Neonatal medical roles

What do neonatologists do?

Neonatologists are paediatricians with subspecialty training in the care of newborn infants.

This requires a high level of knowledge in physiology, pathology, medical ethics, communication as well as excellent procedural skills.

Neonatologists are involved in a broad range of ways from resuscitation at birth to intensive care of the sickest newborns to the care of common neonatal issues on the postnatal ward.

Their roles generally include:

• The assessment and management of unwell babies due a wide range of underlying diagnoses including those born prematurely, with infections, problems breathing, difficult and/or traumatic birth, underlying cardiac and or surgical problems, as well as genetic, endocrine and metabolic conditions.
• The non-verbal nature of their patients mean they rely heavily on a strong knowledge of physiology, pathology and clinical skills. They also rely on the high level of skills and knowledge of their nursing staff and parental concerns in order to alert them to any change in the condition of their patients.
• Providing assessment and advice to support nutrition and growth of newborns, especially those born preterm.
• Overseeing the coordination and care of complex patients with other subspecialties.
• Antenatal Counselling for parents and women who have been identified as having certain risk factors.
• Attending high risk deliveries for babies that require resuscitation and/or stabilization.
• Long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up and follow-up.
• Involvement into research studies looking into treatments, technology as well as those that advance our knowledge in this field.
• As Educators they teach neonatal, paediatric trainees and medical students. They also may teach resuscitation and stabilisation to healthcare staff outside the tertiary setting.
• Neonatal Retrieval Specialists oversee the care of infants who require transport to a specialist centre. Retrieval Specialists provide advice over the phone and via telehealth, coordinate the transport and care of infants, as well as leading high acuity transports with a Senior Registrar, Neonatal Nurse and Ambulance transport officer.
• Neonatologists play an important role in Family Integrated Care (FiCare), which supports the partnership between parents and staff, promote parent-baby interactions and to build parent confidence.

Roles

Consultant neonatologist

• The most senior medical professional responsible for overseeing the care of newborns. At CAHS the Consultants work either at:
  • our perinatal centre at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH),
  • our NICU at Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) (ward 3B),
  • neurodevelopment centre at KEMH and/or in
  • our Newborn Emergency Transport Service (NETS WA), based at PCH.
• Training to be a Consultant Neonatologist requires a minimum of 6 years full-time training via the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) training program (see “Route to becoming a Neonatologist” below).

Neonatal Senior Registrar / Advanced Trainees

• The most senior training position prior to becoming a Consultant Neonatologist.
• In WA the Senior Registrar role is recognised by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) as an Advanced Training Position.
• A Neonatal Advanced Trainee is a medical practitioner who has successfully completed Paediatric and Child Health Basic Training with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
• Overseas Trainees may also be eligible for this role without being enrolled in the RACP Neonatal Advanced Training Program. 
• In our department Senior Registrars may apply either to the General Pool or for standalone positions. Only NETS WA and Ward 3B at PCH offer standalone positions. General Pool Senior Registrars are rotated every 3-6 months between KEMH, PCH, NETS and Leave Relief.
• 0.5 part time FTE may be available for Senior Registrars on a week on and week off basis.

Neonatal Clinical Fellow

• The title of 'Fellow' has different meanings internationally as well as across Australia. It generally applies to a medical practitioner who has either completed a college training program or trained overseas and is exempt from assessments for admission into the college and has been admitted to fellowship of the college.
• In many parts of Australia neonatal training jobs may be advertised as Neonatal Fellow/Senior Registrar and is considered an Advanced Training Position.
• In Western Australia Clinical Fellow is not an approved job/role title, and as such the job is advertised solely as Senior Registrar.
• Medical Practitioners who have completed their training to become Neonatologists may also remain in the role of a Senior Registrar role whilst waiting for appointment as a Consultant.

Basic Trainee

This applies to a medical practitioner who is enrolled with the RACP in a speciality training program (see Route to becoming a Neonatologist below).

Neonatal Registrar

• A junior training position. Registrars may either be rotated through our department as part of their General Paediatric Training or may be working solely in our department as a standalone position in Neonatology.
• KEMH and PCH 3B are accredited for 6 months core acute care and 12 months non-core as part of General Paediatric Training. The Neonatal Registrar pool consists of both basic and advanced Paediatric Trainee’s.
• KEMH Neonatology is accredited for RACP basic training neonatal requirements.

Neonatal Resident Medical Officer (RMO)

• The most junior medical position in neonatology, with trainees rotated from Obstetrics, General Practice and Paediatric training programs.
• Secondments to KEMH fulfil RACP basic training neonatal requirements.

Route to becoming a Neonatologist

• In Australia and New Zealand to become a Neonatologist you must receive Fellowship via the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP). There are several routes to obtain Fellowship. First is training through the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine training program in Australia and New Zealand. You can also apply for Specialist Assessment or Short-term specialist training if you are an oversees trained specialist.
• Specialist training in Australia and New Zealand takes a minimum of 6 years and is comprised of:
  • 3 years Basic Training in Paediatrics
  • Completion of the FRACP written and clinical examinations
  • 3 Years Advanced training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine which includes the following:
    • 18 months in a perinatal setting (KEMH NICU fulfills).
    • 6 months in a neonatal setting which is accredited for and performs major surgery (PCH NICU fulfills).
    • 6 months further core training or neonatal retrieval services rotations (KEMH NICU/ PCH NICU/ NETS WA fulfills).
    • 6 months of non-core training in a related speciality (KEMH NICU/ PCH NICU/ NETS WA fulfills).
    • 1 advanced training research project.
    • 4 logbooks; communication, Follow-up Activities Logbook, Neonatal Emergency Transport Services (NETS) Logbook, Procedures Logbook.
    • Australian Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Māori Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety online course (trainees who commenced in 2023 onwards).
    • Developmental and Psychosocial Training (both PCH and KEMH sites offer follow-up and meeting activities to meet logbook requirements).

What to expect

The CAHS neonatal team provides a supportive, balanced working and learning environment that enables them to achieve a successful and fulfilling career. We strive to provide a high quality, evidence-based learning environment for colleagues of all paths and at all levels of career through:

• Clinical exposure and experience
• Didactic teaching programs
• Simulation
• Continued professional development
• Departmental meetings including grand rounds and journal club
• Training in advanced modalities of ventilation for preterm infants
• Engagement in medical and nursing education.
• Attendance and participation in regular multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Training in the Certificate for Clinician Performed Ultrasound

Eligibility to work at CAHS Neonatology

We welcome all eligible applicants to apply for our positions.

To be considered for an RMO, registrar or senior registrar position, you must provide evidence you:

• Are eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia. Further information can be found at: https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Registration.aspx
• Are eligible to work in Australia (Evidence of valid Australian citizenship, permanent residency, temporary residency (or eligibility to obtain) must be provided prior to commencement); and
• Have worked for a minimum of 6 months as a registered medical practitioner in an Australian hospital or comparable hospital setting within the last 3 years in countries where Medical and Surgical training programs have been recognised by the Australian Medical Council and the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Selection criteria

• All applicants are requested to address each of the selection criteria for their position in this application, or as advised in the job application instructions. The answers to this are used in the selection process, which can affect the outcome of your application. Read more about responding to selection criteria.

Please also read the following information

• Information for international applicants
• Medical Board of Australia - International medical graduates (IMGs)

Applying for jobs and Important dates

Jobs are advertised annually through the MedicalCareersWA site.

Recruitment normally commences around May and closes around June for commencement the following February.

However, we may have vacancies throughout the year and always welcome expressions of interest:

• PCH NICU: Rebecca Thomas (email)
• KEMH: Steven Resnick (email)
• NETS WA: Jonathan Davis (email)