Overview
Employment Type : Temporary Full Time – to 30 June 2026
Position Classification : Staff Specialist
Remuneration : As per NSW Staff Specialists (State) Award
Hours Per Week : 40 hours per week
Location : Bathurst NSW
Applications Close : 15 February 2026 - 11.59pm
Western NSW Local Health District is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply for our advertised positions. If you require any assistance with your application or have any questions about this position, please get in touch with the contact person listed in this advertisement.
About the opportunity
Bathurst Health Services is seeking a head of department for Paediatrics.
BHS provides a modern, purpose-built paediatric ward, special care nursery, dedicated paediatric outpatient spaces, and integrated child and adolescent services. As a Staff Specialist Paediatrician Head of Department, you will contribute to a comprehensive range of services including:
* General paediatrics (inpatient and outpatient)
* Special Care Nursery
* Neonatal resuscitation and stabilisation
* Paediatric emergency presentations
* Developmental and behavioural paediatrics
* Multidisciplinary case review and complex care planning
You will be joining a cohesive medical, nursing, and allied health team committed to safe, evidence-based, family-centred care with strong links to community health, child protection, early childhood services, and perinatal mental health teams.
This is an exciting opportunity to influence service development, model-of-care improvements, and education across the district.
About Bathurst
Just over two hours from Sydney, Bathurst offers a unique balance of city convenience and rural lifestyle. Situated in the heart of Central Western NSW, this thriving regional centre provides a vibrant community with excellent amenities including a first-class entertainment precinct, regional art gallery, indoor aquatic centre, museums, and extensive sporting facilities.
Bathurst is Australia's oldest inland settlement, located on the scenic Macquarie River, offering a relaxed lifestyle, affordable living, and endless opportunities for exploration and recreation. Learn more at the Bathurst Region website.
What we can offer you
* A rewarding regional career with genuine opportunity to shape the future of local health services.
* Supportive and collaborative medical and executive leadership.
* Flexible work practices (as appropriate to the role and negotiated with your manager)
* Corporate wellbeing programs, including the Fitness Passport
* Extensive learning and development opportunities, including in-house training with My Health Learning and nationally recognised training via the NSW Health RTO
* Professional growth, leadership development and accelerated career progression
* Attractive rural lifestyle with more affordable housing and reduced commute times.
About You
You are a motivated and compassionate Paediatrician with a strong commitment to rural and regional paediatric care. You bring contemporary clinical experience, sound judgement, and the ability to manage a diverse paediatric case-mix. You communicate with clarity and empathy, thrive in multidisciplinary environments, and enjoy supporting junior doctors and medical students.
You will bring:
* FRACP (Paediatrics & Child Health) or equivalent, with Specialist Registration
* Expertise in managing acute paediatric presentations, neonatal care, developmental and chronic paediatric conditions
* Strong leadership and team collaboration
* Commitment to teaching, simulation training, and continuous quality improvement
* Ability to participate in the 24/7 paediatric on-call roster, including neonatal emergencies and retrieval coordination
* Values that align with the NSW Health CORE values: Collaboration, Openness, Respect, Empowerment
Where you'll be working
You will be based at Bathurst Health Service, a major regional facility within the Western NSW Local Health District. The hospital supports a wide range of medical, surgical, maternity and emergency services, with ongoing investment in infrastructure and workforce development. Visit the Western NSW Health Careers website for more information.
What you will be Doing
As a Staff Specialist – Paediatrics, your responsibilities will include:
* Providing high-quality inpatient and outpatient paediatric care
* Participating in neonatal resuscitation, stabilisation, and SCN management
* Supporting the Emergency Department with acute paediatric presentations
* Leading and participating in multidisciplinary care planning
* Contributing to education of JMOs, registrars, medical students, and nursing staff
* Participating and leading in morbidity & mortality meetings, audit, and clinical governance activities
* Supporting outreach clinics and telehealth services across MLHD
* Engaging in service redesign, quality initiatives, and paediatric models of care
Essential Requirements
* Valid NSW Working with Children Clearance
* Cleared National Criminal Record Check
* Aged Care Check (for Commonwealth-funded positions)
* Compliance with NSW Health's Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Policy
* Commitment to safe work practices and adhering to WHS responsibilities
To apply: Selection Criteria
1. Current medical practitioner, registered or eligible for specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia and Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) with recognised qualifications in General Medicine and/or other equivalent specialist recognition as provided for in the NSW Staff Specialists (State) Award.
2. Demonstrated ability to apply clinical knowledge in accordance with contemporary evidence-based best practice in General Medicine, and in the context of multiple competing priorities.
3. Proven understanding of the provision of clinical services, patient safety, quality improvement and risk management in a regional health service setting.
4. Demonstrated experience as a clinical and administrative leader, with high level communication and stakeholder engagement expertise (verbal, written and interpersonal skills), and an ability to manage change, negotiate and build effective teams.
5. Demonstrated experience in and commitment to the wellbeing, supervision and training of junior doctors at all training levels (including medical students).
6. Demonstrated ability to comply with the service objectives of the Bathurst Health Service and the WNSWLHD.
How to apply
Please apply for this position via our eCredential website. NSW Health does not require or accept the 'fit2work' badge offered as an option in eCredential.
Note: Applications submitted by Recruitment Agencies will not be considered for this position.
Need more information?
Click here for the Position Description. For role related queries or questions contact Krystal Curran via email or phone.
Additional information
Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases: If you are applying for a Category A position, please read and understand NSW Health Policy Directive. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in this policy.
Stepping Up – Close the Gap: Aboriginal Employment Strategy (AES) is working in partnership with the Western NSW Local Health District to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants wishing to apply for this role. For more information contact the AES recruitment team or visit the AES website.
Working Visas: Applicants holding a visa with working rights may be considered for temporary appointment (up to the expiry date of their visa) where no suitable applicant for permanent appointment is identified.
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