Blackwater Hospital, QLD
About
Blackwater Hospital offers doctors a professionally rewarding experience characterised by autonomy, community impact, and opportunities for skill development in a supportive rural environment. Ideal doctors possess a blend of clinical expertise, strong communication skills, adaptability, and a passion for rural healthcare, enabling them to thrive in this unique setting.
Key facts about Blackwater Hospital
Hours and On-call
- 10 hour shifts
- Shared on-call with support from Emerald via VRGS ensuring appropriate fatigue management
- AM shift - 0730-1800
- PM shift - 1200-2000
Location:
Blackwater, Central HHS, QLD
Payment Frequency:
Weekly payroll
Orientation
Full orientation and checklist provided two weeks before starting with logins and passwords as well as first day induction.
Why work at Blackwater Hospital
The appeal of working in Blackwater lies in the chance to practice independently while enjoying a consistent locum role. Building trust with the nursing staff there ensures excellent support.
The work offers a balanced mix, primarily focused on straightforward medical practice complemented by occupational health from the mines, occasional First Nations medicine, and handling trauma and serious illnesses that can be stabilised and transferred to Emerald or Rockhampton. Doctors in Blackwater receive support in managing fatigue through tele-support from both Emerald and RSQ Telehealth (RSQt).
"I really enjoy working in Blackwater because it is quite a simple, clarified version of rural emergency work. People are really appreciative and you work one on one with great nurses." Dr Andrew Scott, DMS at Emerald Hospital & Central Highlands.
Complexities, inpatients, and ED presentations
Doctors will primarily manage the ED and provide inpatient care for 1-2 patients. Blackwater is a small, 16 bed MPS.
The hospital emphasises point-of-care testing and collaboration with a skilled nursing team who will do a lot of the "heavy lifting'.
Due to the isolated location, doctors also have access to specialist conultation from Emerald for higher acuity cases.
Hospital team and culture:
- 2 SMO's rostered on a day (one is usually an experienced, local SMO)
- Ample Nursing support
- VRGS support from Emerald
- A great environemnt for doctor adept at managing diverse medical conditions with limited resources.
Mental health support:
Access to both EAP and DNA's partnership with MyMirror
Impact on local community:
The hospital plays a crucial role in providing medical services to the community, including emergency care and obstetrics.
Accommodation details:
A self contained, private unit close to the hospital with everything you will need.
Things to do in the area:
Just an hours drive from Emerald, Blackwater is a small mining town with a population of about 5000 people.
The town was built with the view to keep the miners happy. As such, it has all expected amenities you need including a Woolies, two Gyms, a golf course and a decent selection of Cafes and restaurants.
A close knit community, you will be welcomed with open arms.
DNA Healthcare success stories
We’ve had the pleasure of placing thousands of healthcare professionals at hospitals and organisations across Australia. Hear about their experience with DNA Healthcare.
Genuine and unfiltered review: I am a Registered Nurse and have worked with multiple agencies. However, I have never felt as amazed as I do with the contract I am currently on with DNA Nursing Agency. Both Aruna and Sophie are wonderful. Since my first day with the agency, Aruna has consistently checked in to make sure I am doing well and addressed any issues I might have. No matter if it’s the weekend, she always answers my calls and happily resolves any concerns.
Nurse
DNA Medical Recruitment & Team members have been amazing to work with. Excellent services of support provided from start to finish for all of my contracts.
Special thank you to Martin! His professionalism has been exceptional. Martin’s positive encouragement and support given me the confidence to apply for and helped with new contracts. Always prompt, friendly and approachable to accommodate any needs.
Nurse
Good experience with DNA. Will and Andrew with whom I have dealt with work extremely hard to help finalise locums, very reliable and good communicators.
Doctor
If you are thinking about commencing a travel nurse journey, then I can highly recommend Lucy and the Team at DNA. I had tried on and off for almost 12mths and then it was Lucy who was able to secure my role in Tasmania.
The knowledge from the outset and the assistant along the way has been incredible. Nothing is too much trouble and the team are only ever a phone call/email away
Nurse
Chloe from DNA is an excellent recruiter. She communicates clearly from start to finish and provides constructive feedback and preparation for the interview. Her support was instrumental in making the experience both memorable and positive for me. I highly recommend hiring or leveraging her expertise.
Nurse
I have been with DNA Recruitment for almost a year now and my agent Ciara has been nothing but helpful along the way. She made the initial move to Australia less daunting and has always been there ready and willing to answer any of my questions. She’s locked in every nursing contract I have wanted, has taken the stress away and honestly has made my life so much easier. Thank you Ciara for being so amazing!
Nurse
I had a wonderful experience with DNA Recruitment Healthcare Agency. The agency is professional, supportive, and provides excellent opportunities for healthcare professionals.
I would especially like to acknowledge Aruna, who guided me throughout my entire journey. Aruna helped me with every step, from finding the right opportunities to settling into my nursing contract. She is extremely kind, polite, and always cooperative. Her support, encouragement, and positive attitude made a big difference in my experience.
Nurse
Beverley is the best agent for me – she responds efficiently, goes above and beyond in finding me the most suitable shifts, checks up on me to make sure I’m okay almost daily and you can tell she genuinely wants the best for you. Thank you so much, Beverley, for making everything so smooth for me!
Doctor
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