About the role
Staff Specialist | Permanent Full-Time or Fractional | New England / North West NSW
We are looking to appoint a Consultant Paediatrician to Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital — the largest health facility in NSW outside the Sydney–Wollongong–Newcastle corridor, and the key referral centre for much of the state's north-west.
You'll join an established team in a purpose-built, state-of-the-art hospital delivering genuine breadth of practice — general paediatrics, neonates and acute care — with a strong educational culture and clear pathways to leadership.
About the service
- 19-bed Paediatric Unit with 2,600+ admissions annually, caring for infants through to adolescents to age 18
- Full paediatric medical and surgical service, supported by a modern Special Care Nursery
- Level 3 Neonatal Services attached to a Level 4 maternity service — neonatal care makes up more than half of the inpatient workload
- Paediatric team attends all high-risk deliveries; resuscitates, stabilises and manages infants ≥32 weeks / ≥1500g, plus initial stabilisation below these thresholds prior to NETS retrieval
- Close working partnerships with NETS and John Hunter Children's Hospital
- Support from Registrars, JMOs and an experienced multidisciplinary nursing and allied health team
- On-site 24/7 ED (~45,000 presentations/year, ~30% paediatric) — the only NSW regional trauma centre north of Newcastle, with a locally based helicopter retrieval service
What you will need
- Specialist registration (or eligibility for registration) with AHPRA as a Paediatrician
- FRACP (or equivalent qualification recognised by the RACP for the SIMG pathway)
- Demonstrated clinical experience in general paediatrics and neonatal care
- Commitment to teaching, supervision of trainees and quality improvement
- Current NSW Working With Children Check, immunisation compliance and unrestricted right to work in Australia (visa sponsorship available for suitable SIMG candidates)
Remuneration & benefits
- Base salary $197,583 – $266,942 p.a. (Staff Specialist State Award, 2025 rates), plus:
- 17.4% Special Allowance
- Private Practice Allowance and Right of Private Practice arrangements
- 12% employer superannuation
- Salary packaging up to $9,010 tax-free + $2,650 meals/entertainment
- $40,400 annual TESL (Training, Education & Study Leave) entitlement
- 5 weeks annual leave + professional development leave
- Relocation assistance negotiable
- Genuine 1:6 or better on-call roster (subject to fractional appointment)
- Pathway to Senior Staff Specialist and departmental leadership roles
Live and work in Tamworth
Tamworth is a thriving regional city of around 50,000, positioned halfway between Sydney and Brisbane and famous as Australia's Country Music Capital — home to the 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival, the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Families relocating from metro areas consistently cite the same drawcards: significantly more affordable housing than Sydney or Newcastle, an easy 10–15 minute commute door-to-door, strong public and independent schools, and an award-winning regional playground and aquatic centre that anchor a genuinely family-friendly community. Beyond the city itself, you're on the doorstep of the New England Tablelands, national parks and the Peel River — with two 18-hole golf courses, riding, mountain biking, fishing and 120+ restaurants and cafés keeping weekends full. Tamworth Airport offers daily flights to Sydney and Brisbane, so a metro getaway is never more than an hour away.