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About ICU

Welcome to our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne. Your child would be admitted into ICU because care and treatment is required that is not available in the general ward areas. This care is provided by the intensive care team which consists of the duty consultant, registrars (experienced doctors), nurses and technologists. Ward clerks and patient services assistants also contribute to the care of your child and the smooth running of the unit.

This site offers some information for families and hospital staff with links to helpful sites related to PICU.We welcome your feedback on this site.

Interested in working in PICU?

New opportunities, new beginnings!

Have you ever thought about working with children? Here is your chance! We have places available for enthusiastic motivated Division 1 nurses who are interested in a career in Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing due to the exciting expansion of our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit to 17 ICU equivalents

There are lots of opportunities. If you have PICU experience just call I am sure we can find you a position.

Please contact Mel Culka, Acting Nurse Unit Manager of PICU on 03 9345 5201 or email  mel.membrey@rch.org.au.
If you have worked in paediatrics, adult ICU , anaesthesia, High Dependency, or Neonatal ICU and want a new challenge, just call. Lets organize a visit and show you the unit.  Commencement supported with structured preceptorship can be arranged at any time over the year.

Comments from staff on why they work in PICU at RCH.
"The work is really challenging"
"No day is ever the same"
"The challenge of the kids and their families"

More details about ICU

Nursing Opportunities

Introduction to Paediatric Intensive Care

Transition into Paediatric Intensive Care

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice (Paediatric Critical Care)

Medical Opportunities

Medical Training in Intensive Care

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH) is the largest PICU in Australia. Approximately 1300 infants and children are admitted to our PICU each year, representing all medical and surgical paediatric subspecialties. The unit has a high acuity, with 70% of admissions requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. In addition to providing tertiary PICU services for Victoria and Tasmania, several national programmes are catered for, including heart transplantation, respiratory ECMO, long-term VAD, surgical treatment of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and intestinal transplantation. A large proportion of the workload (40-45% of patients) arises from the cardiac services programme, providing cardiac surgery to Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the NorthernTerritory. Emergency and elective patients are admitted from within the RCH and external emergencies from Victoria and neighbouring states are predominantly admitted via the Paediatric Emergency Transport Service (PETS).

The RCH PICU provides our registrars with a wealth of experience in general and cardiac intensive care. We have training opportunities for Australian and international career intensivists, anaesthetists and emergency physicians, as well as paediatricians wishing to increase their skills and confidence in the management of critically ill children.

Training in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine (PD

For further information regarding medical training in intensive care contact:

Dr Johnny Millar                                                                                                                       Assoc Prof Lara Shekerdemian
Deputy Director PICU & Director of PICU Medical Training                                                           Director of PICU
+61 3 9345 5224                                                                                                                     +61 3 9345 5224
johnny.millar@rch.org.au                                                                                                         lara.shekerdemian@rch.org.au   

The Royal Children's Hospital offers attractive salary packaging and staff benefit opportunities.