Surgical Resident Medical Officer

What should employees expect from the role?
In each term the Surgical RMO is expected to play a key role in the functioning of the surgical unit. We aim to provide the RMO with opportunities to develop their clinical and surgical skills. The role involves supervision of interns with the help of senior staff, assisting in Operating Theatres, Outpatients Department and the Emergency Department. The role is varied and versatile. The RMO plays a critical role in coordination of the work between the consultants and senior registrars and the interns and ward teams, and their key role is to ensure the smooth functioning of the unit.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
The RMO will gain a breadth of experience across multiple surgical specialties and experience the day-today functioning of different units. The RMO will gain operative exposure and progress basic surgical skills and decision making. This will enable the RMO to make decisions for future choices or indeed cement surgical choices for future careers.

What are the hours of work and overtime?
76 hours per fortnight, plus after hours and weekend cover.

What education is provided?
Daily teaching sessions and tutorials are held and there will be teaching on the go during Grand rounds, outpatients and theatre sessions. There are research opportunities available with ongoing projects at the departments. The RMO can involve themselves in these projects or indeed initiate projects if suitable.

How will supervision be provided? Will this vary from rotation to rotation?
Supervision will be provided at different levels in different units. While the RMO is directly under the supervision of the registrars and fellows of the units, they will also be supervised by the consultant in the units.

The senior team members are always available to discuss, troubleshoot and guide the RMO

What other support is provided?
The Chief Surgical Resident oversees all JMOs in surgery and is a key contact for support, assistance and education. The Medical Services Directorate also has Medical Education Officers available full time to assist. JMO Forums run by the Executive Director of Medical Services and Chief Executive Officer of NALHN – These forums allow Junior Medical Officers to share their experiences of working in NALHN, provide feedback and allow the CEO and EDMS to share important information directly with you.

Library Service to assist with collating data for research and audit purposes.

The Division of Surgical Subspecialties and Anaesthesia has a research committee to facilitate research with support available to interested JMOs

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
Yes.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
The RMO may choose to continue as a surgical RMO, however service registrar positions are available in General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Urology at NALHN. The RMO may also apply for SET with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

What should employees expect from the role?
The position will assist in the daily management of surgical patients being admitted to various Surgical Subspecialties within SALHN, while working as a team with Consultants, Senior Registrars, Registrars, RMOs and Interns. The incumbent will learn specialist skills by comprehensively assessing patients and providing guidance and management plans, investigation and ongoing treatment of patients, including discharge planning. There are opportunities to assist in operating theatres and be exposed to a wide range of procedural and technical surgical skills.

Surgical RMO training is normally available to trainees for a maximum of three years.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
To provide trainees the rotations required for Surgical Educational Training (SET), gain experience, training and education required to prepare Trainees to apply for SET with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS).

What are the hours of work and overtime?
A full-time contract is offered of 76 hours per fortnight minimum unless there is a suitable need for part-time hours (could possibly be negotiated if meets the business needs as well). Will be required to work afterhours, weekends and be paid for all additional hours and overtime worked.

Rostered hours also vary depending on each surgical sub-specialty unit. RMOs may also be required to participate on the FMC and NH after-hours roster.

Non rostered overtime is to be avoided whenever possible, and all rostering is compliant with the current SA Health Salaried Medical Officers Enterprise Agreement 2022.

What education is provided?
Surgical RMOs will be provided with regular education sessions via their respective units. Majority of the RMOs education will be provided daily during their rotation working with their superiors during ward rounds, management of surgical patients and planning care and discharge of patients.

In addition to SALHN workshops (ALS1, Simulation, Anatomy Workshops, Surgical RMO Teaching Sessions).

How will supervision be provided? Will this vary from rotation to rotation?
Surgical RMOs are allocated a term supervisor for each rotation and will be directly supervised by the Registrars, Senior Registrar and Consultant on their unit.

What other support is provided?
SALHN has one dedicated Chief Surgical Resident (Director of Clinical Training) and a Medical Education Unit to support SALHN Surgical Trainees. Also available is the Surgical TMO Management Unit to support the trainees, both located at Flinders Medical Centre.

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
Surgical RMOs will be expected to provide supervision when required to Medical Students and Interns.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
The rotations offered are designed to provide the mandatory requirements for SET entry. Once successfully completed SET, trainees can apply for the clinical rotations required for trainees to complete and meet the requirements to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Surgical RMOs can apply for Surgical Service Registrar positions across a variety of surgical sub-specialties. There is also an opportunity for future positions as an Acute Surgical Registrar offering 6-month rotations on surgical sub-specialties.

What should employees expect from the role?
The CALHN Surgical RMO program is designed to provide the experience, training and rotations required to prepare prevocational trainees to apply for training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). The surgical terms are offered across CALHN at either The Royal Adelaide or The Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The Women’s & Children’s Hospital may offer rotations for CALHN Surgical RMOs in Orthopaedics, Plastics and ENT. Please note that CALHN does not control which rotations will or will not be available each year.

The Surgical RMO Program is a two-year program but the opportunity to stay on for a third year is available if required.

What are the key outcomes of the program?
The CALHN Surgical RMO Program is designed to maximise surgical exposure for Prevocational Trainees to gain the necessary skills and education to fulfil the mandatory requirements to apply for Surgical Education Training with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). The program is 2 years in duration enabling Prevocational Trainees to fulfil most prerequisites required for training in their nominated specialist pathway. The Prevocational Trainee will learn specialist skills in comprehensively assessing surgical patients and providing guidance for the management, investigation, and ongoing treatment of surgical patients including discharge planning. They will assist in operating theatres and be exposed to a wide range of procedural and technical surgical skills.

What are the hours of work and overtime?
Each unit is responsible for the formation of rosters. Rosters are compliant with current EBA for Salaried Medical Officers (SA).

A full-time contract is offered of 76 hours per fortnight. Part-Time employment may be considered on a caseby-case basis. You will be required to work afterhours and weekends, and you will be paid for all additional hours and overtime.

What education is provided?
Surgical RMOs will be provided with regular education sessions via their respective units. This is in addition to CALHN workshops (e.g. ALS1, PLS, IPV, Simulation).

There is a formal Surgical RMO Education Program, which comprises of 4 half day sessions. One session is run in each term and includes didactic lectures, skills training, and simulation training in all surgical specialities. Sessions are facilitated by Peer Educators, senior medical staff and Medical Education Officers.

How will supervision be provided? Will this vary from rotation to rotation?
Every unit has a nominated Term Supervisor who is responsible for supporting you during your rotation. There are also Supervising Consultants who are available for support and supervision.

What other support is provided?
Both sites have a dedicated Director of Clinical Training for Surgery and a Medical Education Officer to support the prevocational trainees in all aspects of their training, clinical and psychological well-being.

Will the TMO supervise interns/others in their role?
Surgical RMOs will be expected to provide supervision when required to Medical Students and Interns.

What pathways are there after the year is completed?
The rotations offered are designed to provide the mandatory requirements for SET entry, over 2 years. Once successfully completion of SET, prevocational trainees can apply for the clinical rotations required for them to complete and meet the requirements to become a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

• Successfully completed Bachelor of Medicine Bachelor of Surgery Degree.
• Have General Registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
• International Medical Graduates (IMG) can apply on Competent Authority Pathway.
• Be available for a 3-year training period commencing on the February start date.

• Previous experience working as an effective team member in a multidisciplinary team.
• Genuine empathy for patients and their relatives/family.
• Ability to communicate confidently and appropriately with patients and their family/relatives and other health professionals.
• Skilled in problem solving and decision making at both the clinical and individual level, at times under pressure and in stressful circumstances.
• Commitment to patient and relative participation in patient care.
• Competency in range of routine and common procedural ward-based skills.
• Commitment to clinical audit.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuing education, quality improvement, research and/or teaching.
• Ability to respond positively to change.

Recruitment into Surgery for the 2026 Clinical Year occurs via a state-wide approach. This means that your Expression of Interest will be assessed by members from each SA Metro LHN in regard to shortlisting, interviewing, and ranking.

If your Expression of Interest is shortlisted you will be invited to attend an interview, you will have one single interview for Surgery regardless of whether you preference multiple LHNs. Interviews will most likely be face-to-face, however video interviews may occur. Following interviews your Expression of Interest will be scored and ranked and depending on your score, SA Health may match you to an available position.

Entry into the program is competitive and we seek trainees who can demonstrate a desire to train at SA Health, have a good academic and clinical history, and are effective team players and communicators.

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.

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:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  – Contact information.
  – Employment history.
  – Education.
  – Training and Professional Development.
  – Research and Publications.
  – Committee Representation.
• Cover Letter
  – Why are you considering a career in Surgery?
  – What qualities and skills are required to be a successful Surgeon?
  – Working a surgical roster can be demanding, please describe how you maintain a balance between work and personal commitments.
  – Communication is an essential skill for maintaining patient safety; please describe the elements of an effective handover.
• Referee Reports
  – Minimum of 2 referee reports is acceptable.
  – Please ensure referee reports are completed by your nominated referees in the required timeframe.

• Successful applicants will be notified via email.
• Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.
• Interviews will be conducted by a Panel with a minimum of two interviewers.
• The State-wide Coordinator will be available to provide feedback when ranking has been completed.