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Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program
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Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program
Townsville Hospital and Health Services graduates represent the future of healthcare within our nursing and midwifery workforce.
The graduate program will provide the opportunity for you to develop you clinicals skills and knowledge and assists you in reaching your full potential whilst providing exciting and rewarding career opportunities.
What is the graduate nurse and midwifery program?
The Townsville Hospital and Health Service Graduate Nursing and Midwifery Program is 12-month program designed to support transition into the registered nurse or midwife role. The role provides you with a temporary position for a 12-month appointment, with opportunity to apply for a permanent position at completion of the program.
Our program provides a unique opportunity where you will be able to realise your career aspirations and develop clinical knowledge skills within the clinical setting. You will be supported in the clinical setting to consolidate clinical confidence and competence, critical thinking, and decision-making skills within dynamic clinical settings.
Where would I be placed?
Graduate positions are available in clinical units within Townsville University Hospital and we also have graduate positions in our community, primary health, rural and aged care facilities. Graduate placements include adult medical, surgical, emergency, critical care and specialist areas, midwifery, paediatrics and neonatal.
Graduate nurses will be allocated to a clinical area for the 12-month period. There is some opportunity for graduates to undertake clinical rotations in a few specific clinical speciality rotations, with the purpose of consolidating clinical experience.
What support is offered to the graduate nurse and midwife program?
Graduate nurses and midwives are supported by a dedicated team including a nurse educator and clinical integrators who will support you throughout the year.
Direct graduate program supports include:
- 12-month temporary contract at 56 hours per fortnight
- Support of a clinical integrator
- Hospital orientation and induction
- Education days and forums
- Reflective practice
- Preceptorship and mentoring
- Supportive clinical practice ad partnership
- Career advancement opportunities on completion
Our Graduate Support Team
The graduate nurse and midwife program is conducted by Clinical Education Services which includes a nurse educator, and clinical integrators. The Nurse Education teamwork with clinical leads in wards and units to ensure graduates are supported in clinical practice.
Nurse Educator
The Townsville HHS has a full-time nurse educator who is responsible for the co-ordination and management of the Graduate Program and providing support and guidance to graduate nurses. The nurse educator will also work on the wards, clinically, with the graduate.
Clinical Integrator
Clinical integrators provide clinical support to graduates, helping with early integration and delivery of safe patient care. These positions assist with time management, clinical education, patient care and guidance with policies and procedures, covering morning and afternoon shifts most days of the week.
Clinical Partner/Preceptor
As a graduate you will be allocated a clinical partner or preceptor throughout the graduate program. The preceptor provides you with resource and support contact to assist with orientating the graduate to their clinical area during the initial months, and during their program.
How do I apply for a Graduate Nurse or Midwife position?
If you would like to start your nursing or midwifery career at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, you can apply for a Registered Nurse or Midwife Graduate Program position through the Queensland Health graduate portal.
Cherrie, Registered Nurse![]()
"In 2020, I was fortunate to obtain a graduate nurse position at the Townsville University Hospital (TUH) Renal Unit. I was excited to embark on my new career and was filled with nervous anticipation. I once read that being a graduate nurse was like learning to ride a bike with 13 wheels, while simultaneously playing the drums, and completing a crossword puzzle! This was true, and to make things more interesting, the COVID-19 pandemic was added to the mix.
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Some days things went to plan and some days I felt so overwhelmed that I questioned my ability to be a nurse. I made it through, and I attribute that largely to the support I received while participating in the Graduate Program. The team, along with the renal unit and clinical partners, were amazing as they helped me navigate my challenging first year of practice. The Graduate team provided a safe, supportive environment that facilitated interactions with other graduates where we could share our experiences without judgement. If I felt overwhelmed the team would follow up with phone calls and informal drop-in chats on the ward.
The more I learned, the more my confidence in my own practice increased. The graduate program offered a multitude of education forums, tailored to suit individual work environments.
The graduate year presented many challenges. The education and support received throughout the program facilitated personal and professional enrichment and growth and enabled me to transition from a novice nurse to a more confident practitioner."
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Sam, Registered Nurse![]()
"Beginning my clinical practice as a newly graduated registered nurse, during a once-in-a-generation pandemic, in one of the busiest regional emergency departments in Australia, isn't what I had expected when I started studying as as nurse. After putting on those scrubs with a badge that read ‘Registered Nurse’ for the first time, a deep understanding of the ‘imposter syndrome’ phenomenon sank in!
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However, the structure of the Graduate Nurse/Midwifery Program at Townsville University Hospital (TUH) meant that these feelings were short-lived. The support I received from the TUH Clinical Integration Team and the Emergency Department staff was outstanding.
I benefited from attending tutorials presented by senior nursing staff from across the hospital and sharing in experiences from specific clinical areas with other graduate nurses during reflective sessions. Support provided by experienced Clinical Integrators in the department, after one phone call, was also very reassuring.
The thing I am most grateful for during my graduate year was the amazing support from the whole team in the Emergency Department. The entire team - from the Nurse Unit Manager right through to the Clinical Nurses, Doctors, Allied Health staff and Administrations officers - was amazing. Everyone supported me and made me feel welcome and included as a team member. Being included as a member of this amazing team – and the incredible breadth of learning that comes with it – has given me confidence on the career-long journey to proficiency."
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Deni, Registered Nurse![]()
"After graduating university I was overwhelmed and anxious about starting a new career, especially within health care during a pandemic. Due to the support of the Graduate Program at the Townsville University Hospital, I can reflect on my first year of nursing and think about what an amazing, positive experience it was.
The program gave me the tools and support I needed to navigate the challenges a beginning nurse could face. The large number of hands-on-training opportunities and educational forums made available to me, as part of the graduate program, enriched my learning. They helped me to become more clinically skilled than I expected during my first year of practice.
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The reflection sessions, emotional support and debrief the staff on the Graduate Program team provided gave me foundational coping skills that I will carry with me through the rest of my career.
Working for a hospital and completing a graduate program that is so focused on my success has been an amazing way to start my career in nursing and I’m excited to see where it takes me."
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For information about nursing and midwifery jobs at Townsville Hospital and Health Service, fill in the below and a member of our friendly staff will be in touch.
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which our health facilities have been built. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge.