We offer an extensive range of health care services across the Darling Downs Health region with plenty of opportunities to develop your nursing and midwifery career.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Applications are accepted between July to August for the following year. You can apply through the Graduate Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife Portal.
Registered nursing - general
We offer a 12-month temporary contract for graduate nurses. You can do a 12-month placement at Toowoomba Hospital, one of our rural hospitals, Aged Care facilities or Mental Health.
The temporary placement is for 64 to 76 hours per fortnight. Graduates are encouraged to apply for permanent roles and continue working within Darling Downs Health.
Hospital placements for registered nurses
Rural hospitals
We offer 12-month temporary placements for graduate registered nurses at the following rural hospitals:
- Goondiwindi Hospital
- Millmerran Multipurpose Health Service
- Stanthorpe Hospital
- Texas Multipurpose Health Service
- Warwick Hospital
- The Oaks Aged Care Facility (Warwick)
- Chinchilla Hospital
- Dalby Hospital
- Karingal Residential Aged Care Facility (Dalby)
- Jandowae Hospital
- Miles Hospital
- Oakey Hospital
- Tara Hospital
- Taroom Hospital
- Cherbourg Hospital
- Kingaroy Hospital
- Murgon Hospital
- Wondai Hospital
- Mount Lofty (RACF) in Toowoomba
Toowoomba Hospital and Baillie Henderson Hospital
We offer graduate registered nurse placements at Toowoomba Hospital and Baillie Henderson Hospital.
These are 12-month temporary positions in one of the following clinical specialty areas:
- Medical Wards
- Surgical Wards
- Orthopaedic Ward
- Medical Imaging
- Paediatric Ward
- Neonatal Unit
- Toowoomba North Rehabilitation Unit
- Oncology Ward
- Day Surgery
- Emergency Department
- Theatre
- Chronic Disease.
How to apply
Recruitment opens in July and ends in August via the Graduate Portal with interviews held after this time. Graduates are appointed through several intakes in February through to July. Orientation will coincide with your start date.
Apply through the Graduate Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife Portal.
Eligibility information is on the portal website.
You can email us at DDHHS_Nurse_Graduate@health.qld.gov.au if you have any questions about our graduate programs. Make sure you read the information on the portal website first.
Graduate program overview
Education
As part of our graduate program we offer the following educational resources and support:
- orientation – online and face-to-face
- workplace induction
- preceptorship
- study days related to your practice area
- access to transition to practice nurse education programs in some specialty areas
- professional development opportunities
- clinical competencies
- self-assessment and performance reviews
- peer support
- support webinars
- Australian Nursing Standards Assessment Tool (ANSAT)/Australian Midwifery Standards Assessment Tool (AMSAT)
- career development pathways.
Clinical
For clinical placements we offer:
- ward induction
- supernumerary days
- supported practice
- preceptors
- clinical facilitators
- nurse educators.
Collegial support
- nurse educator for graduate programs
- nurse manager for clinical workforce development
- nurse educators – clinical
- clinical facilitators
- workplace preceptors.
Registered nursing – mental health
Our mental health service has major inpatient facilities at Toowoomba Hospital Campus and Baillie Henderson Hospital Campus.
Our Mental Health Graduate Nurse Program has placements available in the following areas:
- acute inpatient units
- acute Care Team
- specialist mental health services such as Perinatal Clinic, Alcohol and other Drugs Service and an Adolescent Inpatient Unit
- one placement within the extended rehabilitation service inpatient units.
The application process for graduate nurses wanting to work in mental health is the same as general nursing placements.
Read the above information to find out how to apply.
Midwifery
We offer a 12 month temporary placement for registered graduate midwives across the Darling Downs Health region. The temporary placement is for 64 hours per fortnight. The placement is done on a rotation basis through Maternity Services.
We have one intake per year. Recruitment opens in July and ends in August via the Graduate Portal with interviews held after this time. Orientation will coincide with your start date.
Apply through the Graduate Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife Portal.
Eligibility information is on the portal website.
You can email us at DDHHS_Nurse_Graduate@health.qld.gov.au if you have any questions about our graduate programs. Make sure you read the information on the portal website first.
Rural Remote Pathway - Southern Cluster Graduate Program
Darling Downs Health is part of the Southern Cluster for the nursing and midwifery graduates Rural and Remote Pathway.
In the 2-year program you’ll complete your first year in a rural and/or remote location and your second year in a major hospital (or the option to continue in a rural and/or remote location).
This is an exciting professional growth opportunity to work in diverse, challenging and rewarding environments. Gain knowledge and skills for a lifelong career while experiencing a wonderful lifestyle in our rural areas.
Southern Cluster includes:
- Children's Health Queensland
- Darling Downs Health
- Gold Coast Health
- West Moreton Health
- Metro South Health
There may also be opportunities in other rural and/or remote locations across Queensland.
Email SouthernClusterSupportHub@health.qld.gov.au for more details. Express your interest in the Rural and Remote rotation program when you complete your application for a graduate position. Find out more at Working in Rural and Remote website.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate nurse and midwifery program
Darling Downs Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of our lands, and we pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their culture and Elders past, present and future.
At Darling Downs Health, we aim to close the gap by providing culturally capable services. We aim to make our services efficient, effective, and responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views are part of our core business. We aim to improve use to culturally suitable health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Darling Downs region by working with Elders, community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health service providers.
As an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander nurse or midwife, we recognise the unique and diverse skills and experience you bring to our workforce. Your knowledge, skills and lived experience has the potential to influence the health outcomes and wellbeing of your community. To help you achieve this, we offer an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate nursing and midwifery program.
This program runs parallel to the Darling Downs Health graduate nurse and midwifery program. Successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants will have support and mentoring with our Indigenous Health team. Our team provides leadership, mentoring, coaching, networking, and support across our health service region. Support is also available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants include assisted application processes and culturally appropriate interview support, and peer development activities.
These priorities are supported by our Darling Downs Health Equity Strategy 2022-2025 and the Darling Downs Health Indigenous Health, Healthier Together Plan 2020 – 2025.
If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, we encourage you to apply. Please email DDHHS_Nurse_Graduate@health.qld.gov.au to express your interest.