Who we areThe Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. As primary agency for Australia's Antarctic Program (AAP), the AAD is responsible for achieving the Australian Government's Antarctic goals.
These goals are to:
Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhance Australia's influence within it.Protect the Antarctic environment.Understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system.Undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.
The AAD also has responsibility for administering the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
The People and Culture Branch supports our people and our culture. The branch has a strong focus on supporting expeditioners (people who spend time working in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic) including, expeditioner recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, medical and organisational psychological services and offboarding. The branch also provides critical divisional services across media and communication, risk and business continuity. The AAD is committed to positive culture that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are adapting to be ready for our future, to deliver our new capabilities, and to be a great place to work.
The Polar Medicine Unit is responsible for the comprehensive medical, surgical and dental support for expeditioners deployed to the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic and Southern Ocean. Healthcare in the remote extreme environments of the AAP is delivered together with the Centre for Antarctic, Remote and Maritime Medicine (CARMM) partners and others as required including specialist telemedical support, public health and occupational medicine and medical evacuation (air and sea).
The Polar Medicine Unit is responsible for the medical screening and health care of AAP participants through:
Recruiting, training and sustaining station, field, and ship doctors.Providing 24/7 remote telemedicine support through Polar Medicine Unit and CARMM partners.Coordinating and approving medical, public health and occupational medicine screening for AAP personnel before deploying South.Responding to medical issues/incidents.Facilitating MEDEVAC operations.
The PMU also conducts practical research on human adaptation and response to extreme Antarctic environments. The PMU provides specialist remote and isolated medical support to a number of external State and Commonwealth agencies on a regular basis and has an international profile and reputation for its expertise amongst Antarctic nations.
The JobThe Deputy CMO also facilitates and participates in Polar Medicine research programs. The Deputy CMO will be required to undertake duties as the Antarctic Medical Practitioner (AMP) on Antarctic and other related ship voyages and/or summer station, air and field programs.
The Deputy CMO engages with a range of clients within the AAD, in Australia and Antarctic locations, and with a range of external clients, including:
PMU members.Operations, Policy, and Science Branch members.Suppliers of drugs, medical consumables, and specialised medical equipment.Australian Antarctic program participants and international partners.Other government agencies and non-governmental organisations.International collaborators and other Antarctic nation medical programs.
It is expected the Deputy CMO will demonstrate or develop qualities of leadership and decision making as alternate Chief Medical Officer during periods of leave etc. Special considerations re potential working conditions: The duties of the Deputy CMO are largely based at Head Office in Kingston, Tasmania with typical office and medical consulting-based risks. The Deputy CMO will be required to undertake duties in Antarctica and the subantarctic. Expedition summer, ship, air and field-based workplace health and safety risks include the below.
The physical environment requires the employee to work both inside and outside in the following conditions:
Cold and dry conditions (as low as -45 deg Celsius).Both high and low solar ultraviolet radiation exposure.Marine and coastal environment conditions.Work with patients and human products and tissue in both clinical and laboratory environments potentially exposed to infective agents (eg respiratory and blood borne agents).Required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including:
Cold, ultraviolet and marine environment clothing.Medical and laboratory gloves; aprons, masks; and safety eyewear glasses and shields.
Physical Activity may occur under the following conditions:
Extreme Cold and Wet.Altitude that may exceed 3500metres.Travel in unpressurised aircraft to 4000 metres.Rugged and unforgiving terrain.Embarkation and disembarkation on ships, boats and aircraft.
Remote and isolated community living:
Limited sophistication of medical support (Self-treatment supported by 24/7 telemedicine overwinter).Medical Evacuation if at all possible is likely to be delayed and prolonged.
Mental Health Stressors of Community Living.Work in Deep Field Camps under austere environment and conditions.Undertake Manual handling tasks.Communicate via VHF, HF and Satellite Radio and telephone services.
NB: 1. AMPs who are required to over-winter will be required to undergo pre-departure elective appendicectomy.NB: 1. Vaccination requirements for this position as a healthcare worker in remote environments include and are not limited to COVID-19, Hepatitis A and B, MMR, Varicella and seasonal influenza.
The Deputy CMO works under limited guidance and reports to the Chief Medical Officer. A collaborative team approach, knowledge sharing and receipt and provision of guidance of professional and technical nature are expected across all members of the PMU Team.
The key duties of the position includeWhat we are looking forKnowledge and experience / Skills and capabilitiesExpertise in Remote and Antarctic Medicine
Knowledge, experience and skills in a wide range of medical disciplines, consistent with providing a comprehensive medical practice in remote Antarctic and sub Antarctic locations, including the provision of surgical, medical and dental care, public health, occupational health and safety, nutrition, preparation of expedition medical and first-aid kits, purchase, upkeep and stocktaking of equipment and pharmaceuticals.Sharing of Knowledge and Expertise
Ability to provide instruction and supervision to medical and non-medical personnel on matters of health, medical procedures, expedition medicine and first-aid.Contribute to training, mentorship and supervision of ACRRM Registrars, and future Antarctic Medical Practitioners and healthcare team members.Ability to develop, implement and communicate medical policy effectively.Application and Service Delivery
Ability to provide a comprehensive medical screening service for AAP participants.Ability to provide on-call 24/7 remote telemedical support to AAP on rostered basis.Provide relevant complimentary advanced clinical skills and/or experience to the Polar Medicine Unit team.Research and develop evidence base on human response and health within Antarctic and subantarctic extreme environments.Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, Electronic Health Records and Telemedical applications.
Please note that the successful applicant may be required to travel to the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions therefore they may be required to meet specific medical, adaptability and personal qualities requirements appropriate to working in those environments.
In order to undertake travel to the Antarctic & sub-Antarctic regions they will need to:
Demonstrate the range of personal qualities and interpersonal skills necessary to perform as a successful team member within isolated Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments.Demonstrate an ability to effectively adapt and respond to the demands of living and working in an isolated and confined environment as determined by a psychological (adaptability) assessment.Be certified as fit for Antarctic service by the AAD's Polar Medicine Unit.
Mandatory Qualifications
Current Full General and/or Specialist Registration with the Medical Board of Australia.Fellowship of a relevant Australian medical college, eg FACRRM, FACEM, FAFOEM or equivalence (candidates completing Fellowship will be considered).Evidence of maintenance of Professional Development and Clinical Practice in a relevant scope of practice.
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