GradStart 2023 Nursing program

Under the program, first-year registered nurses acquire experience and knowledge within a supportive environment, enabling them to become professional, competent and effective paediatric health care practitioner.

The program teaches participants to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice in a supportive environment, whilst transitioning to the registered nurse role in a specialist paediatric hospital. Its focus is on delivering person-centred care to children and their families.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network also offers first-year registered nurses opportunity to undertake their honours program while working as a first-year registered nurse.

• Read NSW Health's GradStart Handbook

 GradStart program

The program has been designed to provide valuable and varied experience in the first 12 months in the role of a registered nurse. The first year registered nurse will acquire experience and knowledge within a supportive environment, enabling them to become a professional, competent and effective paediatric health care practitioner.

The goal of the GradStart program is to teach participants to apply theoretical knowledge to clinical practice in a supportive environment, whilst transitioning to the registered nurse role in a specialist paediatric hospital. The program will enable participants to provide person-centred care to children and their families by developing a philosophy and personal model of children and adolescent nursing.

The first year registered nurse will be encouraged to develop advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills throughout their program and into their professional careers. They will also learn invaluable skills for communicating with children and families.

Program structure

During the program, the first year registered nurse has the opportunity to consolidate practice in the clinical setting. Clinical settings include:

• Perioperative service stream (anaesthetics, recovery, scrub/scout and day stay) (CHW)
• Recovery (SCH)
• Adolescent surgery/medical
• Oncology/haematology
• Burns/plastic surgery
• Neuroscience
• Cardiothoracic
• Surgical
• Orthopaedic
• Medical
• Isolation/infectious diseases
• Day stay/medical and surgical
• Renal/liver/kidney/transplants (CHW)
• Neonatal intensive care (CHW)
• Gastroenterology/ endocrinology/rheumatology 
• Emergency department
• Paediatric intensive care unit

Participants are given an opportunity to indicate their ward preferences during the 12-month program.

Honours program with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network offers first-year registered nurses the opportunity to undertake their honours program while continuing to work as a first-year registered nurse. Program participants will be employed on either a 12-month full-time or a 24-month part-time contract.

The Hospitals will support program participants through the provision of study leave to attend their university commitments and participants are encouraged to apply for nursing scholarships at the Hospital.

The honours program is supported by the Nursing Research and Practice Development Unit who assist participants with their project through supervision, regular meetings and workshops. Honours program participants will have the opportunity to rotate through general and specialty areas in the Hospital.

Education and learning within the program

The first year registered nurse is provided with a number of educational study days throughout the year which are designed to complement the clinical placement.

The GradStart program encourages participants to attend clinical support sessions to foster reflective practice. A strong element of the program is to encourage the program participant to use reflection as a means of gaining a greater awareness of their performance and their personal and professional self to ensure they are providing quality, person-centred nursing care.

Each clinical area offers organisational and specialty education sessions. All program participants are encouraged to participate in these learning opportunities.

Learning experiences

The GradStart program will challenge participants to think critically about current knowledge, practice and the implementation of evidence-based practice in the clinical setting. The participants will be encouraged to be ongoing and self-directed in their learning and supported in identifying their own learning objectives and goals.

All program participants are required to complete compulsory assessable components, including work-based learning assessments and theoretical work.

Support

A comprehensive orientation program will facilitate the integration of nurses into the Hospital and ward environment within Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

Each nurse will be assigned a preceptor. This process enhances orientation and adjustment to the clinical area and assists in the development of clinical skills and knowledge.

Support will also be provided by the program educators as well as multidisciplinary staff on the ward, including nurse unit managers, nurse educators, clinical nurse educators, clinical nurse specialists and nursing staff.

Ongoing career development

First-year registered nurses are provided with guidance in relation to their ongoing career and professional development pathways.

Transport and accommodation

Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

The Hospital is a 20-minute trip from the city by car, light rail or bus.

Transport details, timetables and fare information can be found via the Trip Planner website or phone 131 500.

There is no on-site accommodation at Randwick. There are many rental properties, please contact local real estate agents.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead

The Hospital is a 35-minute trip from the city by bus or train. Westmead railway station is a short walk away and bus services connect to the Hospital’s main entrance.

There is no on-site accommodation at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. However, staff are able to apply for accommodation at the nearby Westmead Hospital Residential Complex, subject to availability. All units provide basic accommodation and amenities and the majority of units are available in shared four-bedroom units. There are also rental properties available in the area. Please contact local real estate agents for further information.

Application process

All positions for the 2023 GradStart program at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network must be made via the NSW Ministry of Health: Nurses and Midwifery Office (NaMO).

The NSW Nursing and Midwifery Office has released 5 online modules to support students through the application and recruitment process. 

No applications outside of this process will be considered.

Interview dates will be available shortly

Conditions of employment

Employment details

Participants in the GradStart program are employed by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network on a temporary 12-month contract. Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network honours program participants have the option to be employed on a part-time 0.8 FTE basis for 24 months.

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Nurses Registration

All participants must be eligible to apply and be granted their NSW Nurses Registration prior to commencement of the program. Failure to meet this criterion will prevent the first year registered nurse from applying for and commencing the program.

Immunisation status

All participants must be fully vaccinated prior to commencing the program at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. An offer of employment will only be confirmed to the successful applicant when evidence of protection against the specified infectious diseases and TB screening is provided and accepted by Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.

Annual leave

Annual leave will be available during the program.

Uniform

Nurses at Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network are provided with a uniform package. It is expected that GradStart participants will wear the uniform in full, as professional presentation is considered essential for all staff.

Start date for 2023

The commencement date and intakes are to be confirmed and will be listed on Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network website.