First Year Graduate Course Details
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Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and considering Western District Health Service for your Graduate Nurse Program.
Western District Health Service is situated in the Western District of Victoria and consists of three campuses:
~ Hamilton Base Hospital
~ Penshurst & District Health Service
~ Coleraine District Health Service
Hamilton Base Hospital
Hamilton Base Hospital, the largest entity and lead agency within the Western District Health Service, has 75 acute and 90 aged care beds providing a wide range of acute and aged care services. It provides services to communities within the Shire boundaries of Southern Grampians, Glenelg and Moyne Shires, the cities of Ararat, Horsham and Warrnambool and the south east of South Australia. It is located within the Department of Human Services Region One – the Barwon and South Western Region.
The Acute Hospital and the Aged Care Services are both ACHS accredited with the Aged Care Services also being accredited with the Aged Care Standards Agency.
The service has been completely refurbished and is noted for its state of the art facilities especially the Education Centre with up to date equipment and latest technology, supported by well-trained and highly skilled staff.
The Operating Suite has two theatres that deal with a wide range of general and speciality surgical procedures; it is supported by direct admission to Theatre and Peri-Operative services.
Coleraine District Health Service
The township of Coleraine is approximately 30 kilometres to the west of Hamilton. This facility consists of 15 acute beds, 53 residential aged care beds including both high and low care residents at the Valley View Nursing Home, Wannon Court, Mackie Court Hostel and 25 Independent Living Units.
Penshurst and District Health Service
Penshurst is approximately 30 kilometres to the south east of Hamilton. This health service provides 6 acute care medical beds, 17 high and 10 low residential aged care beds, 10 Independent Living Units (4 at Penshurst and 6 at Dunkeld) with day support, health promotion, health education and health maintenance services provided through the Sheppard Centre.
The Graduate Nurse Program
This is a carefully planned and integrated twelve month educational program, designed to consolidate nursing skills and increase professional awareness, under the supervision and guidance of experienced and competent nurses.
Throughout the program, support and education is provided to enhance the transition from student to graduate, providing increased job satisfaction and better patient care.
This program involves rotations in the areas of Acute Care, Aged Care, Community Health and short rotations in speciality areas. Rotations to all three campuses of the organisation are included.
Aims of the Graduate Program
- To reinforce already learned basic skills and increase awareness of current technological developments.
- To identify individual learning needs and develop appropriate learning experiences to meet perceived needs.
- To enhance desirable ethical and professional attitudes.
- To foster an awareness of the participants role and responsibilities in regard to the principles of adult learning.
Assessments
These include a drug competency involving both theoretical and practical aspects of administration, preparation of a case history and an educational brochure. Graduates are also regularly appraised and are asked to keep a reflective journal.
Graduates are also expected to undertake competencies in Basic Life Support, Epidural Analgesia, Blood Transfusion management and No Lift during the first 8 weeks of the graduate year.
Education Component
- Theoretical Content:
The program commences with a week of orientation. The orientation program incorporates four days of health service information, tutorials and a one day supernumerary clinical component. A further 40 hours classroom time is given during the year in hospital time. Graduates can also attend in-service education sessions and professional development days.
Clinical Component:
- Will include rotations through the acute areas i.e., Medical, Surgical (which includes Complex Care and Day Procedure Units), District Nursing Service and Aged Care Services at Hamilton, Penshurst and Coleraine.
- Participants will be encouraged to pursue competence and excellence in their clinical placements.
- Support and encouragement is provided by the allocation of appropriate preceptors and the utilization of Clinical Teachers and Practice Development Nurses, with some initial supernumerary time on each rotation.
- During the Graduate Nurse Program participants will not be left “in-charge’ for more than a short period e.g., meal break
Clinical Teachers
The Clinical Teachers are responsible for the overall coordination of the Graduate Nurse Program. These responsibilities include the facilitation of study days, allocation of rotations, facilitating the completion of competencies, coordinating formal feedback to the graduate whilst also providing support and being a resource to all graduates.
Practice Development Nurses
The Practice Development Nurses provide direct clinical support to the graduate in specific areas of acute and aged care.
Preceptors
Preceptors are assigned to each graduate in all rotations. These preceptors are trained in the roles and responsibilities of mentorship. Many of these preceptors have experienced the transition from student to graduate and therefore empathise with the newly registered nurse. Your preceptor will assist in your orientation to each clinical area, support your development as a nurse and provide you with formal and informal feedback on your progress.
Library/Librarian
Western District Health Service offers excellent Library resources and the services of a qualified, highly competent Librarian. Our modern Library has quiet nooks for study and three Personal Computers with access to Cinhal, Medline, Clinicians Health Channel, Cochrane Collection and the Joanna Briggs Institute and is a member of Gratis. Additionally there is access to the Western District Health Service Intranet where Clinical Protocols and Policies are available as well as the Joanna Briggs Evidence Based Protocols.
The Library has many books and journals for your use and caters for all streams of medicine, nursing and allied health.
Library hours are 5 days per week 9.30 am – 3.00 pm but can be accessed after hours.
Annual Leave
Annual leave is allocated within your rotation throughout the year. Your entitlement will be according to the Victorian Nurses Award as a Registered Nurse.
Pay Rates/Accrued Day Off
Pay rates and Accrued Days Off are according to the Victorian Nurses Award as a Registered Nurse.
Car Parking
Designated car parks are available at each campus facility with no fees applicable.
Recognition for the Graduate Nurse Program 
A Hospital Certificate will be awarded to successful candidates at the completion of the Graduate Nurse Program.
The Western District of Victoria
The Western District offers a relaxing rural lifestyle within easy reach of the Coast and the Grampians. The City of Hamilton is located at the centre of the Western District and is a beautiful pastoral region. Hamilton is a natural stopover point between Melbourne and Adelaide – or vice versa, having a population of around 10,000 people and offers visitors a wide range of accommodation, facilities and services.
Amongst the many attractions are ancient volcanoes, waterfalls, caves, National and Heritage listed State Parks, Art Galleries and Museums, open gardens, wineries, restaurants and a truly spectacular coastline. There are numerous sporting facilities that include yachting, swimming and inland and offshore fishing.
The famous Coonawarra vineyards are a short one and half hour drive from Hamilton, but on the way many interesting places await the traveller. West along the Glenelg Highway call in and sample premium local wines from Bochara Wine cellar door sales before proceeding to Coleraine, once the home of Helena Rubenstein of international cosmetic fame. Here you will find the Glenelg Fine Chocolates (not to be missed), Eucalyptus Discovery Centre and Old Blacksmith’s Shop as well as the history of the region’s pioneers, the Henty Brothers. From the top of Muntham Hill there are great views of the surrounding countryside.
Two cascading waterfalls are to be found 15 minutes west of Hamilton and have inspired many artists over the years. Nigretta Falls has a good viewing and fishing areas, river walks and barbeque. A five minute drive away you will find the majestic Wannon Falls, also with excellent facilities and camping area.
The majestic Grampians can be seen from almost anywhere around Hamilton and Dunkeld, the Southern Gateway to the Grampians, is just 20 minutes drive away. A short distance along the Halls Gap Tourist Road is the starting point for walking tracks leading to the summits of Mt.Sturgeon and Mt.Abrupt. Lake Bellfield on the outskirts of Halls gap is 35 minutes from Dunkeld and has fishing and picnic spots.
A walk or a drive through Hamilton reveals a glimpse of history, tradition, culture and sheer delight as one discovers what is known by many as one of the most stylish cities in regional Victoria.
You are never a stranger in the close, caring and friendly country community of Hamilton. It is also a vibrant sophisticated township offering a wide range of facilities in arts, culture, sporting and religion. For those who love the arts, there are book and cinema clubs, theatre, the museum and art gallery and an excellent regional library. All religious denominations are very well catered for and readily welcome visitors.
Hamilton has a range of family restaurants, takeaways, hotels and a growing number of gourmet cafes and delicatessens with their own unique style. Gourmet restaurants, intimate wine bars and alfresco dining are on offer with local wine and food featured. A visit to one of the many excellent farmers markets in the region is a must whilst in Hamilton.
If you desire retail therapy then head to the hub of Hamilton and you will discover a bustling shopping district with a great variety of stores including antique dealers, boutique style fashions, specialty gifts and a luxury day spa facility. The city centre offers arcade shopping and you will also find major chain stores and supermarkets.
Further Information
Please visit our web page at www.wdhs.net or contact:
Lorraine Hedley
Clinical Resource Manager
Western District Health Service
PO Box 283
Hamilton Vic 3300
Application Process
Registered Nurse Division 1 |
Registered Nurse Division 2 |
Applications are to be conducted through the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV) Computer Matching Online Program. Follow the General Nurse Program Stream. Formal applications for the Western District Health Service Graduate Nurse Program are to be forwarded to the Human Resources Department with a detailed Curriculum Vitae, including three referees, your academic transcripts and at least 3 clinical placement reports. It would be desirable but not imperative to include three written references with your application. Please forward applications to: Hilary King |
Western District Health Service will advertise positions for the Registered Nurse Division 2 Graduate Nurse Program.
Applications for these advertised positions are to be forwarded to the Human Resources Department with a detailed Curriculum Vitae, including three referees, your academic transcripts along with your clinical placement reports. It would be desirable but not imperative to include three written references.
Please forward applications to: Hilary King |