SENIOR MEDICAL OFFICER - CHARTERS TOWERS
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
TOWNSVILLE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SERVICES
We respect and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to building a brighter future together
Executive Summary
THE OPPORTUNITY
Join Townsville Hospital and Health Service, the public healthcare provider for the government areas of Townsville, Burdekin, Charters Towers, Flinders, Richmond, Hinchinbrook, and Palm Island. We manage 21 facilities that provide everything from primary care in regional areas to highly specialized services at our main hospital.
Charters Towers offers a unique opportunity to practice in a rural setting, with access to a diverse range of medical cases. As a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) in a Rural Generalist role, you will play a vital part in the community, providing essential healthcare services in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient settings. This is an exciting opportunity to enhance your career while making a significant impact on rural health.
THE ROLE
As a Senior Medical Officer - Rural Generalist, you will be responsible for delivering high-quality medical services at Charters Towers Hospital. Your key responsibilities will include:
- Providing emergency and inpatient care, including both acute and long-stay cases.
- Managing outpatient consultations and services.
- Leading and collaborating with the multidisciplinary healthcare team to ensure the delivery of comprehensive care.
- Supporting the development of local health services, ensuring a high standard of patient care and safety.
This role is perfect for someone seeking to develop their career in rural generalist medicine, with flexible hours and a supportive work environment.
THE CANDIDATE
We are looking for a dedicated and experienced medical professional who thrives in a rural healthcare setting. To succeed in this role, the ideal candidate will possess:
- Current medical registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
- Experience in providing emergency and inpatient care, with a strong preference for experience in rural or remote locations.
- Excellent clinical and communication skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
- A passion for rural healthcare and the ability to adapt to a variety of medical scenarios.
If you are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of rural communities and looking for an exciting, varied role, we would love to hear from you!
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Rhodie Miller
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 0422 816 557
Townsville Hospital and Health Services
The Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) is passionate about improving the health and lives of the North Queensland community.
THHS strive to be a leader in health care, research and education for regional Australia, and, as one of the region’s largest employers, we are also proud to be a part of the community that we serve.
Townsvile HHS is one of the most geographically dispersed catchments, extending west to Richmond and Hughenden, north to Cardwell, south to Home Hill and east to Magnetic and Palm Islands. THHS supports a population of almost 250,000 people, and while our distance could separate us, it instead unites us, motivating us to work together and strengthen our health system.
Our health service is also home to Townsville University Hospital, North Queensland’s only tertiary hospital, which supports a referral catchment of almost 700,000 people.
Our staff provide a person-centred approach to care, and we are passionate about living our values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and engagement in everything we do.
Our Vision: World-class healthcare for northern Queensland
Our Purpose: Great care every day
Our Values:
Townsville HHS Strategic Plan 2022 - 2026
Charters Towers Health Services
Charters Towers is home to the Charters Towers Health Service, Eventide Residential Aged Care facility and the Charters Towers Rehabilitation Unit.
The Charters Towers Health Service is a 23-bed facility located in Charters Towers, Queensland. The facility offers a variety of services to the community including accident and emergency care, general in-patient medical, surgical and paediatric services.
Eventide is a 110-bed residential aged care facility, located in the rural township of Charters Towers. To create a home-like environment for our residents, the facility has open visiting hours and actively encourages family to participate in resident activities and care planning.
The facility boasts a spacious garden, a library, games room, under cover safe-walking promenades with shady seating, an inter-denominational chapel, hairdresser and concert hall.
Our residents participate in a busy program of recreational activities including participation in local community club and events.
The residential aged-care facility includes 10 psycho-geriatric beds and 26 dementia-specific beds. The remaining beds are designated high-care beds, each a single room with shared bathroom facilities. Eventide provides 24-hour nursing services and on-site allied health services.
The Charters Towers Rehabilitation Unit (CTRU) is a residential facility that provides extended care, rehabilitation, and dual-disability treatment for people who have long-term residual and complex mental health needs.
The CTRU mental health team provide an integration program designed to prepare residents for community re-integration and ongoing, long-term 24-hour care.
Role Specification
The role Senior Medical Officer (SMO) involves provision of emergency and inpatient medical services for Charters Towers Hospital: in-patient (acute and long-stay), outpatient and emergency. Telehealth services reduce the need for patient travel. The local multi-disciplinary team is supplemented by visiting specialist medical, dental, nursing, and allied health services from Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS), Non-Government Organisations and Private Providers.
Non-clinical duties include quality activities, mandatory training, supervising, teaching and research. The successful applicants will lead and manage the provision of medical services in accordance with the standard of the speciality, the ethics of the profession and in accordance with the THHS and Queensland Health (QH) policies.
As a Medical Expert you are responsible for:
- The maintenance of appropriate credentials and working within your awarded Scope of Clinical Practice (SoCP) as determined by the HHS as limited by the Clinical Service Capability Framework (CSCF) of individual facilities.
- The provision of extensive and comprehensive experience, knowledge and skills within the facility.
- The provision of expert consultation and advice directly to patients; as well as within the organisation as required.
- The provision of expert clinical service to patients of the THHS as directed within the above SoCP.
As a Professional you are responsible for:
- Actively taking part in quality improvement, risk management, peer review and audit and to demonstrate positive change as a result. Demonstrating understanding and commitment to the principles of hospital accreditation.
- Demonstrating ethical practice and decision making – in both clinical and non-clinical areas, including fulfilling all responsibilities of this role in accordance with the Queensland Public Service Code of Conduct at all times.
- Undertaking self-initiated reflective practice and maintenance of continuing professional development (CPD) to maintain professional competence and expertise.
- Ensuring high quality and timely clinical and non-clinical documentation and management of information whether paper-based or enabled by information technology. This includes being responsible for the quality and timeliness of documentation of medical staff who report to this position, including junior doctors.
As a Clinical Lead you are responsible for:
- Demonstrating professional leadership, support and medical input into the associated medical, surgical, nursing and allied health programmes and providing clinical governance and supervision of staff reporting to this position, including junior medical staff.
- Being aware of, and complying with legislation that applies to the area, as well as contributing to, and following QH, Townsville Hospital and Health Service and local policies and procedures as published.
- Management of resources available to you, including value management to reduce waste, and ensure that the resources available are used to deliver the greatest good to the greatest number of patients/clients.
- To advise the Executive Director of Medical Services, Service Group Director and Medical Director Service Group on issues relating to the facility and Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
As a Scholar you are responsible for:
- Supporting and / or undertaking research within your area of practice, including the obtaining of research funding where possible. (Within the Ethics framework as outlined above)
- Actively supporting and undertaking teaching of undergraduate and post-graduate clinical staff including medical and non-medical clinicians as well as non-clinical staff as required.
As a Collaborator you are responsible for:
- Supporting and working harmoniously with your immediate medical team and multidisciplinary members of your workplace, other departments / facilities within THHS and external stakeholders.
As a Communicator you are responsible for:
- Developing, displaying and utilising high level communication skills in all modalities including:
- Professional quality written communication in all documentation, including the medical record, emails and formal letters and reports.
- Audio-visual communication, from formal presentations to informal conversations.
- Non-verbal communication, including body language and other forms of communication.
- Developing and maintaining effective working relationships and empathy in dealings with colleagues and patients/clients, as well as external stakeholders.
As a Health Advocate you are responsible for:
- Assisting to identify future trends and contributing to/undertaking planning for the health service. Ensure that the hospital direction, policies and procedures for the speciality comply with the THHS strategic plans.
- Actively engaging in technology assessment and systems improvement initiatives within your SoCP.
- Being a patient advocate and engaging positively with patients and their carers.
- Provide information, strategies and expertise in the areas of speciality in contribution to the THHS and intra-regional development of these services.
Additional:
- Fulfil the responsibilities of this role primarily in accordance with the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS) core values, as outlined below, and in accordance with the values outlined for the public service with the Queensland Government.
- Ensure that service standards, safety and quality are maintained through adherence to defined service quality standards and relevant occupational health and safety policies, procedures and work practices.
- Implement and monitor the organisation's quality standards, occupational health and safety policies, procedures and programs and provide clinical governance in the relevant work area.
- Some roles within Queensland Health are designated as Vaccination Preventable Disease (VPD) risk roles.
This is a VPD risk role.
- Qualified as a medical practitioner, qualifications in speciality areas and current registration and/or eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
- A Fellowed and experienced Rural Generalist is highly desirable – FACRRM or FRACGP with appropriate rural/remote experience.
- Demonstrated capability and experience in at least one of the following Advanced Skills disciplines is highly desirable: Emergency, Anaesthetics, Obstetrics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Remote Medicine, Internal Medicine, Paediatrics or Palliative Care.
- Appointment to this position requires proof of qualification and registration or membership with the appropriate registration authority or association. Certified copies of the required information must be provided to the appropriate supervisor/manager prior to commencement of clinical duties.
- All applicants must be awarded SoCP by the THHS Credentialing and SoCP committee. All appointments are subject to maintenance of SoCP within the CSCF for the facilities in which clinical work is to be undertaken.
- Drivers Licence: This position requires the incumbent to operate a class C motor vehicle and an appropriate licence endorsement to operate this vehicle is required. Proof of this endorsement must be provided prior to the commencement of duty.
- This position may require the incumbent to work at other facilities within the THHS, most notably to cover emergent or planned leave or other vacancies at other rural hospital sites.
- Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD): Health Care Workers in Queensland Health whose occupation poses a potential risk of exposure to blood or body fluids are required to provide evidence of vaccinations or proof that they are not susceptible (due to prior exposure to the disease and therefore have natural immunity) to the following VPD's Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella and Pertussis (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis containing vaccine) according to the Queensland Health Policy.
- 1. Competence and capability in primary rural medical practice (particularly hospital-based practice) with certification of at least one (secondary) advanced rural skill specified above.
- 2.Ability to function in a multidisciplinary team, contributing to leadership and clinical governance.
- 3.Experience in education and training of medical staff and/or medical students.
- 4.High level of communication skills in clinical practice and corporate functions.
- 5.Commitment to improving standards and quality of health care and patient safety within the hospital and community.
This position reports operationally to the Medical Superintendent Charters Towers Health Service. This position have no financial delegation.
The total remuneration package range is from 268,802 - $369,230 TRP (L13 – L27)
- Base salary: $182, 106 - $266,677
- Super Estimate: $30,396 - $41,753
- Motor Vehicle Allowances: $21,500 - $25,500
- Professional Development Allowance: $21,500
- Inaccessibility Incentive Allowance (category 6): $13,800
Additional Benefits to this Role Include:
· Senior Medical Officers will accrue 3.6 weeks of Professional Development Leave each year, up to a maximum of 10 years accrual.
· 5 weeks annual leave with 17.5% annual leave loading.
· Communication Package.
· Attraction and Retention Incentive Allowance payment of 35 % of your base rate for GP SMO and 40% of your base rate for RG SMO.
· Regional and Rural Attraction Allowance of 5% of your base rate.
Medical Recruitment Challenges: Charters Towers has faced ongoing difficulties in attracting and retaining skilled medical professionals, resulting in a high reliance on temporary staff and increased pressure on existing teams.
Reputational Recovery: The health service is working to overcome past reputational damage, focusing on restoring trust within the community and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, consistent healthcare.
Reliance on Junior Doctors: Charters Towers Health Service has been heavily reliant on junior doctors to fill staffing gaps, which can lead to increased workloads, limited supervision.
Service Location:
Classification: L13 - L27
Role Description
The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 25 March 2025
The reference number to include in your application is H25_5028
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Natasha Tirado: M: +61 (0)468 301 310 / E: [email protected]
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Rhodie Miller
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)422 816 557
LIVING IN THE AREA
Townsville is a thriving city, with access to a variety of world class education facilities, market leading health care, affordable housing, unique retailing, spectacular events and entertainment, dining precincts and a wide range of outdoor recreation options.
Townsville is located approximately halfway between the tip of Cape York and Brisbane. The Ross River flows from the foothills of the Hervey and Mount Stuart ranges to its outlet in Cleveland Bay, where the CBD’s skyline is dominated by the distinctive Castle Hill. Magnetic Island lies just eight kilometres offshore and is accessible via a 20-minute ferry trip. From the top to the bottom of our Local Government Area, our eastern coast is lined by beautiful Queensland beaches.
National parks and other reserves include Magnetic Island, Paluma Range, and Bowling Green Bay National Parks, and the Cape Pallarenda and Townsville Town Common Conservation Parks. Our region is partly within and adjoins the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and the Queensland State Marine Park.
Charters Towers
Take a step back in time and discover the enchanting town of Charters Towers, just an hour and half west of Townsville. Driving through the streets of Charters Towers is like viewing a living montage of Australian history and heritage. Gold was first discovered in the outback town of Charters Towers in 1871 by Aboriginal horse boy, Jupiter Mosman. It quickly became a booming gold rush town, with over 65 hotels and more than 25,000 people moving to the region. Charters Towers become the second largest town in Queensland and was renowned for having everything a civilised person could want and as a result nicknamed "The World." Today you can still see evidence of those early days with many museums, tours and colonial architecture depicting the past.
Charters Towers offers a number of magnificent heritage buildings which are testament to the prosperity of the early 1980s. The heritage listed Stock Exchange Arcade, The World Theatre, City Hall and the Post Office Tower will have you reaching for your camera. The cemetery, which was established in 1895, is the resting place of Jupiter Mosman.
Don't forget to visit the iconic drive-in cinema for flicks under the stars, the Towers Hill lookout for vast outback landscapes, the Venus Gold Battery to discover the largest surviving Battery relic in Australia and pan for gold at the Miners Cottage.
ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.