The Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RN/RM) Graduate Program provides 12-month nursing and midwifery temporary contracts, both full and part time, across multiple facilities including:

Introduction to the Nurse and Midwife Graduate Program

Transcript for Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program – Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service

[Upbeat intro music plays]

[Text on screen] Nursing and Midwifery Graduate Program – Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
Practice Development - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service – Queensland Government

[Text on screen] Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, the Kabi Kabi / Gubbi Gubbi, and Jinibara peoples, on whose land we provide our services. We pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, elders, past, present, and emerging.

[Text on screen] Welcome - We welcome you to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Graduate Program information video.

[Text on screen] Amanda Naumann – Nurse Educator, Graduate Program.

[Text on screen] Graduate Program Administration team: Tegan Newman, Danielle Witten, Katrine Dingle.

[Text on screen] Sunshine Coast University Hospital – Thank you for taking the time to research the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program.

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>> Amanda: Welcome to the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service.

[Text on screen] Welcome! Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development

>> Amanda: This presentation aims to inform you of what our graduate program offers, to ensure you make an informed decision when you apply to our graduate nursing midwifery program on the Queensland Health Graduate Portal. Our hospital and health service aims to improve the health and wellbeing of all people on the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions for providing safe, high-quality healthcare.

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[Text on screen] Our facilities - We offer a dynamic range of clinical settings across a number of facilities, including:

  • Sunshine Coast University Hospital
  • Nambour General Hospital
  • Gympie Hospital
  • Caloundra Hospital
  • Maleny Memorial Hospital

>> Amanda: Here on the Sunshine Coast. We strongly believe that involving our communities in the planning and evaluation of local health services enhances patient outcomes. We are a part of the community that we serve. Choosing the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, you are choosing a world class health service to be a part of as a professional and a lifestyle to suit.

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>> Amanda: Our region is home to pristine beaches, beautiful rivers, picturesque hinterland villages and subtropical rainforest. Come live, work and play with us.

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[On screen] Amanda is on the beach showing the beach and surfers on the water. Moving imagery plays showing river and waterfall.

[Music ends]>> Amanda: The following information is important for you to consider. Our graduate nursing and midwifery program is committed to supporting new nurses and midwives transitioning from academic learning into professional practice. The program is a 12-month temporary contract that aims to support you from a novice healthcare practitioner to a confident and competent registered nurse or midwife.

[Text on screen] Our Clinical Areas

  • Aged care
  • Cancer care
  • Cardiology (2 year program)
  • Emergency
  • ICU
  • Medical
  • Mental health
  • Midwifery
  • Paediatrics
  • Peri-operative
  • Palliative care
  • Rehabilitation
  • Surgical

>> Amanda: The clinical areas that we offer in our graduate program include aged care, cancer care, cardiology (2 year program), emergency departments, intensive care unit, medical units, mental health, midwifery, paediatrics, perioperative, palliative care, rehab, and surgical services.

[Text on screen] Todd Erbacher – Clinical Coach ICU

>> Todd: So, in the clinical setting, you're supported, by a whole team of people. It's not just the clinical coaches, you are supported by a preceptor and a lot of the other staff around in the unit as well. As coaches, we are there to help you with induction and orientation to your new work area, as well as at the elbow support, and as a resource person for any kind of questions or assistance that you might need along the way.>> Amanda: On completion of the graduate program, you'll be eligible to apply for a second-year graduate program in the following clinical areas:

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  • Cancer care
  • Renal
  • Gympie rural rotation
  • Interventional suites (Gastro)

[Text on screen] Naomi Ford – Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.

[Text on screen] To be eligible for an identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander identified graduate position you must identify yourself in your application.

>> Naomi: Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service values culturally safe care by ensuring equitable employment opportunities are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates. We provide support and mentorship to identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates. To be eligible for an identified graduate position, you must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in your application.

[Text on screen] Find your calling – All applications for the graduate positions are completed through the Queensland Health Graduate Portal. The portal opens at 10:00 AM Friday the 28th of June, 2024, and closes 11:59 PM Sunday the 4th of August, 2024.

>> Amanda: All applications for the graduate positions are completed through the Queensland Health Graduate Portal. The portal opens at 10:00 AM Friday the 28th of June, 2024, and closes 11:59 PM Sunday the 4th of August, 2024.

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  • Graduated within the past 2 years (domestically or internationally) from your first undergraduate nursing degree, midwifery degree, or graduate-entry Master of Nursing or Master of Midwifery.
  • Hold Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residency, New Zealand citizenship (with a subclass 444 Special Category Visa or right to be granted), or a visa with non-employer sponsored work right.
  • Haven’t worked as a registered nurse or registered midwife for more than 960 hours (equivalent to 6 months full-time), or have worked in a non-government aged care facility, GP or disability service for a period of 12 months or 1976 hours (1 year full-time equivalent).

>> Amanda: To be considered for the graduate position, you must meet the criteria aligned to the Queensland Health eligibility criteria.

Additionally, if you'd like to start your nursing or midwifery career here with us at the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, you must choose us as your first preference. The Sunshine Coast may not have access to your application if you choose the Sunshine Coast as your second or third preference.

[Text on screen] The interview process is a two-stage process. If your application is successfully shortlisted for interview, you'll need to be available to attend two sessions online across the following dates, the 9th to the 20th of September, 2024.

>> Amanda: The interview process is a two-stage process. If your application is successfully shortlisted for interview, you'll need to be available to attend two sessions online across the following dates, the 9th to the 20th of September, 2024.

[Text on screen] The interview process - The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has multiple graduate intakes each year from the one recruitment process. The graduate intakes

  • 11th of November 2024
  • 17th of February, 2025

There is a two-week induction period, which you'll be required to be available for at the commencement of your graduate program. This includes health service orientation, unit induction, which is inclusive of clinical supported supernumerary shifts with your preceptor and clinical coach.

>> Amanda: The Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service has multiple graduate intakes each year from the one recruitment process. The graduate intakes are the 11th of November 2024 and the 17th of February, 2025. There is a two-week induction period, which you'll be required to be available for at the commencement of your graduate program. This includes health service orientation, unit induction, which is inclusive of clinical supported supernumerary shifts with your preceptor and clinical coaches.

[Text on screen] Thank you! Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development

>> Amanda: Thank you for considering the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service Graduate Program. We look forward to reviewing your application and meeting you at interview.

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[Text on screen] The team – Another day in paradise!

Practice Development - Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service – Queensland Government

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Program aims

The program aims to:

  • support you as you transition into the role
  • provide you with opportunities to consolidate your clinical skills and develop clinical competence and confidence
  • provide you with opportunities to work within an interprofessional team
  • support you to develop your clinical decision making and critical thinking skills.

Program overview

Graduates receive education and support within the clinical environment, through a range of strategies and from a range of team members.

Education opportunities

  • orientation day
  • access to Transition to Practice nurse education programs (in some specialty areas)
  • professional development opportunities
  • in-service education sessions
  • quality improvement project activity
  • reflective journalling
  • evaluation
  • requisite education frameworks

Clinical support

  • ward induction
  • supernumerary days
  • supported practice
  • preceptors
  • clinical coaches
  • nurse educators
  • clinical nurse consultants.

Clinical coaches provide hands on bedside clinical support and education, in a friendly and supportive manner, with regular opportunities for feedback and discussion regarding your clinical practice.

Collegial support

  • reflective practice groups
  • graduate focus groups.

Clinical areas

The following clinical specialties are currently offered in the graduate program. You may select 2 clinical areas as preferences when submitting your application, which will be considered if your graduate program application is successful.

  • Acute Rehabilitation unit
  • Acute Neuroscience unit
  • Aged and Restorative Care unit
  • Oncology and Haematology unit
  • Cardiac unit
  • Cardiology (Transition Support 2-year program)
  • Emergency (Transition Support program)
  • Extended Day Surgical unit
  • Gastroenterology and Renal unit
  • General Medicine, this includes placements in various units across the health service
  • General Surgery, this includes placements in various units across the health service inclusive of Urology and Gynaecology
  • Glenbrook Residential Aged Care Facility
  • Intensive Care unit
  • Intensive Care Unit (Transition Support program)
  • Orthopaedic unit
  • Paediatric ward, also known as the Child and Adolescent unit
  • Palliative Care unit at Caloundra Health Service
  • Peri-operative
  • Mental Health, this includes rotations across the health service and post graduate academic studies
  • Respiratory and Infectious Disease unit
  • Vascular, Plastics and Ear, Nose and Throat unit.

We don't offer Paediatric Critical Care unit in the first year program.

Midwifery

Midwifery is not considered a clinical area for preference selection, as it is a separate profession to nursing. If you have dual qualifications, you will need to make a choice between midwifery or nursing. Applicants selecting midwifery will be asked to select, in order of preference, the midwifery model of care you would prefer to work in.

Queensland Health midwifery model of care options include:

  • Midwifery Group Practice or Continuity of Midwifery Care Model
  • rotational shifts across all areas of midwifery practice
  • work in one specific area of midwifery practice (e.g. postnatal ward).

Work hours

The program includes a variety of shift work.  Day shifts, afternoon shifts, night shifts and weekend work.

First year graduates work a variety of hours.

We also expect all graduates to take on extra clinical hours as available within their clinical areas.

Eligibility and how to apply

To apply for a graduate position with us, you must apply through our graduate portal. The recruitment process can take up to 3 months. We recommend you prepare all the documents you’ll need in advance, so you’re ready to submit them through the portal when it opens. Incomplete submissions may cause delays in the processing of your application.

The Graduate Portal is open from Friday 28 June 2024 to Sunday 4 August 2024.

To be eligible for the graduate program, you must meet the following requirements:

  • hold Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residency, New Zealand citizenship (with a subclass 444 Special Category Visa or right to be granted), or a visa with non-employer sponsored work right.
  • be eligible for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), including all necessary documentation and identity checks.
  • graduated within the past 2 years (domestically or internationally) from your first undergraduate nursing degree, midwifery degree, or graduate-entry Master of Nursing or Master of Midwifery. That is, between July 2022 to July 2024, or be due to complete your qualification by December 2024.
  • at the time of application submission, you haven’t worked as a registered nurse (if applying for a nursing position) or a registered midwife (if applying for a midwifery position), for more than 960 hours* (equivalent to 6 months full time), since completeion of the relevant qualification.

* If working as a registered nurse in a non-government residential aged care facility, general practice, disability service or other community health organisation, you can work up to 1,976 hours (equivalent to 1 year full time).

If you applied in the previous recruitment campaign and meet the above criteria, you're still eligible.

You can find out more about how to apply on the Queensland Health Nursing and Midwifery graduate program website.

We welcome applications from graduates of all universities within Queensland, even if you haven't done a placement with us.

When you apply, make sure you select Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Services clinical preferences to be eligible for our program.

If English is your second language, you'll need to give us evidence that you've successfully completed the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

This program is also open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates.

We preferably employ graduate RN/RMs:

  • who meet merit through the graduate program recruitment process
  • who are available to commence on the graduate program start dates
  • who won't be working in a concurrent appointment to a different clinical area while completing the graduate program
  • who aren't on the casual pool.

We don't accept late applications or alterations to submitted applications.

If your application is successful, you'll need to attend a face to face interview. You'll need to to bring proof of identity to the interview. We don't require your referee reports at this stage. You must provide 2 referees on your CV who we'll contact directly for referee reports.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identified positions

We value the guidance and involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples working in our services to help us provide culturally and clinically safe care.

Our graduate program has several Aboriginal and Torres Islander identified nursing and midwifery graduate positions, supported with cultural mentorship. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply for identified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate nursing and midwifery positions.

To be eligible to apply for an identified graduate position, the graduate must identify during the graduate application process, using the Statutory Declaration on the Graduate Portal. Proof of Aboriginality (as outlined in Commission Chief Executive Guideline 02/13: Evidence of Attribute – Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Identified Roles) is required if you're appointed to an identified position.

Commencement

To start the program you must provide proof that you've completed a Bachelor of Nursing or Midwifery degree.

If you don't have your qualification certificate before your start date, you'll need to give us a copy of your unofficial Academic Transcript. A Justice of the Peace (JP) will need to certify this. Once you get your qualification certificate, you'll need to send a JP certified copy to us.

You must also register with the Australia Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). We can't complete your recruitment process until you get your registration. You must do this 6 weeks before you complete your undergraduate course.

Graduate program intake dates are:

  • 28 October 2024
  • 17 February 2025

You must be registered with AHPRA and available to start working on the relevant program intake date, or you will not be able to join the graduate program.

You must also:

  • get a criminal history clearance
  • provide evidence of Vaccination for Preventable Diseases (VPD)
  • provide completed HR recruitment forms, which we'll sent to you when you accept your offer.

When sending your certified documents to us, please don't send photographs of them, we won't accept these.

Options after the program

When you finish the program you'll have the opportunity to apply for work in a variety of clinical areas. You may also want to apply for a variety of second year graduate programs with us.

We currently offer second year graduate programs within the following units:

  • Cancer Care Services
  • Renal Services
  • Gastroenterology Procedural Suites.

Last updated: October 2024