The Opportunity

DFAT is seeking a suitably qualified Medical Practitioner to lead its small medical team in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It is an on-going position with future potential opportunities in clinics in Jakarta, Honiara, Suva and Dili. Candidates who are placed in the merit pool for this round will be considered for any future vacancies that arise over the next 18 months.

The clinics provide primary care medical services to Australia’s diplomatic mission in the Asia-Pacific. The successful candidates will work closely with DFAT’s Canberra-based Medical Unit, and a Registered Nurse who will also reside in country. You will also advise the High Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer in Canberra on local health matters.

Ongoing appointments will be expected to move between clinic locations every three to four years.

Our Ideal Candidate

We’re looking for high-performing people with skills and experience relevant to the department’s enabling services operations.

Our ideal candidate will:

• Have the ability to deliver high quality general practice services, including a willingness to be on call after hours and respond to emergencies.

• Have knowledge of, or experience in, tropical medicine and aeromedical evacuations

• Have emergency clinical skills.

• Display flexibility and adaptability, skilled and personal, to adapt to varied and difficult environments.

• Work well in a team and be a key leader in assisting to develop the medical services to meet DFAT’s specific needs at the relevant post.





• Have high level oral and written communication skills and the ability to consult and liaise with expatriate and local medical personnel.

• Have highly developed interpersonal skills, including sensitivity, tolerance, and tact and the ability to gain confidence of staff and families at all levels.

• Have proven ability to deliver primary health care with overseas or remote area experience highly desirable.

Professional Requirements

Required:

• Current unrestricted APHRA registration as a specialist general practitioner

• Recent experience in general practice.

• Training or higher qualifications in Advanced Life Support, adult, paediatric or both, or Emergency medicine, or Intensive Care.

Preferred:

• Experience in remote or rural practice settings highly regarded.

• FRACGP or FACRRM

• Experience in tropical medicine and travel medicine, aeromedical evacuation and aviation medicine, underwater medicine, and obstetrics, are all considered advantageous.

Certified copies of tertiary qualifications and other appropriate documentation must be presented on request.

For further information, please see the Applicant Information Pack, attached at the DFAT Careers website.

The key duties of the position include:

Your key duties will include:





• Provide primary and basic emergency medical care and treatment for the staff and families and other patients who have access to the relevant clinic, in concert with a Registered Nurse.

• Provide afterhours support to the clinic dependency and on occasions, to the broader DFAT overseas network as rostered by the Principle Medical Adviser.

• Advise the High Commissioner and the Chief Medical Officer in Canberra on local health matters.

• As part of a team, liaise with local medical personnel and institutions and arrange referral of patients where appropriate or medical evacuation where necessary.

• Keep quality medical records and manage privacy and security requirements. Supervise the maintenance of equipment and ensure the supply of essential pharmaceuticals.

• Provide statistical information on the incidence of sickness and conditions treated amongst the staff. Report on the prevalence of local disease to the Principal Medical Adviser.

• Perform medical examinations of fitness for employment, pre-posting, superannuation, workers compensation and retirement purposes as required.

• Assist with consular cases where medical issues are present.

Eligibility

Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS) unless the Agency Head has agreed otherwise, in writing.

Mandatory Qualifications:

• Unconditional AHPRA registration as a specialist General Practitioner

• Recent experience in general practice.

• Training or higher qualifications in Advanced Life Support, adult, paediatric or both, or Emergency medicine, or Intensive Care.

📌 Medical Officer 4Clinic (Port Moresby)
🏢 Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade
📍 Moresby