Southern Adelaide Local Health Network

Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) is an acute tertiary hospital 12km or approximately 30 minutes south of the Adelaide Central Business District with 680 beds. Noarlunga Hospital (NH) is located 17km (25 minutes) south of FMC and has 80 beds. The Repat Health Precinct (RHP) offers a comprehensive range of aged care and rehabilitation services, including specialised care for individuals with acute dementia and severe behavioural and psychological symptoms. Located 5km (15 minutes) north east of FMC, RHP has 76 beds available. Alternatively, TMOs  may also rotate to Jamie Larcombe Centre (JLC) at Glenside Hospital for a psychiatry rotation. The JLC, a purpose built facility with 24 beds, is located 14km (25 minutes) north east of FMC. Southern Mental Health provides a range of integrated services across community and hospital settings addressing mental health concerns in collaboration with non-Government organisations.

SALHN is currently undergoing some major redevelopments at Flinders Medical Centre, Noarlunga Hospital and Repat Health Precinct over the next several years across all sites. These upgrades will provide southern suburbs’ residents with better access to vital health care, in turn improving patient flow and reducing pressure on the system.

Located in Adelaide, South Australia, SALHN offers a unique advantage of being in close proximity to both pristine beaches and the vibrant city centre (20 mins by train). Enjoy the best of both worlds by indulging in the beachside lifestyle or exploring the bustling city life.

A high proportion of SALHN doctors live in the Glenelg/Brighton area, which is a short 10-minute drive to the Flinders Medical Centre:

• Glenelg
• Brighton Beach
• Road Tripping in South Australia

World-Famous McLaren Vale Wine Region: As a Junior Medical Officer at SALHN, you will have the incredible opportunity to explore the picturesque McLaren Vale wine region. Delight in the world-class wineries, scenic landscapes, and exceptional culinary experiences!

• Mclaren Vale Wineries and Cellar Doors

Adelaide Festivals / Events:

Tour Down Under (January)
Adelaide Fringe Festival (March)
WOMADelaide (March)
Adelaide Cabaret Festival (June)
Illuminate (July)
OZasia Festival (October/November)
Adelaide 500 Supercar Racing (November)

All interns receive a comprehensive orientation and induction program at the commencement of their internship, and receive ongoing support in their educational journey from a dedicated medical education team comprised of the Executive Director of Medical Services (EDMS), Director of Clinical Training (DCT), Deputy Directors of Clinical Training (DDCT), Medical Education Registrars and Medical Education Officers (MEOs).

Trainees are provided with a well-rounded educational program that aligns to the National Framework for Prevocational Medical Training and welfare needs.

The weekly intern tutorials offer a broad, clinically focused curriculum tailored to the learning requirements of junior doctors as they progress through their year.

The clinical simulation program runs weekly with interns participating in four interactive workshops giving interns the opportunity to manage clinical scenarios in a safe and supportive environment. Specialised simulation nurses and the Medical Education Team guide small groups of trainees through multiple cases and facilitate post-simulation debriefs to reinforce learning. Sessions are facilitated by our Deputy DCT’s and Medical Education Registrars.

Both tutorials and simulation sessions are protected teaching time for interns.

Interns are also invited to attend the weekly PGY2+ education program (Medi-JETS) which provides an allocated discipline tutorial and skill program.

Grand rounds are held weekly throughout the year, providing junior doctors with the opportunity to expand their clinical and theoretical knowledge.

Additionally, each division offers a dedicated education program that interns are encouraged to attend. There is also an opportunity to undertake ALS training throughout the year.

Interns are also invited to apply for various leadership opportunities, providing an excellent platform for them to contribute to the future of healthcare while developing essential leadership skills.

Interns within SALHN are well supported throughout their internship. Medical Education Unit staff are available to assist trainees at any point, offering both personal and clinical leadership to guide them throughout the year. A Medical Education Registrar is allocated to each intern at the beginning of the year who will provide mentorship and guidance as needed.

Throughout internship, trainees are supervised both in and out of hours by senior members of each rotation. The team provides clinical, educational and pastoral support to junior members of the team, ensuring they are well-supported in all aspects of their role. Interns are encouraged to discuss any concerns within their team as well as seeking assistance from the Medical Education Unit. All junior doctors are made aware of the Employee Assistance Program as an additional source of support for confidential counselling and support and they are also encouraged to have their own GP.

To further promote staff well-being, the SALHN Staff Wellbeing team hosts monthly Schwartz Rounds—safe, reflective forums where staff from all disciplines can share and discuss the emotional and social challenges of working in healthcare.

SALHN takes into consideration preferences for rotations including leave preferences, while ensuring compliance with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and South Australian Medical Education and Training (SA MET) requirements. This approach ensures all trainees receive a well-rounded education program and fulfils the requirements for General Registration.

For rotations that are highly sought after, such as paediatrics, applicants are contacted by the Medical Education Officer after submitting their preferences to SA MET. They are then invited to submit an expression of interest to support of their rotation request. Applicants for this rotation will be selected by the Paediatric Term Supervisor.

Rotations within SALHN are spread across all sites including Flinders Medical Centre (FMC), Noarlunga Hospital (NH), Repat Health Precinct (RHP) and the Jamie Larcombe Centre (JLC). SALHN continues to offer the rural GP/ED rotations which offer great exposure to general practice in a rural setting in partnership with the Rural Doctors Workforce Agency (RDWA) including sites in Angaston, Mannum and Murray Bridge. Trainees may be expected to complete a service term of nights or relieving.

Rotations available at SALHN include:

All medical officers are paid for the hours worked. Interns are allocated three weeks of annual leave with two weeks taken in their ED rotation and the remaining week can be taken during another term as negotiated with the Medical Education Unit. Interns are asked to preference leave, and allocations are made based on this information. All leave is tracked to ensure that interns meet the requirements of the National Framework for Prevocational Medical Training which includes 47 weeks of training and exposure to each of the clinical care categories. Consideration is given to requests for special leave.

FMC, NH, RHP and JLC are accessible via car, bus and taxi services. NH is accessible via train, and FMC is now connected to the Flinders Railway line (an extension of the Tonsley line) which has stations at Flinders and Tonsley. All sites have adequate car parking for staff and have security to assist staff to their car at night if required. Interns must have a car and a valid licence for rural rotations. SALHN is easily accessible via the southern freeway and the renowned southern vales wineries, Victor Harbor and Kangaroo Island are close by for day trips or longer stays.

To further promote staff well-being, the SALHN Staff Wellbeing team hosts monthly Schwartz Rounds—safe, reflective forums where staff from all disciplines can share and discuss the emotional and social challenges of working in healthcare.

The PGY2+ trainee cohort within General Training and the Prevocational Acute and Critical Care Program at SALHN is supported in their educational program by a dedicated medical education team comprised of the Executive Director of Medical Services (EDMS), Director of Clinical Training (DCT), Deputy Directors of Clinical Training (DDCTs), Medical Education Registrars, and Medical Education Officers (MEOs). The Trainee Medical Officer Unit (TMOU) also plays a vital role in supporting these trainees.

The PGY2+ training cohort within The Adelaide Prevocational Psychiatry Program, the Medical Service Resident Training Program, and the Surgical Resident Medical Officer Training Program is supported by their respective divisions within SALHN, but the Medical Education Team provides support when needed.

A weekly PGY2+ education program, Medi-JETS, provides structured tutorials and procedural skills training. These sessions cover a broad range of topics, designed to ensure a well-rounded generalist approach during the prevocational years.

RMO simulation sessions are held on Tuesday afternoons, giving General Trainees the opportunity to manage complex clinical scenarios in a safe and supportive environment. Specialised simulation nurses and the Medical Education Team guide small groups of trainees through multiple cases and facilitate post-simulation debriefs to reinforce learning.

PGY2+ GP trainees registered with ACRRM or RACGP in their final 12 months of hospital rotations are invited to participate with the GP Integration Unit (GPIU) in additional small-group general practice tutorials. These cover core topics to help ease the transition to community general practice placements.

Grand rounds are held weekly throughout the year, providing trainee medical officers with opportunities to enhance both their clinical and theoretical knowledge.

Each department offers a dedicated education program, which all residents are expected to attend as part of their rotation timetabling. These typically include ward-based and didactic teaching, journal club, radiology meetings and mortality and morbidity meetings.

Additionally, trainees have the opportunity to undertake ALS training throughout the year.

SALHN prides itself on fostering a supportive culture for all prevocational trainees. The Medical Education Unit staff are always available to assist trainees, offering both personal and clinical mentorship.

Whilst there is an increase with professional responsibility expected from resident medical officers, they are still heavily supported by registrars, fellows and consultants. Residents always receive supervision from senior members of their rotations.

Additionally, all junior doctors are informed about the Employee Assistance Program, which provides confidential counselling and support. They are also encouraged to have their own GP for ongoing care.

To further promote staff well-being, the SALHN Staff Wellbeing team hosts monthly Schwartz Rounds—safe, reflective forums where staff from all disciplines can share and discuss the emotional and social challenges of working in healthcare.

Acute and Critical Care Medicine
Medical specialties
Surgical specialties
Rehabilitation and Aged Care
Rural Health Networks
Women’s and Children’s Health
Mental Health Services