The aim of our graduate programs are to provide:

• Support and guidance to the beginning practitioner in a friendly and safe environment
• Develop confidence, clinical competence and skills in the multifaceted role of the registered nurse or midwife
• A rewarding experience in a rural health service

 DjHS offer graduate programs for the Registered Nurse and the Registered Midwife.

Registered Nurse – General Stream

The general stream is a collaborative graduate program facilitated in conjunction with Ballarat Health Services. Each graduate will attend a comprehensive five day orientation program, along with a minimum of two days supernumerary at the beginning of each rotation. Graduates will also attend an additional six study days throughout the year (facilitated by Ballarat Health Services).

During the program, participants will complete the following four clinical rotations:

• 3 months - Operating Theatre
• 3 months - Medical & Surgical Unit
• 3 months - Residential Care
• 3 months - Acute Unit at Ballarat Health Service (BHS)

Operating Theatre

The Operating Suite offers a wide range of services, which include a Central Sterilising Supplies Department (CSSD), a Pre-Admission Clinic, two Operating Rooms, an Endoscopy Room and Post Anaesthetic Care Unit, which includes six day procedure beds.

Theatre Services offer surgery in a range of specialties, which includes Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ear Nose and Throat, Urology, Orthopaedics, General, Plastics as well as Endoscopic services.

Medical & Surgical Unit

The Medical & Surgical Unit provides a wide variety of services for clients with general medical conditions and provides post-operative care. The ward has 20 beds with two beds allocated to palliative care and one bed allocated to detox/withdrawal..

Surgery provided is General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and Endoscopy.

Residential Care

The Residential Care Unit provides 24 hour quality high level nursing care in a home-like environment for 30 high care residents. A respite bed is also available to provide a break for carers. Person centred care is provided by fully qualified registered nurses, a physiotherapist, allied health services and diversional therapists.

Grant Lodge is a member of Dementia Care Australia and through the implementation of the “Spark of Life” approach; staff are able to provide a dementia supportive environment. As well as providing home cooked meals with personal diet preferences, Grant Lodge provides an extensive lifestyle program in Bacchus Marsh.

Acute Unit at Ballarat Health Services

Ballarat Health Services operates the Ballarat Base Hospital, the largest regional hospital in the Grampians region. It is the principal referral hospital for the entire region, which extends from Bacchus Marsh to the South Australian border, an area of 48,000 square kilometres.

More than 230,000 people, or 4.4 per cent of the population of Victoria, live in the Grampians Region.

Ballarat Health Services employs around 4,000 staff to ensure optimum care is provided for all patients, families and visitors.

Ballarat Health Services was established on 1 January 1997 to unite and enhance three respected public health services: Queen Elizabeth Centre, Ballarat Base Hospital and Grampians Psychiatric Services.

Ballarat has a population of around 100,000 people and is Australia's 20th largest city.

The key services are based at two sites, the Base Hospital site and the Queen Elizabeth Centre site. Each site is located close to the central business district, with the remaining residential, day centres and community sites located throughout Ballarat.

Registered Nurse - Primary Care Stream

This innovative collaborative Graduate Program enables nursing graduates to develop the clinical and health promotion skills required to work in primary care as well as the acute care environment.  The primary care stream includes two rotations:

• 6 months - Primary Care at Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre
• 6 months - Medical & Surgical Unit at DjHS

Each graduate will attend a comprehensive five day orientation program, along with a minimum of two days supernumerary at the beginning of each rotation. Graduates will also attend an additional six study days throughout the year (facilitated by Ballarat Health Services). Extensive training specific to primary care will be provided whilst at Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre.

Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre

Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre is a comprehensive GP medical practice with onsite pathology, physiotherapy, acupuncture, cardiology, psychology and diabetic education.

These services are located on two sites at:
2 Turner Street, Bacchus Marsh 3340 &
147 Gisborne Road, Darley 3340

Staff at the medical centre provide an extensive range of services including: Obstetrics and Antenatal Care, Travel and Childhood vaccinations, minor surgery, workplace medicals and counselling.

The practice aims to provide high quality health care in a professional and efficient manner.

In addition to general medical consultations, the practice offers the following services:

Family Planning, Pregnancy Tests, ECG / Heart Check, Spirometry, Vaccinations, Pap Smears, Obstetrics / Antenatal Care, 4yr Old Health Checks, Care Plans, Counselling,  Blood Tests, Minor Surgery, Treatment of Fractures, Acupuncture, Weight Control, Nutrition Advice, Health Assessments, Aged Care  

Medical & Surgical Unit

The Medical & Surgical Unit provides a wide variety of services for clients with general medical conditions and provides post-operative care. The ward has 20 beds with two beds allocated to palliative care and one bed allocated to detox/withdrawal..

Surgery provided is General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Gynaecology, Orthopaedic and Endoscopy.

Registered Midwife – Graduate Midwifery Program

The graduate midwifery program provides an exciting opportunity for the newly registered Bachelor of Midwifery or Double Nursing & Midwifery degree graduate to complete a transition to practice year within a regional setting.

Each graduate will attend a comprehensive orientation program, as well as additional attendance at the Antenatal Study Day, PROMPT, Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation and Breastfeeding Study Day throughout the year.

The midwifery graduate will rotate through the following areas:

• Maternity Unit- antenatal assessment, labour, birth and postnatal care
• Antenatal Clinic (supernumerary)
• Domiciliary care (supernumerary)

DjHS has recently completed a refurbishment of the midwifery unit, with an upgrade of nurse workstations, delivery suites and the entire maternity department as well as the inclusion of a three-bay nursery for resuscitation and stabilising unwell neonates.

Chelsea Cornford - Student and Graduate Nurse Coordinator

Chelsea joined the education team at DjHS in May 2018. Prior to her employment at DjHS, Chelsea was the Graduate Nurse Program Coordinator at Western Health. Chelsea has a diverse clinical background, including oncology, palliative care, gastroenterology, medical, surgical and aged care nursing. Chelsea’s qualifications include a Graduate Certificate in Management (Healthcare Leadership), Diploma of Management and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Chelsea is passionate about supporting, growing and motivating the novice learner, and providing nurses with opportunities for growth and development.

This role is 4 days per week

Kim Spalding and Michelle Smith - Specialty Clinical Nurse Educators

The Specialty Clinical Nurse Educator role was created in 2017. The aim of this role is to provide support and clinical leadership to staff, graduates and post graduate students working in specialty areas including Theatre, Urgent Care, Renal Dialysis and Day Medical. Michelle and Kim both have extensive experience as ICU Clinical Nurse Educators. Prior to their employment at DjHS they both worked as Clinical Nurse Educators at Western Health in ICU, they work part time at DjHS and still maintain their Education role part time at Western Health also. Michelle‘s qualifications include a Masters of Education, Graduate Certificate in eLearning, Graduate Certificate in Critical Care (Intensive Care Nursing), Diploma of Management and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is also accredited as an ALS 2 provider with the Australian Resuscitation Council. Kim’s qualifications include Graduate Diploma of Advanced Clinical Nursing (Critical Care), Diploma of Management and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She is also an accredited ALS 2 provider with the Australian Resuscitation Council.

This role is 4 days per week.

Anne Barnes and Claire Josephs - Midwifery Educators

Anne joined the team at DjHS in April 2018. While working 2 days a week at DjHS, she is also working as a midwifery educator at another health service. Anne has a broad range of experience including working in an MGP model in Goondiwindi Queensland. This experience ignited an ongoing interest in rural maternity care provision. Anne originally studied nursing and midwifery in hospitals and later completed a Graduate Diploma of Midwifery. She also has completed Prescribing and Diagnostics for Midwives and is an Endorsed Midwife, although not currently working as a Privately Practicing Midwife. In 2017 she completed a Masters in Primary Maternity Care at Griffith University where she had worked as a practice lecturer in 2014 and 2015.

Claire joined the education team in 2017 as a clinical Resource midwife and has been working as a midwifery educator, job-sharing with Anne since April 2018. Claire has worked at DjHS since 2007 as a midwife and ANUM and has always had a passion for education and supporting students and graduates as a preceptor. She has 13 years’ experience working with neonates in a level 2 special care nursery and has provided neonatal education to the midwives in the maternity unit. Claire is a PROMPT facilitator, Neonatal resuscitation facilitator and has worked across all areas of antenatal, labor and birth and postnatal care. Claire is passionate about supporting the newly qualified midwife in gaining skills and a love for the profession working alongside the midwife to give women the best possible care. Claire’s qualifications include Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Nursing, Graduate Diploma of Midwifery and is currently completing a diploma of Leadership and management.

This role is 4 days per week.

Natalie Bodrozic - Clinical Nurse Educator

The Melton Health Nurse Educator role was created in 2018. The aim of this role is to provide support and clinical leadership to Melton health staff, post graduates, and undergraduate students coming through the health facility. Natalie has been an employee of DJHS since 2009 and has worked in a range of clinical areas, both at Bacchus Marsh hospital, and Melton Health. These areas include the Day medical unit, Medical surgical unit, Grant lodge aged care facility, Urgent care, and Renal unit. Natalie has worked in the Renal unit at Melton Health for 8 years and practiced as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the renal unit for 4 years prior to taking on the Educator role at Melton Health. Natalie’s qualifications include a Post graduate certificate in Renal nursing, and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

This role is 3 days per week

I completed my degree last year. Am I still eligible to apply?

As per the PMCV eligibility criteria, you must have completed your degree in the current academic year. Please check the eligibility criteria at https://www.pmcv.com.au/computer-matching-service/resources/1216-2018-gnmp-match-business-rules/file

I am an interstate or international applicant. Am I eligible to apply?

You must be eligible to apply through to computer match in order to apply for our graduate program. Check eligibility criteria at https://www.pmcv.com.au/computer-matching-service/resources/1216-2018-gnmp-match-business-rules/file

Who do I address my application to?

You must address your letter to the person by name and title who appears in the advertisement for the Graduate Nurse Program or the Graduate Midwifery Program

Where do I send my application?

Applications are only accepted online via our website http://djhs.recruitmenthub.com.au/Vacancies/

What documents do I need to submit with my application?

• Cover Letter (please include preference of stream)
• Resume (with photo embedded within document). Please include a list of all undergraduate clinical placements (location, type, hours).
• Certified Academic Transcript (with key attached)
• Certified copies of 2 Clinical Assessments from acute placements (preferably one from second year and one from third year)
• Contact details (phone and email addresses) of 2 clinical referees (preferably one from second year and one from third year). 

Applicants are required to upload their documents in two separate files – it is recommended to combine cover letter, CV and academic transcript into one file and clinical assessment tools into the second file.

What is a true certified copy?

A certified true copy is an exact duplicate of the original document which has been sighted by an authorised signatory, and signed off as a “true copy”. The wording must say “This is a certified true copy" and signed. All pages need to be certified in this way even if the document is 10 pages long. 

Who can certify my documents?

In Australia there are a range of persons authorised to certify documentation. AHPRA has a comprehensive list of authorised officers along with the signatory requirements online: https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registration-Process/Certifying-Documents.aspx

When will I be notified if I have been successful with an interview?

We will be conducting interviews mid-late August. You will be contacted at least one week prior if you have been successful with an interview, with details of the interview, date, time and location. You will need to allow approximately 1.5 hours for your interview.

Registered Nurse - General Stream

Registered Nurse - Primary Care Stream

Registered Midwife – Graduate Midwifery Program

Services we offer

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