Employment Details
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time (1.0 FTE)
Position Classification: Staff Specialist
Specialty: Anatomical Pathology
Facility: Coffs Harbour Health Campus
Hours Per Week: 40
Requisition ID: REQ
Applications for the position will be received via eCredential only. Please click here to apply.
This position has been declared as an Area of Need per NSW Health Policy Directive PD2021_007. Click this link for more information relating to the Area of Need Program.
What You'll Be Doing
* The Staff Specialist will provide high quality diagnostic, consultative, procedural and on‑call specialty services in Anatomical Pathology, and will participate in teaching, research, quality improvement and administrative activities commensurate with the Staff Specialists (State) Award.
* The Staff Specialist will ensure a high standard of professional performance and, where required, the encouragement of an academic environment which supports research and development.
Why Join NSWHP at Coffs Harbour?
NSW Health Pathology Coffs Harbour invites you to join our team of experienced and supportive pathologists who are committed to providing an excellent service to the region. Come and enjoy the lifestyle benefits of living in a regional beachside town and discover why all of our pathologists enjoy working here.
NSWHP on the Mid North Coast is based at the Coffs Harbour Health Campus (CHHC), with a second laboratory at Port Macquarie Hospital. CHHC is the major referral centre for residents of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen and Nambucca Valley local government areas, and contains a recently expanded, 357‑bed, level‑five teaching hospital for medicine, nursing and allied health.
Our anatomical pathology department has undergone rapid growth in the last five years. Three years ago we acquired a large space in the hospital for the AP laboratory and our pathologists moved into spacious new offices. Four pathologists are based at Coffs Harbour and one at Port Macquarie. We have an enthusiastic AP team, including several scientists trained in complex specimen dissection, and two AP trainees. We run an efficient laboratory with a reputation for excellent turnaround times.
We provide a service to public and private hospitals, GPs, surgeons and local radiology practices on the mid‑north coast. A significant proportion of specimens are from private referrals. We are also the BreastScreen NSW pathology provider for the north coast from Port Macquarie to the Queensland border and provide rapid onsite screening for fine‑needle aspiration biopsies performed by interventional radiologists. All frozen sections are performed onsite in the Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie laboratories.
Our pathologists have expertise and experience in a variety of subspecialties and have created a supportive work environment for each other and for our AP trainees. We have well‑established and efficient referral pathways for molecular pathology tests. Our pathologists participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, all via MS Teams. Pathologists teach and assess UNSW students and supervise their research projects. Medical students from Charles Sturt University visit our department for short rotations.
We take pride in providing sufficient opportunity for AP trainees to develop knowledge and skills in microscopic examination. Our competent scientific staff facilitate this by contributing to complex specimen dissection.
So, join us at NSWHP Coffs Harbour and become part of a collaborative team which provides an excellent service to the mid‑north coast and is highly valued by our colleagues in other medical specialties.
Living on the Coffs Coast
(visit The Coffs Coast is the first globally recognised ECO destination in NSW with uncrowded beaches for surfing and swimming, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, a historic wooden jetty, fresh seafood, farmers' markets, quality restaurants and cafés, and thriving arts communities. The area hosts events such as the Coffs Harbour International Stadium NRL and Big Bash League matches, the Coffs Harbour Triathlon, the Coffs Ocean Swims and the Coffs Harbour running festival.
Outdoor activities include a dual bicycle and foot path along the coastline, mountain‑bike trails, kayaking and canoeing, scuba diving, G‑Kit driving, skydiving, golf at Bonville Resort, and numerous parks and gym facilities. The region is served by a regional airport with connections to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, a local aero club, NSW TrainLink services, and a developing bypass that will reduce travel times.
Relocating to the Mid‑North Coast
Employment with NSW Health in rural and regional areas is rewarding and well‑supported. You will play a crucial role in a dedicated team, where the impact of your work will be directly felt within the community. Working in smaller laboratory settings offers the opportunity to develop your skills more rapidly, gain hands‑on experience and advance your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Find out more about additional support available for working in rural and regional NSW through this link. Click this link to take a look inside some of our rural and regional labs.
To support relocation needs such as finding housing, enrolling in schools and getting familiarised with the local community, the Welcome Experience program is available. To learn more about how we can support your transition, please click here.
Selection Criteria
* Currently registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and obtained Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia in Anatomical Pathology, and/or other specialist recognition as provided under the Staff Specialists (State) Award. Applicants expected to receive Fellowship by February 2026 are encouraged to apply.
* Demonstrated commitment to basic, applied or clinical research and/or medical education and staff training.
* Proven ability to work as a team member with effective communication, interpersonal skills and adaptability to work within a multidisciplinary team environment.
* Demonstrated personal qualities including effective communication skills, motivation, initiative, time management and commitment to professional development.
* Demonstrated commitment to the principles of clinical quality management, continuous improvement and a contemporary knowledge of NPAAC Standards and NATA accreditation processes.
* Demonstrated contemporary clinical knowledge and technical expertise within the specialty of Anatomical Pathology.
All applications must be supported by full responses to the Selection Criteria. Applications that do not address or meet the criteria will not be shortlisted.
Late applications will not be accepted unless there are technical issues preventing you from applying. In these instances, the request must be supported by evidence of the issue, steps taken to contact the system administrators and notification to the contact person of this advertisement prior to the advertisement closing.
This is a Category A position. All Category A applicants must read and understand Policy Directive PD2024_015 Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination against specified diseases. All new recruits must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in this policy. New recruits must provide evidence against specified diseases and comply with the requirements of this policy at their own cost prior to appointment.
NSW Health does not require or accept the 'Fit2Work badge' offered as an option on eCredential.
An eligibility list will be created for future permanent, temporary and casual vacancies.
Please Note: To be eligible for permanent appointment to a position in NSW Health, you must have an Australian citizenship or permanent residency.
Need More Information?
* Click here for the Position Description
* Find out more about applying for this position
* Click here for the Model Scope of Clinical Practice
* Applications for the position will be received via eCredential only. Please click here to apply.
For role related queries or questions, contact Dr Tony Dill, Staff Specialist in Anatomical Pathology, NSWHP - Coffs Harbour Health Campus on .
Applications Close
This is a rolling advertisement and if there are any unfilled positions, the advertisement will remain open until 29 March 2026.
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