Rural Generalist Anaesthetics Advanced Skills

What should employees expect from the role?
In the Anaesthetic Department, you will work with supervising Anaesthetists, Registrar and Junior Medical Officers in providing peri-operative anaesthetic care of surgical and obstetric patients. You will also have experience in providing a pain service to hospital inpatients as well as work with more senior members of the team managing patients in the Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Department and across all hospital areas. You will participate in pre-anaesthetic checks within the outpatients Department.

Will I be based at one location all year? Will I be expected to travel to other locations?
Trainees at the LMH and FMC will be based in that location for the year. Trainees at the RAH will spend their
first three (3) months at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. RAH trainees will also be required to spend 10-12 weeks at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital to gain obstetric and paediatric anaesthetic experience.

Additionally, all metropolitan trainees are strongly encouraged to spend a maximum of 4 weeks of their training in a rural location under the supervision of an experienced RGA. This can be co-ordinated by the trainees RGA mentor and the ACRGA State support officers (SSOs) in negotiation with your home anaesthetic department.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
The aim of this program is to provide trainees with sufficient clinical experience and supervision support to complete the requirements of the Advanced Certificate of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (ACRGA). Candidates will also be supported to meet the external course requirements and assessments to achieve their AST/ARST and set them up to be confident working at the level of a Rural Generalist Anaesthetist.

If I want to stay on for an extra year, do I have to apply again?
This program involves a 12-month commitment and Expressions of Interest to the program are required for the following year. Extensions beyond 12 months are uncommon but maybe considered under extenuating circumstances.

We encourage trainees to join a Rural Generalist Anaesthetists roster in rural South Australia on completion of the year. SA Health via the Rural Generalist Co-ordination Unit supports a transition process where early career Rural Generalist anaesthetists can receive backup from an experienced Rural Generalist Anaesthetists in the 6-12 months after completion of this post until they are confident to take on a fully independent rural generalist anaesthesia practice.

What are the hours of work and overtime?
This post requires a commitment of 76 hours per fortnight. Participation in the out of hours general anaesthesia on-call rostering is required. Some out-of- hours work is required within the roster in order to provide continuity of care and meet logbook requirements.

What education is provided?
The unit has a strong learning focus with weekly group learning tutorials as well as more formal training.

How will supervision be provided? Will this vary from rotation to rotation?
Each day the trainee will work with a named supervisor in theatre who will provide direct clinical supervision.

What other support is provided?
The Medical Education Unit have an open-door policy where trainees are welcomed to discuss any issues or concerns. The DCT and MEO also arrange confidential beginning and end of year appraisals as a formal time for trainees to ask for advice/support, highlight any concerns, discuss career pathways, and provide feedback about the training program.

ACRGA State Support Officers have also been appointed by the Tripartite Committee to support trainees and Supervisors of Training (SOTs) through the 12-month ACRGA process.

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
Supervision maybe a requirement of this position. This position works directly with the Anaesthetists and Nursing staff.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
Trainees must see this post as a step in their pathway to providing Rural Generalist Anaesthetists services to a community in rural South Australia.

This position must articulate with:

• ACRRM and RACGP General Practice training or independent pathway.
• Other Rural Generalist training positions including AST/ARST in Emergency Medicine.

What should employees expect from the role?
In the Mount Gambier Hospital Anaesthetic Department you will work with Anaesthetists, GPs and Junior Medical Officers in providing peri-operative anaesthetic care of surgical and obstetric patients. You will also have experience in providing a pain service to hospital inpatients and working with more senior members of the team managing patients in the High Dependency Unit, the Emergency Department and across all hospital areas. You will participate in pre-anaesthetics checks within the outpatients Department.

Will I be based at Mount Gambier all year? Will I be expected to travel to other country locations?
You will be based in Mount Gambier for the full year. You are likely to also provide services to Millicent Hospital – 30 minutes away.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
The aim of this program is to provide trainees with sufficient clinical experience and supervision support to meet the logbook and work-based assessments of the AST/ARST in GP Anaesthetics and the Advanced Certificate of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia. Candidates will also be supported to meet the external course requirements and assessments to achieve their AST/ARST and set them up to be confident working at the level of a GP Anaesthetist provider.

What are the hours of work and overtime?
This position requires a commitment of 76 hours per fortnight. Participation in the out of hours general anaesthesia on-call roster is required. Some out-of-hours work is required within the roster in order to provide continuity of care and meet logbook requirements.

What education is provided?
The unit has a strong learning focus with weekly small group learning tutorials as well as more formal training. The Advanced Certificate of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia also involves an education program.

How will supervision be provided?
Each day the trainee will work with a nominated supervisor in theatre who will provide direct clinical supervision. Overall term supervision is provided by the Anaesthetic supervisor of training, an experienced anaesthetist in the Department.

What other support is provided?
The Medical Education Unit have an open-door policy where trainees are welcome to discuss any issues or concerns.

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
No.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
Trainees are encouraged to view this position as a step in their pathway to providing rural GP anaesthetic services to a community in rural South Australia.

This position can articulate with:

• ACRRM and RACGP General Practice training.
• Advanced Certificate of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia.
• Other local training positions including AST/ARST in Emergency Medicine.

What should employees expect from the role?
In the Riverland General Hospital Anaesthetic Department, you will work with supervising Anaesthetists, and Junior Medical Officers in providing peri-operative anaesthetic care of surgical and obstetric patients. You will also have experience in providing a pain service to hospital inpatients as well as work with more senior members of the team managing patients in the Emergency Department providing sedation and airway, plus CVS support, as well as other all hospital areas. You will participate in pre-anaesthetics checks within the outpatients Department. In addition, there is also a theatre at Loxton, Waikerie, and Renmark where you will be expected to work to increase case mix.

Will I be based at Berri all year? Will I be expected to travel to other country locations?
The successful applicant to the RMCLHN position will undertake their training at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

You can expect to do 2 rotations of 2 weeks each at the RGH during the training year to gain local experience and to meet your anaesthetics colleagues.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
The aim of this program is to provide trainees with sufficient clinical experience and supervision support to meet the logbook and work-based assessments of the AST/ARST in GP Anaesthetics. Candidates will also be supported to meet the external course requirements and assessments to achieve their AST/ARST and set them up to be confident working at the level of a rural GP Anaesthetist.

If I want to stay on for an extra year, do I have to apply again?
This program involves a 12-month commitment and Expressions of Interest to the program are required for the following year. The successful incumbent is required to be enrolled in the RACGP or ACRRM training programs.

We encourage trainees to join a GP anaesthetics roster in rural South Australia on completion of the year. We encourage a transition process where early career GP anaesthetists can receive backup from an experienced GP anaesthetist in the year after completion of this post until they are confident to take on a fully independent role, we recommend a period of consolidation of skills that may be part of further GP training.

What are the hours of work and overtime?
This post requires a commitment of 76 hours per fortnight. Participation in the out of hours general anaesthesia on-call rostering is required. Some out-of-hours work is required within the roster in order to provide continuity of care and meet logbook requirements.

What education is provided?
The unit Is based on the curriculum of the ACRGA but has a strong learning focus including.

• Advanced life support training.
• Grand Rounds.
• Regular logbook and learning needs review.

How will supervision be provided? Will this vary from rotation to rotation?
Each day the trainee will work with a named supervisor in theatre who will provide direct clinical supervision. Overall term supervision is provided by the Director of the Department. What other support is provided? The Medical Education Unit has an open-door policy where trainees are welcomed to discuss any issues or concerns. The DCT, EDMS and MEO also arrange confidential beginning and end of year appraisals as a formal time for trainees to ask for advice/support, highlight any concerns, discuss career pathways, and provide feedback about the training program.

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
Supervision is not a requirement of this position. It is an expectation that there will be tutorials and other educational activities at departmental meetings.

This position works directly with the Anaesthetist and Nursing staff.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
Trainees are encouraged to see this post as a step in their pathway to providing rural GP anaesthetic services to a community in rural South Australia.

This position will articulate with:

• ACRRM and RACGP General Practice training.
• Other local training positions including AST/ARST in Emergency Medicine and Obstetrics.

Candidates must be either a Rural GP registrar with either ACRRM or the RACGP intending to complete ACRGA training as part of their advanced skills training (AST/ARST) OR a fellowed Rural Generalist interested in extending their advanced skills repertoire. Eligibility requirements will be verified with relevant college as part of the application process.

Both Australian trained candidates currently in PGY2+ and international medical graduates who have general registration and who will have at least 2 years clinical experience on commencement are eligible to apply for this role. Candidates must have Australian Working Rights to be eligible to apply.

Candidates must be available to work for a 12-month commitment commencing on 2 February 2026.

Prerequisite Anaesthetic knowledge at PGY3+ level is assumed (see Australian Junior Doctor Curriculum Framework.

Other attributes required for this role include:

• Demonstrated high level communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Professional integrity and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Ability to be adaptable to change.
• Completion of an accredited advanced life support 2 (ALS2) course within 52 calendar weeks prior to commencing RGA training.
• Good theoretical knowledge.
• Knowledge and awareness of quality improvement activities and clinical risk reduction and patient safety techniques.

It is strongly recommended that potential RGA trainees have.

• Completed two years of their primary fellowship training including at least 6 months non-anaesthesia experience in rural practice prior to commencing RGA training.
• Knowledge and skills in managing paediatric patients (refer to RACGP or ACRRM primary Fellowship requirements).
  • Knowledge and skills in the management of critically ill patients, which may include:
  • 10 weeks FTE clinical experience in intensive care medicine; or
  • 10 weeks FTE clinical experience in emergency medicine and completion of a course which covers essential and fundamental aspects of Intensive Care; or
• A combination of clinical experience and education which demonstrates achievement of intensive care medicine learning.

The selection process will involve assessing your:

• Appropriate completion and verification of Application.
• Required documents as outlined below.
• Online referee reports (will be sent by SA MET once you have submitted your application, and it has been verified).
• Interview, as described below.

All Expression of Interests will be scored/ranked for shortlisting. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a face to face or Teams interview, and in some circumstances, this can be conducted via teleconference.

SA MET will match the highest ranked candidate to this position. See the PGY2+ Application Guideline for more information on the matching process.

In addition to the standard documentation outlined in the PGY2+ Application Guideline, you will be required to provide the following:

• Answers to Expression of Interest questions:
  – In no more than 300 words describe why rural general training and/or Anaesthetics interests you?
  – What experience have you had of either living and/or working in a rural area or what personal strengths do you have which will assist you to live and work within a rural community?
  – In no more than 500 words, describe your experience relevant to and interest in Anaesthetics and rural generalist practice.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  – Contact details including email and mobile phone number.
  – Qualifications and academic achievements.
  – Evidence of being enrolled in ACRRM or RACGP training program (if appropriate).
  – Clinical achievements: o All jobs / clinical placements since completing medical school.
  – Any rural clinical experiences since commencing medical school.
  – Personal Development.
  – Completion of an accredited advanced life support 2 (ALS2) course within 52 calendar weeks prior to commencing RGA training.
  – Activities which demonstrate your interest in and commitment to Rural Generalist Anaesthetic practice.

A Cover Letter describing your future goals and preferred location is recommended.

Interview notifications will be via email. Notifications will be at least 48 hrs prior to interview.

Applicants who preference Basic Physician Training and are successful in receiving an interview will not require an interview for the Medical Service Resident role.

Interview preparation should include some understanding of NALHN and/or SALHN, the demographic and services provided.

The candidate should think about why the position is attractive, why they have applied specifically for
NALHN and/or SALHN and how this position can contribute to future career goals.

Candidates should acquire some background knowledge on health challenges, developments in health care and specifically in Medicine.

Candidates should emphasise skills that they will bring to the Division and show maturity and ability to reflect.