Resident Medical Officer
Experience unique and complex medicine in the Northern Territory
Current vacancies
Resident Medical Officers
There is an annual recruitment cycle for resident medical officers (RMOs) wishing to apply to the Top End and Central Australia regions in the various specialties.
Please note the application process for both health services require separate applications.
For detailed information, please read the below RMO's program sections.
Central Australia
The Central Australia region incorporating Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Hospitals offers broad clinical experience and opportunities to improve practical skills, as well as a great lifestyle, spectacular geography and unique medical opportunities. The medicine is incredibly diverse, complex and interesting with a prevalence of rheumatic heart disease, bronchiectasis, and chronic liver and renal disease, along with diabetes in a young population.
The Central Australia Region (CAR) is accredited by the Prevocational Medical Assurance Services (PMAS) on behalf of the Northern Territory Medical Board for intern training and has a dynamic clinical training program incorporating all junior medical officers.
There are more than 50 Resident Medical Officer (RMO) positions with 3, 6, 9 and 12 month rotations through a range of specialty and subspecialty areas, including rotations to Tennant Creek Hospital (TCH)and Primary and Public Health Care (PPHC). PGY3+ RMOs also have access to ‘streamed’ pathways into various registrar positions.
On and off site accommodation is available at Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) for up to 6 months (subject to availability). Longer stays may be negotiated (up to 12 months) depending on individual circumstances and the location (again subject to availability).
On and off site accommodation is available at TCH for Medical and Clinical staff who are recruited outside of the Barkly Region, subject to availability.
All rotations with PGY2 RMOs at ASH will be accredited in 2024 to offer the new AMC Framework.
CAR provides an outstanding junior doctor training program with an award-winning team of educators and clinicians deeply committed to offering the junior doctor a rich and diverse education and training program, reflecting the challenges that come with working in Aboriginal health in rural and remote locations. Strong intern and RMO representation on the Medical Training Committee offers support to the junior doctor experience.
Junior doctors attend regular education and up-skilling sessions, covering broad areas of professional development, including simulation, with all teaching and training in the purpose-built, state-of-the-art Research, Education and Training (RED) Centre, supplemented by up-to-date junior doctor departmental teaching.
Participants can be in control of their own training and keep preference rotations (subject to availability) to suit their learning needs. Whilst not a part of a formal training pathway support for specialty training program entry and development is offered.
RMO rotations
Applicants must rank rotations in order of preference. Rotations include:
- Addiction Medicine – 3 months
- Anaesthetics – 3 months
- Preference to internal applicants and those requiring Anaesthetics for training).
- Emergency Medicine – 3 or 6 months, includes Emergency Certificate.
- streamed pathway available (12 months as rotational RMO/ED-SRMO followed by 12 months as Registrar if meeting required standard)
- General Medicine – 3 months
- General Surgery – 3 months
- ICU – 3 months
- Preference to internal applicants.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology – 3 or 6 months
- Streamed pathway available (12 months as SRMO followed by 12 months as Registrar if meeting required standard).
- Please note - RMOs are first call and receive supervision from Consultant staff in person or by phone and require some ability to work independently.
- Orthopaedics – 3 months
- Paediatrics – 3 months
- Palliative care – 3 months
- Psychiatry – 3 months
- Streamed pathway available (12 months as SRMO followed by 12 months as Registrar if meeting required standard).
- Renal – 3 months
- Remote Primary Care – 3 months
- You will be based in Alice Springs and participate in community visits with a Rural Generalist / Remote Medical Practitioner; visits range from day trips to 4 nights.
TCH - Rural Generalist Term – 3 months
SRMO rotations
For PGY3+ only:
- ED SRMO – 6 months preferred but 3, 9 or 12 month positions available.
- Must have completed 2 terms of Emergency Medicine since graduation.
- ICU SRMO – 6 months
- Selection will involve an additional interview with a representative from ICU.
- Streamed Pathways – 24 month contracts available for potential Rural Generalism, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry trainees.
CAR offers many opportunities for career development for pre-vocational doctors. Rotations offer a general, well-rounded experience leading to a diverse range of vocational options. While contracts are offered on a 12-month basis, planning and pathways can be structured over one, 2 or 3 years, and take into account the needs of the individual junior doctor and tenure of employment.
ASH is accredited for the following:
- Addiction Medicine (RACP)
- Full accreditation.
- Accredited rotation for Physician and General Practice Training Programs.
- Anaesthetics (ANZCA)
- Accreditation for 26 weeks Basic Training on rotation from the SA and NT Anaesthetics Training Scheme.
- Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Physician and Rural Generalist (JCCA) training programs.
- Clinical Forensic Medicine (RACP)
- Accreditation currently pending.
- Emergency Medicine (ACEM)
- Accredited for 18 months FACEM Training Program
- Plus rotations available for non-ED time training time including Anaesthetics, ICU, O+G, Paediatrics, Medicine, Addiction medicine, TCH.
- Accredited for the ACEM Emergency Medicine Certificate and Diploma.
- Accredited rotation for General Practice, Physician and Rural Generalist training programs.
- Accredited for 18 months FACEM Training Program
- General Practice and Rural Generalist training (ACRRM)
- Fully accredited core hospital training.
- AST available in Surgery (2 years), Internal Medicine (12+ months), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics, Academic Practice and Anaesthetics (JCCA).
- General Practice and Rural generalist Training (RACGP)
- Fully accredited hospital time plus 6 months extended skills.
- Extended skills available in Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Palliative Care, Addiction Medicine, and O+G/Women’s Health.
- AST available in Surgery (2 years), Internal Medicine (12+ months), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics, Academic Practice and Anaesthetics (JCCA).
- General Surgery (RACS)
- Accredited for x2 SET positions, 6 months on rotation from interstate training sites.
- Intensive Care Medicine (CICM)
- Accredited for 6 months core training.
- Plus rotations available for non-core time including Anaesthesia (12 months), Internal Medicine (6 months) Emergency Medicine (6 months), Retrieval Medicine (6 months).
- Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine and Physician Training programs.
- Accredited for 6 months core training.
- Medical Administration (RACMA)
- Fully accredited.
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG)
- Accredited for:
- 6 months Basic Training on rotation from SA O+G Training Network – pending.
- 2 years - Advanced Training.
- Certificate of Women’s Health, Diploma RANZCOG and Advanced Diploma RANZCOG.
- Accredited rotation for General Practice, Rural Generalist, Emergency Medicine, Child Health Certificate training programs.
- Accredited for:
- Ophthalmology (RANZCO)
- Accredited for 6 months training on rotation from SA Training Network.
- Orthopaedics (AOA/RACS)
- Accredited for 1 registrar position.
- Paediatrics (RACP)
- Accredited for:
- Basic Training – up to 12 months on rotation from Women’s and Children’s Hospital Network (SA).
- Advanced Training – up to 24 months.
- Diploma of Child Health.
- Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine, Physician, General Practice and Rural Generalist training programs.
- Accredited for:
- Physician Training (RACP)
- Accredited for:
- Basic Training – 12 months; application for 24 months accreditation pending.
- Advanced Training – 12 – 24 months – General Medicine, Nephrology.
- Accredited for AST in Internal Medicine (Rural Generalist) and Clinical Diploma Palliative Care.
- Accredited rotation for Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, General Practice and Rural Generalist Training.
- Accredited for:
- Psychiatry (RANZCP)
- Fully accredited.
- Public Health Medicine (RACP)
- Fully accredited.
- Retrieval medicine (ACEM/ANZCA/CICM/ACRRM/RACGP)
- Conjoint Committee of Pre-Hospital and Retrieval Medicine (CCPHRM).
- Full accreditation from 2021.
Further information for vocational training at ASH for each department can be found in the following links:
- Anaesthetics
- Emergency Medicine
- Intensive Care Unit
- Department of Medicine including:
- General Medicine
- Renal
- Addiction Medicine
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Rehab / Continuing Care
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Surgery
- Rural Generalist at TCH.
RMOs undertake an orientation program prior to commencing ward duties. Key elements include cultural competencies, use of electronic health systems, and an introduction to the management of complex patient presentations.
Orientation to specific departments and their teams takes place at the commencement of ward work.
2025
| Term 1 | Monday 20 January to Sunday 20 April 2025 |
| Term 2 | Monday 21 April to Sunday 20 July 2025 |
| Term 3 | Monday 21 July to Sunday 19 October 2025 |
| Term 4 | Monday 20 October 2025 to Sunday 18 January 2026 |
CAR supports workplace flexibility and shorter contracts to a minimum of 3 months can be negotiated.
Top End
Top End region incorporating Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH), Katherine Hospital and Gove District Hospital offers broad clinical experience and opportunities to improve practical skills, as well as a great lifestyle, spectacular geography and unique medical opportunities. On site facilities at Royal Darwin include a beautiful 25m swimming pool, gym, squash and tennis courts.
On and off site accommodation is available at Royal Darwin, Katherine and Gove hospitals for up to 12 weeks, longer stays may be negotiated depending on individual circumstances and the location.
RDPH supports relocation costs for RMOs relocating from interstate.
RDPH offers RMO positions with rotations through:
Surgery :
- General Surgery
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Ophthalmology
- Ear Nose and Throat (ENT)
- Maxillofacial Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery
- General Medicine
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Dermatology
- General Medicine
- General/Rural Medicine - Gove and Katherine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Haematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Rheumatology.
- Anaesthetics
- Emergency Medicine
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics
- Gynaecology.
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Medicine.
Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH) is a major teaching hospital located on 2 campuses. RDPH is co-located with Flinders NT University, Menzies School of Health Research and has strong links with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre.
Junior doctors are encouraged to attend regular education and up-skilling sessions covering broad areas of professional development. Departments also have formal grand rounds, journal clubs and specific sessions such as weekly radiology meetings, which junior doctors are supported to attend. In addition, all our junior doctors receive a professional training allowance paid fortnightly to support individual training needs. Territory hospitals provide a comprehensive training program for junior medical officers. The training and experiences in PGY1 (post graduate year) and PGY2 follow the Australian Curriculum Framework for junior doctors.
A variety of pathways are offered from PGY2, opportunities for rural and remote practice are a key feature of these pathways. Pre-vocational pathways offer a general, well rounded experience leading to a diverse range of vocational options, as well as tailored pathways leading to specific vocational programs. Pathways can be structured over 1 to 3 years.
Junior doctors can also complete the following post graduate qualifications:
- Diploma of Obstetrics.
- Diploma of Paediatrics.
- Certificate in Emergency Medicine.
- Graduate Diploma of Indigenous and Remote Child Health.
A number of junior doctors also undertake further studies such as a Master of Public Health through the Menzies School of Health Research and James Cook University.
RMOs undertake an orientation program prior to commencing ward duties. Key elements include:
- Cultural competencies.
- Use of hospital health systems.
- Introduction to management of unique and complex patient presentations.
Orientation to specific departments and the team you will be attached to takes place at the commencement of ward work.
2024
Orientation | 30 Jan - 1 Feb | 3 days |
Shadow | 2 Feb | 1 day |
Term 1 | 5 Feb - 1 May | 12 weeks 3 days |
Term 2 | 2 May - 31 July | 13 weeks |
Term 3 | 1 Aug - 30 Oct | 13 weeks |
Term 4 | 31 Oct - 2 Feb 2025 | 13 weeks 4 days |
2025
Orientation | 28 Jan - 30 Jan | 3 days |
Shadow | 31 Jan | 1 day |
Term 1 | 03 Feb - 30 Apr | 12 weeks 3 days |
Term 2 | 01 May - 30 July | 13 weeks |
Term 3 | 31 July - 29 Oct | 13 weeks |
Term 4 | 30 Oct - 01 Feb 2026 | 13 weeks 4 days |
Expressions of Interest
To express your interest in a medical officer position, please provide the following:
- application with 3 referees
- NT Health will contact the referees of all short-listed applicants
- cover letter outlining your application, including:
- why do you want to work in the Northern Territory (NT)
- any rural/remote experiences you have had
- links to the NT (e.g. family or, friends)
- commitment to the NT
- curriculum vitae (CV).
Email your cover letter and CV to:
- Central Australian - MedicalRecruitmentASH@nt.gov.au
- Top End - RDHJMOWorkforce.DoH@nt.gov.au
- Primary Health Care - RMPAdmin.TERHMedical@nt.gov.au.
Please include the following in the email subject line: Medical officer EOI application (your name).
Why work with us
Dayna
RMO - Alice Springs Hospital
Sanjay
RMO - Royal Darwin Hospital
Dr Bahjat Alirani
Junior Doctor - Royal Darwin Hospital