Weekend Senior ICU Physiotherapist

Hunter New England Local Health District; Newcastle-Maitland; On-site; AUD 91,000 - 94,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Superannuation

Relocation support

Annual leave entitlements

Employee benefits program

Job summary

Maitland Hospital in the Hunter region seeks a Senior Physiotherapist to lead clinical excellence, mentor clinicians and deliver patient-centred care in a Level 5 ICU context.

Temporary part-time role (8 hours per week) requires AHPRA-registered physiotherapists with critical care experience, strong clinical reasoning, and the ability to work autonomously while collaborating with the multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• Critical care physiotherapy experience including management of complex respiratory patients.
• Ability to work autonomously as the sole physiotherapist.
• Strong clinical reasoning to identify deterioration and escalate concerns.
• Effective communication with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced critical care environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy services for ICU patients, supporting respiratory care, early rehabilitation and functional recovery.
• Deliver 8 hours of coverage on Saturdays and coordinate with the ICU team to optimise patient outcomes.
• Collaborate closely with the weekday Level 4 ICU physiotherapist for handover and mentoring opportunities.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and district-wide physiotherapy education.

Skills

Critical care physiotherapy

Autonomy

Clinical reasoning

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Physiotherapist with Authority to Practice with AHPRA

Job description

Join our team as a Senior Physiotherapist, leading clinical excellence, mentoring clinicians, and delivering exceptional patient-centred care to achieve outstanding outcomes.

Employment Type: Temporary Part Time Until June 2027

Position Classification: Physiotherapist Level 4

Remuneration: $66.36 - $67.97 per hour + Superannuation + Salary Packaging

Hours Per Week: 8

Requisition ID: REQ696450

Location: The Maitland Hospital

Applications Close: Sunday, 25th October 2026

Where you'll be working

Maitland Hospital is an acute inpatient facility located in the Lower Hunter region, supporting the tertiary referral services of John Hunter Hospital. Opened in 2021, Maitland Hospital is a contemporary greenfield facility located in Metford, NSW, providing Level 5 inpatient and associated outpatient services to the growing regional population. The hospital is home to a growing and busy Level 5 Intensive Care. The Physiotherapy Department also offers a range of subspecialty services, including Emergency Department (ED) physiotherapy.

Maitland Hospital is supported by a skilled and collaborative multidisciplinary team with a strong commitment to patient-centred care and high-quality clinical outcomes. The service maintains a progressive approach to healthcare delivery and is responsive to evolving models of care and evidence-based practice, while ensuring patient care remains central to all clinical and operational decision‑making.

The Opportunity

Maitland Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an 8-bed Level 5 service providing comprehensive care for critically ill patients across a broad range of specialties. The ICU manages acute and complex presentations including cardiac, respiratory, trauma, orthopaedic, and medical conditions, as well as patients requiring ongoing critical care support.

The unit is equipped to provide advanced life‑sustaining therapies, including invasive mechanical ventilation, vasoactive support, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), tracheostomy management, and end‑of‑life care, including organ and tissue donation. Working within a multidisciplinary team, physiotherapists contribute to the assessment and management of patients with both acute and long‑term critical illness, supporting respiratory care, early rehabilitation, and functional recovery. This role provides physiotherapy services for 8 hours of coverage on Saturdays, prioritising the assessment and treatment of patients with complex respiratory needs, critical illness, and rehabilitation requirements to optimise patient outcomes and support safe ongoing care.

The successful applicant will receive a comprehensive site‑specific orientation, including introduction to local policies, procedures, equipment, and ICU workflows. Ongoing operational and professional support will be provided by the Head of Discipline, with access to regular supervision and guidance as required. The role includes close collaboration and job sharing with the weekday Level 4 ICU Physiotherapist, supporting continuity of care, clinical handover, and opportunities for mentoring and knowledge sharing. Weekend services are delivered alongside an experienced physiotherapy team, including Level 3 clinicians covering inpatient wards and a Level 4 clinician in the Emergency Department, ensuring access to peer support and clinical consultation when needed.

The successful applicant will also have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, including in‑service education, critical care training, multidisciplinary learning activities, and district‑wide physiotherapy education programs to support continued growth in advanced clinical practice.

About You

Non‑Negotiable Requirements

• Demonstrated critical care physiotherapy experience, including management of complex respiratory patients, mechanically ventilated patients, and tracheostomies.
• Ability to work autonomously and confidently as the sole physiotherapist, including prioritising workload and making independent clinical decisions.
• Strong clinical reasoning skills with the ability to identify patient deterioration and elevate concerns appropriately.
• Effective communication and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams in a fast‑paced critical care environment.

Can Be Learned / Developed

• Site‑specific policies, procedures, documentation systems, and equipment.
• Local ICU workflows, organ donation processes, and specialised therapies.
• Leadership, service development, quality improvement, and supervision responsibilities specific to the role.

Key Personal Attributes

• Adaptable and resilient.
• Organised and able to manage competing priorities.
• Calm under pressure.
• Committed to providing safe, patient‑centred care and ongoing professional development.

Requirements

• Physiotherapist with current Authority to Practice with AHPRA.

What We Can Offer You

At Hunter New England Health, enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. You'll contribute to the team enriching health in millions of ways every day. On top of this we also offer:

• Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
• Relocating? The Welcome Experience offers free support to help you and your family settle into your new community.
• Proximity to shopping and other services
• Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full‑time employees)
• 4 weeks annual leave (pro‑ratio for part‑time employees)
• 6 weeks annual leave (for eligible full‑time nurses)
• Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance
• Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing
• Fitness Passport for health and well‑being - discounted gym options for you and your family
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members

Additional Information

• An eligibility list will be created for future temporary part time vacancies.
• To be eligible for employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport, or hold an appropriate visa that allows you to live and work in Australia. Employment of a temporary visa holder will only be offered in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.

Information For Applicants

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2

Stepping Up Website

Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp

This is a Category A position

Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.

Salary Packaging

Salary packaging is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take‑home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via [e-mail] or 1300 40 25 23.

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.