We offer 6 to 12-month temporary placements for graduate nurses and midwives.

As a graduate in our hospital and health services, you’ll have the opportunity to apply knowledge gained from your studies.

Our graduate programs provide a structured and supportive learning environment to help you transition into your new role, team, rural work environment and the community.

First year Registered Nurse program

As a registered nurse graduate, you’ll have a broad range of opportunities.

In addition to hands on learning, the program includes education days, workshops, online learning and virtual reality to increase your knowledge and skills.

When you complete the program, you’ll receive a transcript of your training that you can use to apply for credit towards a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Locations

There are opportunities across many of our hospitals and health services, including:

Depending on the location of your placement, you may have access to the Remote Area Incentive Program. Find out more about the program on the Queensland Health website.

Applying

We may have opportunities to have 2 or more recruitment intakes per year.

We hold interviews at the following times:

  • September and October
  • March and April.

Orientation will coincide with your start date.

You can apply for our graduate programs through the graduate portal. The portal opens in July for the next year. When you apply Select 'SWHHS' as your first preference.

Find out more about the program and portal on the Queensland Health website.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Find out more about Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander health careers on the Queensland Health website.

More information

To find out more about the program email the First Year Registered Nurse Coordinator at SWHHS_FYRN@health.qld.gov.au.

First year Enrolled Nurse program

The First Year Enrolled Nurse program is a 6 month program. In the program you’ll learn the core knowledge and skills needed to provide safe and effective care to patients within a rural clinical setting.

To increase your knowledge and skills and ensure you're able to fulfil working at the enrolled nurse scope of practice, including:

  • hands on learning
  • education days
  • workshops
  • online learning
  • virtual reality.

Locations

There are opportunities across many of our hospitals and health services, including:

Depending on the location of your placement, you may have access to the Remote Area Incentive Program. Find out more about the program on the Queensland Health website.

Applying

We may have opportunities to have 2 or more recruitment intakes per year. Orientation will coincide with your start date.

You can apply for our graduate programs through our South West Hospital and Health Service (SWHHS) expression of interest recruitment process or contact:

Executive Support Officer for Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery
South West Hospital and Health Service
PO Box 1006, Roma Qld 4455

44-46 Bungil Street, Roma Qld 4455
Phone: 07 4505 1538
Email: swhhs-edonm@health.qld.gov.au.

We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Find out more about Aboriginal or Torres Strait islander health careers on the Queensland Health website.

Dual Paramedic and Registered Nurse program

We offer a dual degree Paramedic and Registered Nurse program in partnership with the South West Local Ambulance Service Network.

During the program, you’ll complete a 6-month placement in one of our Hospital Based Ambulance Facilities and another 6 months with the Queensland Ambulance Service.

To find out more about the program email the First Year Registered Nurse Coordinator at SWHHS_FYRN@health.qld.gov.au.

Midwife Graduate program

We also welcome graduate midwives to join us to experience rural and remote maternity services.

We have three Level 3 Birthing Services located in our hub sites of Roma, St George and Charleville. Each hub provides outreach midwifery services to surrounding hospitals and Multipurpose Health Services. Midwives, and Rural Generalist Medical Officers with obstetric and anaesthetic credentials, staff these birthing sites. There is also a Flying Obstetric Service based in Roma that provides support as needed across the South West birthing services.

Our Level 3 birthing services provide planned intrapartum care for women with a relatively low risk profile. However the maternity team is also responsible for:

  • providing more complex antenatal care in collaboration with Level 4-6 birthing services
  • the emergency care and stabilisation of women and neonates requiring retrieval.

We’re committed to providing all rural women with Continuity of Midwifery Care, a model shown to improve birth outcomes for women and infants. Midwives work within a caseload model. They also collaborate with medical staff, nursing staff and the wider multidisciplinary team to provide a safe and comprehensive service for all birthing women.

As a graduate midwife, you’ll work as a Grade 5 Caseload Midwife with the support of midwife mentors, and the wider midwifery and multidisciplinary teams.

The rural graduate midwifery program is for 12 months, however we ask graduate midwives to commit to a minimum of 24 months.

The program aims to:

  • consolidate and extend your existing theoretical knowledge
  • help you acquire and develop clinical skills to support full scope of midwifery practice
  • help you to utilise communication techniques that enhance professional relationships
  • support you to practice within professional, legal, ethical and organisational guidelines
  • help you to apply knowledge and skills in the assessment, organisation, implementation and evaluation of midwifery practice
  • support you to work within a multidisciplinary team.

During your graduate program you’ll have a number of Touchpoints with the Clinical Midwifery Consultant, Midwife Educator, Senior Midwives. They’ll discuss your progress and ongoing support needs with you. These touchpoints ultimately aim to assist you to develop graduated autonomous practice throughout the first 12 months.

Depending on the location of your placement, you may have access to the Remote Area Incentive Program.

To find out more about the program or how to apply, call the Clinical Midwifery Consultant on 07 4505 1587 or 0429 431 508 or email anne.bousfield@health.qld.gov.au.

You can also find out about the program on the Queensland Health website.

Last updated: November 2022

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