At SWH we understand that graduating from university studies and entering the workforce is an important milestone. Graduate and intern programs are an important part of a health professional career, and we offer graduates a highly supportive environment designed to develop your skills and open doors to career opportunities. Our graduate and intern programs are an important part of our workforce strategy and assist us to ensure we have the ability to employ the right people, in the right place, at the right time to support excellence in care and service. We enable you to put your professional learning into practice in an environment that values personal and professional growth through education, preceptorship and team support.
We have graduate programs for the following disciplines:
 Allied Health |
 Medical |
 Midwifery |
 Nursing |
 Pharmacy |
Mental Health and Wellbeing Graduates Programs for the following disciplines:
| Nursing |
 Occupational Therapy |
 Psychology |
 Social Work |
Kick start your Allied Health career in a supportive team environment where the opportunities for progression are endless!
Our Allied Health Graduate Program has been specifically designed to offer comprehensive support and education opportunities for Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work, Dietetics, Podiatry, and Speech Pathology Graduates.
Our Allied Health Graduate Program is facilitated by our dedicated Allied Health Clinical Educators whom will support you with:
Our structured Clinical Supervision Framework offers new graduates with opportunities for observational sessions, joint consults, self-directed learning and more!
All of our Allied Health graduates are provided with 1:1 clinical supervision from an experienced discipline lead.
At SWH your new graduate Support Network includes:
Call the allied health education team on (03) 5563 4152 to find out more.
At South West Healthcare we believe in providing a highly supportive environment that encourages professional development and excellence in care. Our graduate year is a 53 week program and graduates are employed part time (0.8 FTE).
Your development is supported through rotational placement, regular study days, preceptorship and clinical supervision.
We have 4 dedicated Clinical Supports Nurses who are available to provide graduates with clinical support during the transition from student to Registered Nurse, whilst encouraging self-directed learning. The program provides graduate nurses with the opportunity to consolidate and apply theoretical knowledge, while developing skills in a variety of settings.
For further information please contact our Clinical Support Nurses (03) 5564 4051 or email graduates@swh.net.au
Applications open in 27th May and close 21st June and are to be submitted through our website via careers as well as through PMCV. You must apply through both to be considered.
22 positions for the general program, includes 4 graduates who will rotate through Camperdown Campus
2 positions for the general/midwifery
4 position for the general/mental health
2 positions for the general/Merindah Lodge (Aged Care)
In 2025 graduates will be rotating through two of the following wards in their graduate year:
Medical
This busy general medical ward has 31 beds, including 4 palliative/end of life beds. Conditions commonly managed on the ward include stroke, exacerbation of chronic illness, oncology, cardiac, renal, respiratory and neurological conditions.
Short Stay Unit
Our Surgical Services Unit is expanding delivery to cater for a diverse range of surgical elective and emergency patients. Our fast-paced unit serves patients across specialities including but not limited to Orthopaedics, Plastics, ENT and General Surgery. Our highly skilled nurses collaborate seamlessly with other clinical services to ensure positive outcomes for patients and their families in a safe and caring environment.
Operating Theatre
Three operating suites plus an endoscopy suite operate in a modern perioperative environment where graduates rotate through surgical specialties as a scrub/scout nurse and gain exposure to post-anaesthetic care unit (PACU) and anaesthetic nursing. Specialities include but are not limited to Orthopaedics, General Surgery & Endoscopy, Plastics, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecological.
Day Stay Unit
Procedures not requiring an overnight stay will come to the Day Stay ward Monday – Friday. Pre and post-operative care is delivered and patients are also admitted for infusions and investigative procedures.
Acute
Our 22-bed Acute Care Unit is dedicated to caring for patients with high acuity, complex surgical and medical needs. Additionally, it serves as the primary referral destination for patients transferring from our ICU department, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity of care.
Emergency Department
Our busy, 24hr Emergency Department provides an interesting & challenging work environment, with an extensive array of patient presentations, ranging from paediatrics, cardiac, surgical, neurological, gynaecological, maternity, multi-trauma, orthopaedic, psychiatry, & ophthalmology. It is also a receiving service for surrounding regional urgent care centres.
Rehabilitation
Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) is care of chronic or multidimensional presenting conditions associated with age, cognitive dysfunction, chronic illness or loss of functional ability. The GEM patient group is predominantly older people but may include younger adults with clinical conditions generally associated with age.
Rehabilitation is for all ages aimed at or designed to optimize functioning and reduce disability in individuals. It’s the process of improving your health and quality of life after injury , illness or surgery.
Camperdown Acute Ward
Camperdown Acute Ward consists of a small team of highly experienced and supportive nurses who provide services such as Acute Care, Maternity Services, Palliative Care, Short and Day stay services, pre and post-operative care, infusions and emergency services within our Urgent Care Centre.
Merindah Lodge – Camperdown Residential Aged Care
A 36 bed Aged Care Facility based in Camperdown. The Graduate Nurse Program at Merindah Lodge aims to:
Mental Health
The Mental Health Acute Inpatient Unit (MHAIU) is a 15-bed unit; four beds are allocated to the high dependency unit (HDU) and 11 beds are allocated to low dependency. The unit also provides Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) on an inpatient or day stay basis. The MHAIU admits adults (18 -64 years) and older adult(over 64 years) and consumers admitted to the unit are a mix of voluntary and compulsory patients. Treatment is provided for people with a range of mental health disorders including:
Midwifery
Our Maternity unit consists of a 4 bed birthing unit, 2 assessment beds, 12 antenatal, postnatal and gynaecology beds and a level 2 special care nursery. Graduates rotate through these clinical areas within the unit. A dedicated midwifery educator provides support on the ward.
South West Healthcare has over 760 births per year, and is the largest maternity hospital along the coast between Geelong and Adelaide.
We have 4 Birth Suites, 12 antenatal/postnatal beds and a Level 2 Special Care Nursery attached to the Maternity Unit.
As a graduate midwife you will be well-supported by experienced midwives and educators. You will have the opportunity to work across all areas of midwifery during your midwifery rotations.
Throughout your graduate year, you will have 2 six month rotations, one on the Maternity Unit and one on an acute ward. You will be provided with mandatory midwifery competencies for completion, as well as attend a number of paid study days in addition to the general program study days including:
For further information or enquiries please contact our Midwifery Educators on 03 55644055 or email midwiferyeducator@swh.net.au
Merindah Lodge is a 36 bed Aged Care Facility based in Camperdown.
The Graduate Nurse Program at Merindah Lodge aims to:
Throughout your Graduate Year, you will rotate between 2 facilities for a duration of 6 months each.
6 months at Merindah Lodge.
6 months at Southwest Healthcare, Warrnambool Campus in the Medical & Rehabilitation Wards.
Attend 7 general Graduate Program paid study days
Complete Learning Packages
For further information please contact our Education Team on 03 55644051 or email graduates@swh.net.au
Currently we only offer part time positions 0.8EFT, which equates to 64 hours a fortnight.
Yes, the first week is all about orientation. You have 2 full days of orientation and 3 supernumerary shifts.
Camperdown have their own Clinical Support Nurse to support you during your rotation.
At South West Healthcare we offer 7 dedicated paid study days that will enhance your knowledge and skills.
Variety of interesting topics:
You need to apply through computer match PMCV and also directly to South West Healthcare.
Applications open 27th of May 2024, closing date is the 21st of June.
Applications must include:
Note: Applicants must apply through both PMCV and South West Healthcare.
We offer an acute, medical, and surgical transition year program. There is also the ability to undertake a post graduate course in perioperative, critical care, and mental health.
Are you passionate about the area of Mental Health? Want to work collaboratively with consumers and carers and make a real impact on their journey to recovery? Look no further than the South West Healthcare Graduate Mental Health Nurse Program (GMHNP) for 2025!
Our program is designed for graduates who are wanting to specialise in the area of mental health nursing. You will receive the education and training necessary to support your development in this rewarding profession, while working with a dedicated team of mental health professionals. We offer a variety of programs to suit the graduates’ areas of interest including nursing in the Mental Health Adult Inpatient Unit (MHAIU), Community Mental Health and within Community Organisations.
Our education package covers a wide range of topics, including mental state and risk assessment, Trauma Informed Care, Safewards, Motivational Interviewing and much more. We have a strong relationship with the general graduate nurse program and MHGNP participants are included in the general nursing study days to promote skill development and a sense of belonging to the wider SWH graduate nurse community.
We understand the importance of work life balance and the challenges that graduates experience as they transition from student to qualified nurse. Therefore, all our graduate nurse programs are offered at 0.8EFT. We also strongly encourage the use of clinical supervision to support your personal and professional development and our experienced education staff are always available to offer individualised clinical support.
On completion of our MHGNP, you will have the skills and knowledge necessary to take on the challenges of mental health nursing with confidence and expertise. You will feel well prepared for a career in mental health nursing that is both challenging and rewarding.
Start your journey to becoming a graduate mental health nurse at South West Healthcare today! To find out more, contact Psychiatric Nurse Consultant, Catherine O’Keeffe on (03) 5564 6016 or CO’Keeffe@swh.net.au
Graduates have the opportunity to apply for 4 different programs within the MHGNP:
We understand the importance of work life balance and the changes that graduates experience as they transition from student to qualified nurse. Therefore, all our graduate nurse programs are offered at 0.8EFT, which equates to 64 hours a fortnight.
All graduate nurses commencing in mental health have comprehensive orientation to Mental Health Services, prior to commencing 8 supernumary shifts.
Participants in the MHGNP will attend mental health and wellbeing specific study days with topics such as:
Our program aims to develop graduate nurses’ clinical skills, to ensure they are able to provide holistic care to the consumers of our service. All graduates participating in the MHGNP will also attend 6 general nursing study days in addition to the MHGNP.
You need to apply through PMCV and also directly to South West Healthcare.
Applications open 27th of May 2024, closing date is the 21st of June.
Applications must include:
Note: Applicants must apply through both PMCV and South West Healthcare.
We also offer a range of post graduate positions in the MHAIU, community mental health and a combination of the two. Graduates are expected to enrol in post graduate study while they complete their post graduate year. Successful completion of the MHGNP will provide recognition of prior learning (RPL) for a range of universities including The University of Melbourne, ACU, RMIT and La Trobe.
South West Healthcare is the largest maternity hospital along the coast between Geelong and Adelaide. Our Maternity unit comprises of a 4 bed birthing unit, 2 assessment beds, 12 antenatal, postnatal, and gynaecology beds and a Level 2 Special Care Nursery.
Our Continuity Midwife Program is also located on the Maternity Unit and cares for women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience.
Postnatal home visits are operated from the Maternity Unit 6 days a week.
The Women’s Health Service, also located within the hospital, provides a multitude of services including antenatal care to both low and high risk women, a maternity assessment unit and access to childbirth education classes and lactation consultants.
Our graduate program for the dual degrees of Bachelor of Midwifery/Bachelor of Nursing, commences in February each year with supported rotations in general nursing and the Maternity Unit. As an integrated unit operating under the one umbrella, midwives at South West Healthcare have the opportunity to develop skills across all areas of maternity care, supporting continuity and woman-centred care.
For further information, contact the Midwifery Clinical Educator on (03) 5564 4055 or email midwiferyeducator@swh.net.au
2 positions for the 6 months general wards/6 months midwifery
2 positions Registered Nurse/Post Graduate Midwife – advertised separately in September
Our graduate nurse positions are all offered at 0.8EFT, which equates to 64 hours a fortnight.
All graduate Nurse/Midwives commencing in maternity have one orientation day with the Midwifery clinical educator and 4 supernumerary shifts.
You will provided with a graduate book with skills and goals you can work through with an allocated mentor.
Along with the 7 dedicated study days you will attend in the nursing stream midwifery graduates will also attend:
2 paid Midwifery focused study days
PROMPT – Maternity emergency training
FSEP
Plus many education opportunities each week offered in double staff time including CTG reviews weekly.
You need to apply through PMCV and also directly to South West Healthcare.
Applications open 27th of May 2024, closing date is the 21st of June.
Registered Nurse/Post Graduate midwife – advertised separately in September apply directly to South West Healthcare.
Applications must include:
Note: Applicants must apply through both PMCV and South West Healthcare.
We encourage and support further consolidation in all areas of maternity care at south West Healthcare.
If you have completed a nursing graduate program, we offer a Postgraduate Diploma of Midwifery position currently. It is a 52 week 0.6 paid position offering placement in all areas of maternity care.
SWH pharmacy interns experience all facets of hospital pharmacy with close mentoring by a team of enthusiastic clinical pharmacists. Initial rotations will consolidate the intern’s knowledge of dispensing medications and counselling patients on medications and providing relevant information such as CMI and medication summaries.
From the middle of their intern year, SWH interns are competent in all aspects of medication management and are given the responsibility for managing their own cohort of inpatients, working closely with a mentoring pharmacist. This embeds key skills of communication, prioritisation and time management skills. SWH interns are fully supported if they wish to experience pharmacy in a different setting, such as a local community pharmacy.
Three intern positions are available in 2025 (1 government-funded, 2 hospital-funded).
Interns have a weekly roster, and rotate every few weeks through different clinical areas including General Medical and Palliative Care, Surgical, Rehabilitation & Geriatric Evaluation, Hospital in the Home, Dispensary, Sterile Manufacturing & Oncology. Medication Safety and Antimicrobial Stewardship rotations are also included.
Education throughout the year is our focus, and to optimise their internship our interns participate in Barwon Health’s weekly tutorials remotely. These tutorials are in addition to weekly face-to-face meetings with the preceptor to discuss any issues with the program or other matters as they arise. Multiple practice exams are conducted during the year to ensure good preparation for exams. We also offer intern pharmacists the opportunity to complete a Graduate Certificate in Pharmacy Practice during their intern year at SWH, via the Intern Foundation Program offered by Monash University’s Faculty of Pharmacy.
Interns will be based at the Warrnambool campus of South West Healthcare, with one intern also having the opportunity for a 6-week rotation during their intern year to Colac Area Health.
Colac Area Health is a smaller rural health service approximately 45 minutes west of Geelong on the Princes Highway. Colac Area Health hosts an intern for a total of 6 weeks split over two rotations. These placements give the intern a true understanding of a smaller health service, and they have the opportunity and support to operate with a higher level of independence at an early stage of training. They also benefit from further exposure to other areas such as grand rounds with medical students, insight into veterinary pharmacy and HARP medication reviews
Online applications open at 9:00am Monday 18 July 2022
Applications close at 11.59pm Monday 1 August 2022
Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents who have completed, or will complete in 2024 a registrable pharmacy degree at a Victorian university, are eligible to apply for all positions, i.e. positions funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and positions funded by hospitals (non-DHHS).
SHPA will provide the relevant dates for the application process prior to the opening date.
Applications are collected through SHPA’s online portal.
Applicants will be required to complete an online pre-screening process using VidCruiter for the hospitals they ranked 1 and 2.
This process involves:
– Uploading a CV and cover letter
– Uploading academic transcripts (if requested by the individual hospital)
– Recording answers to the questions asked by individual hospitals