Job description
Agency Department of Health Work unit Prevocational Medical Assurance Services
Job title Medical Intern Designation Intern Medical Officer - MO1
Job type Full time Duration Fixed from 04/01/2027 for 13 months
Salary $90,150 Location Alice Springs, Darwin
Position number 70261096 RTF 345931 Closing 04/06/2026
Contact officer Prevocational Medical Assurance Services on 08 8999 2834 or
About the agency http://www.health.nt.gov.au/professionals/medical-officers/medical-officers-recruitment/interns
Apply online https://jobs.nt.gov.au/Home/JobDetails?rtfId=345931
APPLICATIONS MUST INCLUDE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY ABOUT YOU, A DETAILED RESUME AND COPIES OF YOUR TERTIARY
QUALIFICATIONS
Information for applicants – inclusion and diversity and Special Measures recruitment plans
The NTPS values diversity. The NTPS encourages people from all diversity groups to apply for vacancies and accommodates people with
disability by making reasonable workplace adjustments. If you require an adjustment for the recruitment process or job, please discuss
this with the contact officer. For more information about applying for this position and the merit process, go to the OCPE website.
Aboriginal applicants will be granted priority consideration for this vacancy. For more information on Special Measures plans, go to the
OCPE website.
Primary objective
Internship is a period of mandatory supervised general clinical experience required to become eligible for general registration. It allows
medical graduates to consolidate, apply and enhance clinical knowledge and skills while taking increasing responsibility for the provision
of safe, high quality patient care. A medical graduate with general registration is expected to have the skills, knowledge and experience to
work as a safe entry level medical practitioner, able to practise within the limits of their training.
Context statement
NT Health strives to provide accessible care for all Territorians that is culturally appropriate, evidence-based and as close to home as
possible. As an Intern you will contribute to the provision of a high standard of clinical services to patients in a variety of NT clinical settings
and which may include services to rural and/or regional areas.
Directly reports to
As an intern you will always work under supervision and will report to a registrar or directly to a consultant. You will work as part of a
multidisciplinary team, learning from and treating patients in cooperation with other health professionals including nursing, allied health
and technical staff.
For all administrative matters the Intern is responsible to the Director of Medical Services, through the Divisional Medical Co-Director,
the Senior Specialist managing the department. Support and management of the interns training will be the responsibility of the Director
of Intern Training.
Performance development
The Intern will be required to participate in the regional health services performance evaluations and assessments which will include an
initial, mid and end of term assessments. These performance evaluations and assessments will be against the responsibilities and key result
areas associated with an Interns position and the requirement to demonstrate appropriate behaviours which reflect a commitment to NT
regional health service values and strategic directions.
Key duties and responsibilities (all under appropriate supervision)
Key result area Key duties and responsibilities
General • Follow defined service quality standards, work health and safety policies and procedures relating to the
work being undertaken in order to ensure high quality, safe services and workplaces
* Foster a positive workplace culture through exemplary leadership practices and role modelling behaviour
* Learn to accept clinical responsibility under supervision throughout the year
* To consolidate skills in communication and counselling
* Develop an understanding of ethical and legal issues within medical practice
* Communication with the patient about his/her condition and management or with the immediate family if
the patient is unconscious or otherwise unable to comprehend.
* Learn how to adequately document a patient’s history, examination, investigation findings, and all other
relevant information in the clinical record
* Develop presentation skills
* Learn to write quality discharge summaries and organise discharge medications
* Ensure effective discharge planning occurs for the patient, family and other care givers and an adequate
and timely discharge summary is provided to those involved in after care.
* Organise follow-up appointments for patients when relevant
* Develop an appropriate attitude to medical practice by encompassing diagnostic, technical, analytical,
interpersonal and communication skills in a learning environment
* Communicating and co-ordinating effectively with nursing and other staff in regard to management plans,
diagnostic requests, and consultations.
* Develop an appreciation of collegial responsibilities and work within a collegiate attitude.
Page 1 of 3
Role description
Key result area Key duties and responsibilities
• Develop diagnostic skills, communication skills, clinical management skills (including therapeutic and
procedural skills) evidence-based care approaches, and professionalism.
Clinical Practice • To undertake the initial assessment and day to day management of patients with range of medical
conditions including chronic conditions under the supervision of more senior, experienced medical staff.
This would include pre-operative evaluation, operative management and post-operative care.
* Participating in resuscitation and trauma management as required.
* Communicating any significant change in the patient’s condition to the Attending Medical Officer and/or
taking appropriate action as required and/or directed.
* To organise and co-ordinate any investigations and procedures needed for patients and/or as requested
by senior medical staff.
* Review of all pathology, radiology and other diagnostic reports and advising the Attending Medical Officer
or Registrar of relevant results for the patients under the Interns care.
* Observe and perform a range of procedural skills.
* Care for patients who together represent a broad range of acute and elective general surgical conditions,
and exhibit the common features of surgical illness, including the metabolic response to trauma, infection,
shock and neoplasia.
* Discharge planning, including preparing a discharge summary and other components of handover to a
general practitioner, subacute facility, residential care facility, or ambulatory care.
* Liaise with other Departments and other clinical and non-clinical staff
* Communicate with General Practitioners whose patients are under their Unit’s care
* Clear and concise documentation of daily events in the patient record and methods of communication
appropriate to ongoing care
* Assist with the preparation and organisation of any unit meetings, case presentations as required by the
unit.
Communication To develop doctor/patient relationships by:
Skills • Where appropriate, obtaining informed patient consent, discussing poor outcomes and end of life care in
conjunction with experienced clinicians
* Providing appropriate reassurance
* Explaining tests and procedures
* Preparation of tests and procedures
* Providing support for bereaved relatives
* Being available to speak to close relatives
* Counselling skills including effective listening skills
Develop multi-disciplinary team skills by:
* Regular attendance at unit team meetings
* Demonstrated respect for all team members (including nursing and allied health staff)
* Active contribution to unit team meetings
* Develop and demonstrate communication skills needed for delivering care in an emergency setting through
interaction with peers (particularly through handover), supervisors, patients and their families, and other
medical practitioners and health professionals
Clear and concise documentation, demonstrated by:
* Timely and legible documentation in patient notes
* Accurate and concise discharge summaries
* Maintenance of patient drug/IV charts and appropriate clinical information when ordering patient tests
* Ensuring all arrangements required for autopsy, death and cremation certificates are made expeditiously
and appropriate support to other staff and family is given
Professionalism and • Develop skills in prioritising workload to maximise patient and health service outcomes
Leadership • Understand the roles, responsibilities and interactions of various health professionals in managing each
patient, and to play an active role in the multidisciplinary health care team.
* Develop and reflect on skills and behaviours for a safe professional and ethical practice (consistent with
the Medical Board of Australia’s Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia)
Patient Assessment • Understand and apply the process of correct patient identification at all times
Skills • Consolidate, expand and apply knowledge of the aetiology, pathology, clinical features, natural history and
prognosis of common and important emergency presentation at all stages of life.
* Be able to conduct an appropriate history and examination relevant to the patient’s presenting symptoms.
* Identify and understand the investigations relevant to a patient’s presenting problems and conditions.
* Use investigation results appropriately to guide patient management.
* Be able to develop differential diagnoses based on the presenting problem and subsequent investigations.
* Recognise the role of other health professionals in patient assessment.
* Identify relevant and succinct information when making a referral
* Develop knowledge of legislative issues arising in an emergency care setting, particularly those relating to
capacity and mental health
Attendance and • Be punctual
Training • Attend department ward rounds, including the continuing education activities
Page 2 of 3
Role description
Key result area Key duties and responsibilities
• Whenever possible, to attend tutorial sessions in the various clinical specialties on a weekly basis
* The mandatory Intern session which is held weekly
* Be available to hospital run courses such as Bullying, Managing the Aggressive Patient, EEO, Orientation,
Computing courses as appropriate
* Attend Basic and Advanced Life Support training
Quality Assurance • Where requested, organise patient information and keep up-to-date records for audits
* Participate in quality assurance, quality improvement, risk management processes, and/or incident
reporting.
Research • To assist where appropriate in clinical trials and audits
Role knowledge, skills and experience
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery or equivalent, registrable with the Medical Board of Australia as an Intern.
Personal abilities/aptitudes/skills
• High level of negotiation and communication skills
* Genuine empathy for patients and their relatives/families
* Ability to work under pressure without compromising patient care
* Ability to recognise personal and professional limitations and address these where appropriate.
* A willingness to accept constructive feedback on performance or behaviour from any member of the organisation.
* Demonstrated clinical competence.
* Demonstrated understanding of time management and organisational skills.
* Demonstrated personal and professional integrity.
* Demonstrated respect for the members of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement and safe practice.
* Demonstrated ability to be adaptable to change.
Experience
• As per recognised undergraduate medical program
* Experience in basic computing skills, including email and word processing
Knowledge
• Knowledge of contemporary medical practice and procedures appropriate to the level of the position
* Knowledge of investigations and treatments appropriate to the level of the position
* Understanding of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare principles and procedures
* Understanding of Quality Management principles and procedures
* Understanding of the rights and responsibilities of patients and their families.
* Understanding of fundamental medico-legal issues
* Understanding of the Australian National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
* Knowledge of the Australian Health Care System
Further information
Positions may be subject to pre-employment checks such as immunisation requirements, working with children clearance notice and
criminal history checks. A criminal history will not exclude an applicant from this position unless it is a relevant criminal history. For
immunisation requirements - Category A (direct contact with blood or body substances) or Category B (indirect contact with blood or
body substances), check with contact person for requirements.
Supporting Documents
• Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors
* Registration standard – Australian and New Zealand graduates
* Medical Board of Australia – Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia
Document Reference
Australian Curriculum Australian Curriculum Framework for Junior Doctors [Internet]. Melbourne: Confederation of
Framework for Junior Doctors Postgraduate Medical Education Councils (CPMEC); 2012 [cited 2013 Sep 09]. Available from:
https://cpmec.org.au/app/uploads/2022/02/Austn-Curriculum-Framework-
Registration standard – Registration standard – Granting general registration as a medical practitioner to Australian and
Australian and New Zealand New Zealand medical graduates on completion of intern training [Internet]. Canberra: Medical
graduates Board of Australia; 2023 [cited 2023 Feb 02]. Available from:
http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/
Good Medical Practice: A Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia [Internet]. Canberra: Medical
Code of Conduct for Doctors Board of Australia; 2014 [cited 2013 Sep 09]. Available from:
in Australia http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies.aspx