Our 2025 Graduate Nurse Program (Combined Mental Health Stream) has
been developed for nurses passionate about both general paediatrics and mental
health. This
program will facilitate your transition from a newly graduated Registered Nurse
to a competent and confident Registered Nurse, through ongoing learning and
development in a safe and supportive environment. The Graduate Nurse Program (Combined
Mental Health Stream) provides graduates with a 6-month rotation within the Banksia
ward (Adolescent Inpatient Unit) and a 6-month rotation within the Kelpie
ward (Adolescent, Oncology and Rehabilitation Care).
The
program is designed to promote:
- Young person-centered, family and
recovery-focused mental health care
- Child-centered, family focused centered care
- Foundations in trauma-informed
care and therapeutic engagement
- Competence in paediatric nursing
practice and youth mental health nursing practice
- Engagement in critical questioning
and reflective practice
- Integration into effective
multidisciplinary team functioning
This is a 12-month program offering a part-time, ongoing 0.8FTE
position.
Key features of the program
Comprehensive orientation
From day one the program is structured to include a variety of
orientation days, study days, and further clinical and educational support to
ensure graduates feel comfortable commencing practice in the paediatric
setting.
Ongoing education
The Graduate Nurse Program (Combined Mental Health) include
regular in-service education and training as well as scheduled Professional Development
days which support the required learning outcomes and clinical competence
required to become a capable and skilled Registered Nurse.
Preceptorship model of support
Each Graduate Nurse is assigned a individual preceptor to assist
with the transition into the clinical area. During the supernumerary period you
and your preceptor will work identical shifts to facilitate development of your
nursing skills. Following your supernumerary period further support is available
from the ward Clinical Support Nurses, Graduate Nurse Clinical Nurse Educator
and other senior nursing staff within your clinical setting.
Scheduled debriefing sessions
Graduate Nurses are provided with opportunities to attend
facilitated debriefing sessions throughout both the Graduate Nurse Program and
the Career Advancement Program. Facilitated debriefing provides additional
support in a safe environment, promotes reflective practice and critical
thinking to improve nursing practice, and focuses on supporting the well-being
of Graduate Nurses as they navigate the transition to the clinical setting.
How to apply
Application
Please follow the instructions
below carefully. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Step 1
Register and apply via the Graduate Nurse and Midwifery PMCV Allocation and Placement system.
Step 2
Create a profile on the Careers at RCH website using a personal email address, not a student
address provided by your university. Please note that there is no need to
complete a full profile. Simply create your login and move on to Step 3.
Step 3
Apply for the Graduate Nurse Program via the
advertised position on our Careers at RCH website (using the Apply Now button).
The documents listed below are required for your
application. Please ensure that you upload files in the correct section,
according to the guidelines provided. Applications with missing or incomplete documentation
will not be considered.
Online application includes:
- Application form (replaces a cover letter)
- Resume/CV
- Academic transcript (to be
uploaded as Pre-Employment Documentation)
- Two clinical appraisal
documents/tools (to be uploaded as an Application Documents)
Further Advice
Application Form
The Application Form is required in place of a
traditional cover letter. Download the application and save to your
computer/files before completing it to avoid any data corruption.
Referees
The application form requires referee information. Please
note that the same referees should be provided to both PMVC and RCH.
Include contact details of two professional
nursing referees who can describe your nursing practice and one referee
from a current employer (if not employed your referee can be from your
volunteer work, sport coach, extra curriculum, church etc.). Include each referee’s
name, position and title, organisation, contact number (prefer mobile) and
relationship e.g. third year clinical teacher, direct supervisor.
Upload/attach in place of the Cover Letter under the My Documents section of your application. No separate cover letter is required or will be assessed.
Resume/CV
Your Curriculum vitae (CV) should include the
following components and a be maximum of three pages in length.
- Contact details: include full
name, residential address, phone number/s and personal email address
- Tertiary level education history
(Secondary school not required)
- Clinical experiences as an
undergraduate nurse: include information of all completed and upcoming
placements with details of health facility number of weeks and hours worked
for each placement
- Recent employment history
(include responsibilities in each role)
- Volunteer experience, if any
- Professional development, if any
- Professional memberships, if any
- Note that no photograph is
required on the CV
Upload/attach your Resume/CV in the My Documents
section of your application.
Transcript
A certified** true copy of your
academic transcript is required to be attached along with the application. This
must be an official transcript and must include the grading key to assist the
reviewing panel. Academic Records downloaded from your student portal will not
be accepted. Digital PDFs downloaded from My eQuals are considered certified and
will be accepted as an official document. Please ensure you download the
transcript as it must be uploaded to your application. Shared documents via
email from My eQuals will not be considered.
Upload/attach your Academic Transcript as a Pre-Employment Document in
the My Documents section of your application.
Clinical appraisal documents/tools
Copies of appraisals from both you’re
your most recent clinical placement and your Mental Health placement are
required. Please provide the appraisal pages only, including ANSAT assessments,
reflection by student pages and comments made by preceptor for both the interim
and final assessments. If only one assessment (interim or final) was completed
due to the length of placement please provide the blank assessment pages as
evidence.
Upload/attach
your Clinical Appraisals as Application Documents in the My Documents section
of your application.
Please note that digital copies
of your transcript and/or clinical appraisals may be accepted, however must be
provided unedited (including cover pages) and with all cryptographic
signatures.
After applying
Once applications have been assessed, shortlisted
applicants will be invited to an interview. Those not shortlisted will also be
advised.
Interviews
Following the shortlisting process applicants will
be invited to an interview at the RCH. Interviews will take place over a
two-week period. If you are shortlisted, we will email you with all relevant information
including the date and time of the interview.
Interviews will take approximately 30 minutes with
a small panel of senior nursing staff. The interview is an opportunity for
applicants to demonstrate understanding of the structure and content of the
Graduate Nurse Program at the RCH; awareness of integrating the Nursing and
Midwifery board of Australia (NMBA) competency standards for registered nurses
into clinical practice; knowledge of contemporary nursing practice issues;
ability to think critically; communication and interpersonal skills appropriate
for paediatric nursing; child and family centred approach to care.
Outcomes
Once
interviews are complete RCH will conduct referee checks as part of assessment
and selection process. Please ensure you have informed your referees that they
will be contacted.
Candidates
have until Friday 23 August at 5pm to submit final heath service preferences
through PMCV.
Once Match
Results are published by PMCV candidates will be required to formally accept
allocations. Following this RCH will be in contact with successfully matched
applicants regarding employment.
Contacts
Nurse Educator, Graduate Nurse Programs
Claudia Barriga
Telephone: 9345 6716
Email: nursing.education@rch.org.au
Lauren Cross
Telephone: 9345 6716
Email: nursing.education@rch.org.au