Katherine, Katherine & Northern Australia NT

Medical Specialists (Healthcare & Medical)
Government - State (Government & Defence)

Rural Generalist RG1 – RG4
Senior Rural Generalist SRG1 – SRG3
Katherine Hospital
Full time or Part time, fixed vacancy available for 12 months in Katherine
 

Selection will be made at the RG or SRG level depending on the experience/qualifications of the successful applicant. Flexible working arrangements can be negotiated.

Total annual full-time remuneration package: $392, 321 - $480, 437*
+ shift penalty rates & on-call allowance as per EBA (package above includes superannuation)
If working in ED or community GP (KH-based): 50% of Medicare billings (Revenue Activity Incentive payment)
*comprised of Base salary (RG1-RG4): $213, 380 - $242, 013 (SRG1-SRG3): $251,554 - $270,033

Professional development allowance: $22,251
Regional/remote attraction allowance: $29,670
Practitioner Allowance (30% of base salary): $64,014 - $81,010
Regional/Remote retention payment $37,087 (payable after 12 months service)

The Position

Katherine Hospital are looking for a Rural Generalist (RG) / GP Anaesthetist (GPA) to join our team as the Acting Clinical Director for GP Anaesthetics in 2025. This Acting role is for 1 year while the current Clinical Director is on extended leave, with the opportunity for ongoing employment as a GPA after this time. This is an ideal opportunity for a RG looking for a sea-change and a rewarding experience in remote Australia, in an environment with interesting clinical medicine and a supportive team. Part-time, FIFO, and flexible working arrangements can be negotiated.

This position will involve Anaesthetics (clinical and non-clinical) for approximately 2-3 days per week, with the remainder of clinical work in either the Emergency Department, community General Practice, or both. There is flexibility with the rostering to suit applicant’s personal preferences and prior work experience. Non-clinical roles include roster management, involvement in clinical governance, policy/procedure development, supervision of RG trainees, education, and assistance with waitlist management and perioperative processes.

There is an attractive remuneration package, including base salary with on call and overtime allowances, rural/remote living and retention allowances, professional development allowance, and superannuation. There is allowance for 6+ weeks annual leave per year, as well as study/professional development leave. Most GPAs are eligible for the Rural Procedural Grants Program (applies to both Anaesthetics and ED) and the Workforce Incentive Program. There are also Medicare incentive benefits for those working in ED or community GP. The hospital can assist with relocation expenses and accommodation on arrival.

The Region

The Top End of the Northern Territory offers diverse and exciting medicine, with presentations such as tropical medicine conditions not seen ‘down south’. The town of Katherine has a population of approximately 11,000 and services the Big Rivers Region, which has a population of around 22,000 and covers a geographical area larger than Victoria. Most people in the region outside of Katherine reside either in small remote communities, or on cattle stations. There is a large proportion of Indigenous patients, with Katherine town being at the junction of the Jawoyn, Wardaman, and Dagoman groups. Katherine also has a busy tourist season, and sees lots of travellers in the hospital throughout the Dry Season.

The Katherine region offers a multitude of outdoor, camping, fishing, four-wheel driving, hiking, and mountain biking activities. It is close to Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks, Katherine Gorge, and in relatively close proximity to other places such as the Kimberley, Gregory National Park, Mataranka hot springs, the Red Centre, and countless other bush camping sites. While offering these natural wonders, it is also only a 3 hour drive up the fully-sealed Stuart highway to the city of Darwin. The town has a young population, also being the service centre for the Tindal Airforce base – there are lots of cafes, playgrounds, a large pool, a library, multiple primary schools, and two high schools.

The Medicine

There is opportunity to be able to make a huge difference to healthcare outcomes for patients in rural and remote areas. Working across theatre and ED or GP (or both) in a small town is rewarding, with continuity of care in the patient healthcare journey. Our patients have a high burden of chronic disease with complex comorbidities, and this makes for challenging and rewarding medicine.

Katherine Hospital has a supportive group of Rural Generalists, as well as offering existing strong relationships with departments at our tertiary referral centre of Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH). There are opportunities to be involved in teaching of medical students and junior doctors. Our small department is striving to improve healthcare outcomes for our patients by developing a robust perioperative service.

From a theatre perspective, Katherine Hospital has visiting Surgical outreach visits from General Surgeons, as well as ENT, Ophthalmology, Dental, Plastics, and Orthopaedics. There is also a local Gynaecologist with regular Gyane lists. There are GP Obstetricians on site with almost 300 births per year, so plenty of opportunity for Obstetric Anaesthetic skills maintenance including an epidural service. There are 2 theatres, with usually 1 running at a time, and between 2-4 elective theatre lists each week. There are also upskilling opportunities available at RDH theatres, as well as via visiting Anaesthetic consultants. On call duties comprise Obstetric anaesthesia, as well as support to the Emergency department for airway management, procedural sedation, and critical care.

For those wishing to work in the Emergency Department, there is varied and diverse medicine with approximately 16,000 presentations per year and a mix of adult and paediatric patients. The ED has a close relationship with Careflight retrieval service, and a developed teaching program for junior doctors. Senior Doctor colleagues in ED are a mix of FACEM and Rural Generalists.

For those wishing to work in General Practice, Katherine Hospital provides GP services to both Pine Creek and Numbulwar remote clinics, with outreach GP trips available to these clinics. Should an applicant wish to work in community GP in Katherine town instead (mainstream or Indigenous health), this can be negotiated.

Click the following links for videos about Rural Generalism in the NT & to see what our staff have to say:

Applications should consist of a one page summary sheet, resume / CV and copies of relevant qualifications.

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