via the PMCV website. You will not be considered for positions at Barwon Health if you have not registered to participate in the match. Please read all information on the PMCV website carefully.

STEP 2: HOW DO I APPLY?
In addition to registering to participate in PMCV Computer Match, you will need to apply directly to one or more of Barwon Health’s graduate programs.  

1. Register your details on the BH careers website https://barwon.mercury.com.au
2. Complete your personal details
3. Upload a current photo for ID purposes only
4. Answer the key selection criteria questions online
5. Upload all documents as requested

STEP 3: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Letter of application

• No more than one page in length
• Clearly state which program/s you are applying for
• Addressed to: Ms Kelly-Ann Humphrys, Graduate Program Coordinator – Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Education and Training, Barwon Health

Concise CV
• No more than three pages in length
• Include an objective or summary that tells us about you and your professional interests and aspirations.
• Clearly identify your completed and current education
• Include your work history stating dates, title and employer name / company / organisation
• Provide details of all clinical placements in a table format (see below)
• Names and contact details of two recent clinical referees (phone and email). You may wish to provide an additional work referee. 
• Don’t forget to share any academic / professional achievements and relevant volunteer and community experiences.

Official academic transcript
• Certified transcript of university results to date with key to result codes
• Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted

Recruitment Process - Interviews

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, our interview process will be different to previous years. We are currently looking for new ways to balance physical distancing requirements, meeting our candidates and making them feel comfortable to be their best whilst still getting all the information we need to ensure we select the best candidates for the role. Further detail regarding our interview processes will be provided during our information sessions.

Click on the 'Start your career with us' link to get some more hints and tips about preparing applications and the interview process. 

Contact us

If you require further information regarding any of our programs; please don’t hesitate to contact the graduate team. We are always available and happy to answer any questions that you may have. 

Contact:
Kelly-Ann Humphrys or Kate Lake
Graduate Program Coordinators – Nursing and Midwifery programs
Phone: (03) 4215 3264
Email: graduate.nurseprogram@barwonhealth.org.au.