We offer both basic and advanced anaesthesia training covering the breadth of adult practice.
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is part of St Vincent’s Health Australia and a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service which employs more than 5,000 staff across 18 sites throughout Melbourne. SVHM has a leading Department of Anaesthesia with a strong reputation in research and training outcomes. SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services including acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health and community residential care. SVHM is one of Australia’s leading Catholic not-for-profit healthcare providers.
First Year Registrars
The appointment of First Year Anaesthetics Registrars will be conducted via the centralised Victorian Anaesthesia Training Program through the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. St. Vincent’s is a member of the Eastern Rotation.
Application & Selection Process
Applicants for the anaesthesia specialist training program are evaluated based on their clinical performance, cover letter, resume (CV), references, and interview. While candidates must demonstrate excellence across all areas, clinical performance remains the primary determinant of success.
Clinical Performance
Throughout their anaesthesia terms, trainees are assessed on their work ethic, aptitude, and response to feedback. Strong clinical skills, professionalism, and the ability to adapt and learn from experience are essential for success in the program.
Cover Letter
Your cover letter should clearly articulate your motivation for pursuing a career in anaesthesia, highlight the qualities that make you a strong trainee, and provide concrete examples of how you have demonstrated these attributes.
Resume (CV)
A well-structured resume should be clear, concise, and include only relevant information. Research experience and non-clinical pursuits are valuable components of your CV; however, only completed or near-completed projects will be considered for merit. Research does not need to be directly related to anaesthesia, but please note there is a limit to the weight research contributions carry in the overall assessment.
References
Referees should provide written examples of how you excel in their view, offering specific insights into your clinical abilities, professionalism, teamwork, and suitability for anaesthesia training. Strong, detailed references can significantly enhance your application.
Interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview conducted by a panel from the Eastern Training Scheme. The interview process follows a structured format, with candidates assessed based on standardized questions to ensure fairness and consistency in evaluation.
Recommended Courses
Many residents have found the following courses beneficial in preparing for anaesthesia training:
- BASIC (Basic Assessment & Support in Intensive Care)
- NATCAT (National Airway Training Course for Anaesthesia Trainees)
- ALS2 (Advanced Life Support Level 2)
- STAR (Skills Training for Anaesthesia Residents)
- Perioperative Medicine Short Course
- Vascular Access Skills Course
Please see our full list of courses appropriate for residents.
Important Notice
To ensure fairness and avoid bias in the selection process, we do not conduct individual meetings with residents regarding the program.
For further details, please refer to our application guidelines.
Direct Applications
Anaesthetic Registrars who will have completed at least one year of ANZCA accredited training can apply directly to St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Trainees provide anaesthesia under supervision for our patients. After-hours work is shared by all trainees and comprises work on weekends and at night.
Why join us?
The Department of Anaesthesia has a staff of 100 with full time and visiting consultant Anaesthetists, anaesthetics trainees, biomedical technicians, research and secretarial staff.
We perform about 12,000 anaesthetics per year covering all the surgical specialties except for paediatrics and obstetrics. We have rotations to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
There are over 450 open heart surgery cases, more than 900 neurosurgical cases, 400 thoracic cases and many other major surgical procedures carried out each year. We have a major commitment to regional anaesthesia with 25% of our cases being carried out under this form of anaesthesia and most of the major blocks are performed.
There is a strong teaching program with an afternoon of tutorials and a weekly continuing education meeting. This program has resulted in a 95% pass rate by our trainees at the final FANZCA exam at their first attempt.
We have an anaesthetic simulator on site which allows our staff and trainees to be exposed to anaesthetic emergencies to improve their management of these difficult situations. There has always been a strong incentive for clinical research with many new projects and ongoing per year and resulting in an average of 20 publications per year.
Join us. Your reward is a career structure with opportunities for training and development in a values-based organisation. Benefits include salary packaging.
Primary Examination support
We partner with Eastern Health to delivery teaching for the Primary Exam.
Final Examination support
We have a dedicated team of specialist anaesthetists, many of whom are past or current examiners for ANZCA.
