Education

Graduate Programs

Creating purpose-trained nurses who have a long lasting career at Austin Health and provide reliable, safe, patient-centred care.

About us

We recruit over 150 graduate nurses into our Graduate Nurse Program (GNP) each year. Our Graduate Nurse Program has three streams:

  • General stream
  • Mental Health stream
  • Combined General and Mental Health stream

Our graduate nurses participate in a well-structured and highly supportive program that offers many learning and development opportunities across the four sites of Austin Health.

We believe that graduate support and education is everyone’s business and this is the culture that we foster at Austin Health. The nursing education and ward teams strive to achieve best practice clinical learning environments for our graduate nurses, ensuring we deliver the best patient experiences.

Our program offers:

  • Dedicated Graduate Coordinator
  • Two rotations
  • Large variety of acute and specialty rotations
  • Opportunities to work in High Dependency Units
  • Part-time (4 days a week)
  • Comprehensive orientation program
  • Online learning
  • Structured reflective practice.

Other benefits

  • Physical wellbeing support - including EAP and wellness programs
  • Financial wellbeing support - including Salary Packaging options
  • Personal email account
  • Secure and subsidised staff car parking
  • Bike storage on-site
  • Staff discounts with many local businesses
  • Close proximity to train, buses and Heidelberg shopping precinct.

A safe and inclusive workplace

We are committed to supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, by providing an inclusive environment where all cultures are valued and respected. We have a number of initiatives in place to support this commitment.

As a member of the Victorian Aboriginal Graduate and Cadetship Network there is a direct application for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. 

For more information please contact: graduatenurseprogram@austin.org.au

2022 Graduate Nurse Program Information Sessions

We will be hosting a series of online information and Q&A sessions. 

These sessions will provide a brief overview of our Graduate Nurse Program and give you the opportunity to ask the team any questions you have about our 2022 Graduate Nurse Program.

Session Dates & Times:

  • General Stream
    • Tuesday 1 June at 11am
    • Thursday 10 June at 4pm
    • Thursday 17 June at 4pm
    • Tuesday 22 June at 11am
  • Mental Health Stream
    • Wednesday 16 June at 4.30pm

More dates to be released soon. 

Bookings are essential:

austinhealthclinicaleducationunit.eventbrite.com.au/

Stay up to date

Here's how you can stay up to date with everything that's happening:

Application process for 2022 graduate nurse intake

Applications for our 2022 Graduate Nurse Programs will open on 7 June 2021.

Application Requirements:

  • Austin Health Graduate Nurse Program Personal Details Form (Included in the job ad which goes live on 7 June)​. 
  • Cover letter (One page).​
  • Curriculum Vitae  (Two pages). ​
  • Academic transcript (Must be an official transcript which has either been certified or has electronic certification). 
  • Two clinical appraisals​ (Must be no more than 10 pages)
  • Two clinical referees.

Apply today for our General Stream Graduate Nursing Program or Combined Graduate Nursing Program.

Beyond the graduate year

Austin Health provides a wide range of opportunities beyond the Graduate Nurse Program, with more than 90 per cent of graduates staying on with Austin Health after completion.

Foundation Programs

Austin Health offers a range of transition to specialty practice foundational courses:

  • Emergency Department
  • Intensive Care Unit
  • Cardiac
  • Respiratory
  • Peri-Operative
  • Peri-Anaesthesia
  • Recovery.

Postgraduate Courses

Austin Health offers postgraduate course in a range of specialties:

  • Emergency
  • Intensive Care
  • Cardiac
  • Renal
  • Cancer
  • Mental Health
  • Paediatrics. 

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Do I get supernumerary time during my graduate year?

Yes you will get supernumerary time on both of your rotations, a minimum of three days on your first rotation and minimum of two on your second rotation.

How many study days are provided?

We provide a minimum of five study days in the General stream, seven study days in the Combined stream and ten in the Mental Health stream. These are tailored to meet the specific learning needs of graduate nurses.

Most graduates also attend extra study days specific to their clinical areas.

What support is offered to me as a Graduate?

Graduate nurses are supported on the wards by members of the Clinical Education Unit, including specialty Nurse Educators and Clinical Support nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, ANUMs and NUMs. Each graduate is also allocated a preceptor who will work with them during supernumerary time and provide ongoing support during their rotation.

I have never done a clinical placement at Austin Health - will this affect my chances of getting into your program?

No - we understand that students don't usually get to choose where they undertake their clinical placements. We welcome the diversity of students from different Universities in Victoria.

What contract will I be offered if I am successful?

You will be offered a 54-week contract, at 8 days per fortnight.

After your graduate year you will be given ongoing employment in various locations at various hours.

Frequently asked questions - Application Process

Who do I address my cover letter to? 

For the general stream please address your cover letter to Sirini Griffiths, Graduate Nurse Program Coordinator. 

For the mental health stream please address your cover letter to Helen Brown-May, Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program Graduate Coordinator.  

For combined applications please address your cover letter to both Helen Brown-May and Sirini Griffiths. 

How will I know if I am shortlisted for an interview and when are they held?

Interviews will be conducted in August. You will be notified by email if you have been successful in gaining an interview.

Unsuccessful applicants will also be notified via email.

When will I find out if my application is successful?

The Allocation and Placement System, run by PMCV, conduct the computer matching service which places graduate nurses with hospitals. If you have been successful in getting a position at Austin Health a member of the GNP team will ring you on the day the results are released.

My appraisal is over 10 pages long, what should I do?

As per the application guidelines your appraisal must be 10 pages or less in length. Please ensure your appraisal includes:

  • Cover page with placement location and dates
  • Time sheet
  • Preceptor comments (Formative & Summative)

My acute placement was split over two locations, do I submit this as one or two appraisals?

Please include these as one single appraisal.

My preceptor did not write any formative comments?

If your preceptor did not write any comments please ensure you include the summative and include the marking rubric from your formative and summative assessments.

What should I do if my transcript does not have my third year results on it?

We understand that your third year results may not be released in time for your application. Please attach your most recent Official Transcript and bring an updated one with you to interview.

What should I do if I can't get some of the required documents by the closing date?

If you do not have a particular document when submitting your application, please indicate this in your cover letter and attach a word document with a statement explaining that you “Will submit when available”. Please bring the document to the interview.

All required documents must be either original, digitally watermarked or certified.

Who can certify my copied documents?

Documents can be certified by:

  • Justice of Peace
  • Police Station
  • Pharmacist

What are my chances if I am an interstate applicant?

Austin Health is governed by the Allocation and Placement System for computer matching, which gives preference to Victorian applicants in the first instance. 

I am an International student and am not eligible to register through computer match. Can I still apply?

Austin Health recruits through the Computer Match process and currently we only accept applicants that are eligible for computer match.

Should there be any positions available following computer match they will be advertised on the Austin careers website.

 

 

Frequently asked questions - Rotations

Do you offer placements in specialty areas?

Yes - Austin Health has a wide variety of specialty areas across the three sites.

  • Victorian Spinal Cord Service
  • Victorian Liver Transplant Unit
  • Victorian Respiratory Support Service and Ventilation Weaning Unit
  • Emergency Department
  • Acquired Brain Injury Unit
  • Cardiac surgery and cardiology
  • Paediatrics
  • Day surgery
  • Oncology and haematology
  • Neurology and neurosurgery
  • Renal

Opportunity to work in High Dependency Units

  • Respiratory
  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgical

Do I get to choose where I rotate during my GNP?

As part of the application process we will ask you to list the areas in which you would be your preferred area of work. We take these into consideration when we are allocating your two clinical rotations. 

What are my chances of getting one of my preferred clinical rotations?

Traditionally there are some wards that are very popular and demand is high for these positions. 

It is our priority to ensure each graduate receives the best clinical development by rotating across two distinct clinical areas such as: acute/subacute/medical/surgical/specialty.

 

Downloads