Specialist in Poisons Information

NSW Health; Sydney; On-site; AUD 122,000 - 129,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Salary packaging

Meal entertainment benefits

Accrued days off (ADOs)

Fitness passport

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Job summary

NSW Health seeks one or more pharmacists to join the NSW Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC) at Westmead, training to become a Specialist in Poisons Information (SPI).

The role involves handling poisoning calls, providing evidence-based guidance, and training support with on-site work during the initial period and flexible remote options thereafter.

Qualifications

• Full (or eligible for full) registration as a pharmacist with AHPRA, with no restrictions on scope of practice.
• Demonstrated recent clinical pharmacy experience (i.e. minimum 6 of the last 12 months in a busy clinical environment).
• Proven expertise in drug information provisions, supported by strong pharmacology/toxicology knowledge.
• Clear, confident and empathetic communication with patients and health professionals.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks within a clinical consultation, including history taking and documentation.
• Advanced problem-solving with rapid, safe clinical decision-making under pressure.
• Commitment to participating in a 24/7 SPI clinical roster (including mornings/evenings/overnights and weekends).

Responsibilities

• Provide expert poisons information guidance to health professionals and the public.
• Support risk assessment, first aid, and clinical management of suspected/confirmed poisoning cases.
• Engage in 24/7 roster and flexible shift patterns to ensure continuous service delivery.

Skills

Clinical pharmacy

Drug informationProvision

Communication

Multitask management

Problem solving

Roster commitment

Public health advising

Job description

Employment Type: TemporaryFull-Time and Part-Time Opportunities Available up to 21 September 2027. This position is full time; however, part time/job share arrangements may also be considered.

Position Classification: Pharmacist Gde 2

Remuneration: 121581.81 - 128898.29 full-time equivalent base salary range (+12% super + 17.5% leave loading and salary packaging)

Hours Per Week: up to 38

Requisition ID: REQ693597

Location: Westmead

Applications Close: Midnight on 27 September 2026

For role related queries or questions contact Dang Nguyen on ***********@health.nsw.gov.au

As the largest paediatric health service in Australia, we care for thousands of children each year, in hospital and at home. Our people are united by compassion, collaboration and excellence in care.

Seeking to hire 1 or more pharmacists (up to 1 FTE) with appropriate clinical experience to join the largest Poisons Information Centre (PIC) in Australia to manage suspected or confirmed poisoning of adults and children. The successful candidate will be provided with training to become a Specialist in Poisons Information (SPI). The NSW Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC) receives 120,000 calls annually (equating to an average of 50 calls per staff member per 8-hour shift, with an average call duration of four minutes). SPI’s provide expert guidance on risk assessment, first aid, and the clinical management of suspected or confirmed poisoning incidents (accidental and intentional).

These may involve medicines, illicit substances, chemicals (including household, industrial and agricultural), plants, as well as bites and stings. SPIs manage the majority of calls independently and elevate complex, unusual or severe cases to clinical toxicologists for medical specialist input.

The NSWPIC is located within The Sydney Children's Hospital Network, at The Children's Hospital Westmead. This role will require the successful applicant to work on-site as required especially during their initial training period, however, the NSWPIC has established remote working practices and can provide flexible work arrangements.

Why you should join us: This is a highly rewarding role where you will interact with members of the public and healthcare professionals by providing phone advice. You will get the opportunity to engage in public health initiatives and be involved in the cutting edge of poisoning management. Callers often express their gratitude for the telephone advice provided and you will feel a sense of achievement by providing expert advice to callers who are often in stressful situations.

The team consists of approximately 30 Specialists in Poisons Information and approximately 25 Clinical Toxicologists. Senior positions in NSWPIC involve progression to the specialist areas of education and training, toxicovigilance, standards and research. We encourage continuing education and career progression amongst our team. The successful applicant will contribute to the 24/7 roster and will be expected to work a mix of shifts including after-hours and weekends.

For more information about working at the NSWPIC please click on this link: https://www.poisonsinfo.nsw.gov.au/About-Us.aspx

What you'll be doing

The New South Wales Poisons Information Centre (NSW PIC) operates as part of a national network of Poisons Information Centres service to both health professionals and the public, via the national telephone number 131126. The service manages a significant proportion of Australia’s poison information calls, responding to approximately 120,000 enquiries annually (equating to an average of 50 calls per staff member per 8-hour shift, with an average call duration of four minutes).

Staff within the service are predominantly AHPRA-registered pharmacists who have completed structured poisons information training, undertaken supervised practice, and successfully achieved competency assessment at a State level.

Specialists in Poisons Information (SPI’s) provide expert guidance on risk assessment, first aid, and the clinical management of suspected or confirmed poisoning incidents (accidental and intentional). These may involve medicines, illicit substances, chemicals (including household, industrial and agricultural), plants, as well as bites and stings. SPIs manage the majority of calls independently and elevate complex, unusual or severe cases to clinical toxicologists for medical specialist input.

Additional Benefits (where applicable): Flexible work opportunities, Salary packaging and meal entertainment benefits, accrued days off (ADOs), fitness passport, employee assistance program (EAP)

Required qualifications and experience

• Full (or eligible for full) registration as a pharmacist with AHPRA, with no restrictions on scope of practice. Eligible for employment as Grade 1 or Grade 2 Pharmacist as per the Health Employees' (Pharmacist) State Award.
• Demonstrated recent clinical pharmacy experience (i.e. minimum 6 of the last 12 months in a busy clinical environment), preferably in an acute care setting such as Emergency or Critical Care.
• Proven expertise in drug information provisions, supported by strong knowledge of pharmacology and toxicology.
• Demonstrated clear, confident and empathetic communication with patients, adeptly translating complex clinical concepts into accessible information, and effective clinical content delivery to health professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks within a clinical consultation, including comprehensive history taking, interpretation of medical information, and accurate timely documentation.
• Advanced problem-solving capability, with strong conceptual and analytical skills to independently make rapid, safe and effective clinical decisions, particularly under pressure and or when information is limited.
• Demonstrated commitment to participating in a 24/7 SPI clinical roster, including morning, evening, overnight (minimum 12% rostered hours), and weekend shifts (minimum 25% of rostered hours) to support continuous service delivery.