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;

• Provide you with a personal and rewarding experience in a regional health service.

DjHS offer Graduate Programs suitable for the Registered Nurse, the Registered Midwife and the dual degree Registered Nurse and Midwife:

• Graduate Nurse Program – (8 positions)

• Graduate Midwifery Program (1 position)

• Combined Nursing and Midwifery Program (3 positions)

Graduates in all streams are contracted to a 64 hours per fortnight (rotating rosters) for a fixed term of 12 months. Each graduate will attend a comprehensive orientation program, along with a minimum of two days supernumerary at the beginning of each new rotation. Additional training days are provided at the beginning of each specialty rotation.

Graduates will also attend additional graduate-specific study days throughout the year.

DjHS is a fast-growing health service, and graduates will be provided with opportunities for re-employment within the health service post-completion of their program, within their relevant discipline(s).

Please note: Djerriwarrh Health Services and Western Health are considering a potential voluntary amalgamation.  Should voluntary amalgamation go ahead, there may be some slight changes to the graduate programs offered in 2022. Information will be updated on this page as further details are disclosed.

For more information on this process, please see Better Health Services for the West.

Graduate Nurse Program

The Graduate Nurse Program enables nursing graduates to develop and consolidate their generalist nursing skills in the acute care and aged care environment, as well as specialist skills within a specialist environment. This program has 2 intakes – late January and late February.

The Graduate Nurse Program includes:

One x 6 month rotation in one of the specialties below:

• Theatre Services (Bacchus Marsh)

• Renal Dialysis Unit (Melton Health)

• Community Nursing (Melton Health and Community Services)

One x 3 months - Medical & Surgical Unit

One x 3 months - Grant Lodge Residential Care Facility

Theatre Services

Our recently re-developed Theatre Services 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 and Ophthalmology services.

A training program is provided to graduate nurses rotating through the unit, which includes practical and theoretical components. This is followed by ongoing clinical support to enable to the graduate nurse to function safely and independently in Theatre Services. Graduates will gain experience all areas throughout their rotation, including recovery, scrub/scout and anesthetics.

Renal Dialysis - Melton Health

Renal Dialysis provides a haemodialysis service to patients in an ambulatory care setting, located at Melton Health. The unit is staffed by Registered Nurses and operates under the "hub and spoke" model in partnership with Western Health. The unit is supported by a sessional Nephrologists, Allied Health staff and Patient Service Assistant.

A training program is provided to graduate nurses rotating through the unit, which includes practical and theoretical components. This is followed by ongoing clinical support to enable to the graduate nurse to function safely and independently in the renal dialysis unit.

Community Nursing – Melton Health and Community Services

Community Nursing provides services to clients within our community, including general nursing and medication support. The community nursing service is staffed by Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses and provides support to clients in their own homes 7 days per week.

A training program is provided to graduate nurses rotating through the services, which includes practical and theoretical components. This is followed by ongoing clinical support to enable to the graduate nurse to function safely and independently in the community nursing services.

Medical & Surgical Unit – Bacchus Marsh

The Medical & Surgical Unit provides a wide variety of services for clients with general medical conditions and provides post-operative care. The ward has 18 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.

Grant Lodge Residential Care – Bacchus Marsh

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.

Registered Midwife - Graduate Midwifery Program

The graduate midwifery program provides an exciting opportunity for the newly registered Bachelor of Midwifery or Dual Nursing & Midwifery degree graduate to complete a transition to practice year within a regional setting. This program commences late January 2022.

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)

• Special Care Nursery (supernumerary)

• Acute Tertiary Setting (Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Western Health)

 

DjHS has recently completed a refurbishment of the midwifery unit, with an upgrade of workstations, delivery suites and rooms as well as the inclusion of a three-bay special care nursery (level 2) for resuscitation, stabilising and managing unwell neonates.

DjHS also has a strong partnership with Western Health and offers graduates an opportunity to partake in a 3 month Graduate Midwifery Exchange Program - enabling the graduate midwife to experience midwifery practice in both tertiary and regional health services.

 

Introducing the Graduate Midwifery Exchange Program.

Combined Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program

The combined nursing and midwifery graduate program provides an exciting opportunity for the newly registered dual Nursing and Midwifery degree graduate to complete a transition to practice year within a regional setting, consolidating both midwifery and nursing streams. This program commences late January 2022.

Each graduate will attend a comprehensive orientation program, as well as additional attendance at multiple midwifery specific study days and nursing specific study days.

The combined nursing and midwifery graduate will rotate through the following areas:

 

• Maternity Unit - antenatal assessment, labour, birth and postnatal care

• Acute Tertiary Setting (Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Western Health) 

• Medical Surgical Unit

 

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

As per the PMCV - Allocation and Placement Service eligibility criteria, you must have completed your degree in the current academic year. Please check the eligibility criteria at https://allocations.pmcv.com.au/

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

You must meet the PMCV - Allocation and Placement Service eligibility criteria to apply for our graduate program. Check eligibility criteria at https://allocations.pmcv.com.au/

How do I nominate DjHS amongst my health service preferences in the PMCV – Allocation and Placement Service match?

For the Registered Nurse Programs, you need only nominate DjHS once amongst your 4 health service preferences. Please ensure to include your preference of area for your specialty rotation in your cover letter. Please note we will do our best to accommodate your preference, but this cannot be guaranteed.

When do applications open/close for the Graduate Programs?

Applications for DjHS Graduate Programs are open from 7 June 2021 and close on 9 July 2021. Applications must be submitted online via our website: https://djhs.recruitmenthub.com.au/Vacancies/

Please ensure you are also registered in the GMNP Match via the Allocation and Placement Service website: https://allocations.pmcv.com.au/

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 Programs.

Where do I send my application?

Applications are only accepted online via our website https://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 true copy of your Academic Transcript (with key attached).
• Copies of 2 recent Clinical Assessment Tools (at least one from an acute placement).
• Contact details (phone and corporate email addresses) of 2 referees (as nominated on your PMCV - Allocation and Placement Service registration).

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.

As part of the online application, you will also be required to address the Key Selection Criteria (which can be found within the Position Statement) and our organization values (which can be found on our website www.djhs.org.au)

What is a certified true 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 of the original" and signed.

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

Registered Midwife – Graduate Midwifery Program

Combined Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program

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