Clinical Service Improvement Program

Are you a junior doctor, nurse, midwife or allied health professional looking to develop your leadership and service improvement skills? Have you ever wanted to lead a project at your hospital but haven't had the time or knowledge of how or where to start?

Previously known as the Medical Service Improvement Program, this program is open to nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and medical (residents and some registrars) across many metro and regional sites.

As part of WA Health’s commitment to clinical leadership, the Institute for Health Leadership is offering this opportunity for junior clinicians to undertake a service improvement project, enabling them to acquire skills and experience in leadership and change management.

What is involved?

On a 10-13 week (full time or part time equivalent), non-clinical rotation participants will focus exclusively on completing a clinical service improvement project. Projects can be related to a wide range of topics relating to clinical care delivery, patient flow or clinical staff duties.

For example, previous projects have focussed on various areas including:

  • efficiencies in elective and emergency surgery
  • discharge planning and communication
  • outpatient clinic waiting times
  • improving communication between clinical staff.

Your project will have an ongoing, positive impact on patient care and/or clinical workflow.

Successful applicants will learn transferrable skills in the use of service improvement methodologies and tools. They will also have access to ongoing professional/leadership development workshops throughout the course of the year.

Program structure

All participants regardless of discipline will complete their project at full or part time during RMO term dates listed below:

  • Term 1: (13 January – 30 March 2025)
  • Term 2: (31 March – 8 June 2025)
  • Term 3: (9 June – 17 August 2025)
  • Term 4: (18 August – 26 October 2025)
  • Term A: (31 March - 5 October 2025) (Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health only)

CAHS and SJOG Midland have different term dates (as per the Postgraduate Medical Council of Western Australia term dates (external site)) and Term A will run part time over a 27 week period.

Training in the use of service improvement methodologies and tools will be provided, in addition to ongoing professional development workshops throughout the course of the year.

For more information about the program structure email DOH.ClinicalLeadership@health.wa.gov.au

Who is eligible for the program?

Eligibility criteria:

  1. 12 months minimum post-graduate clinical experience in the public health system as a nurse*, midwife*, resident medical officer (RMO PGY2+), registrar, allied health professional or dental officer by commencement of program.

    *Nursing and midwifery: required to either be working as a Registered Nurse Level 1 or Clinical Nurse Level 2. SRNs may only apply if written documentation is provided with their application indicating support from their site to participate.

  2. Contracted to work clinically at a participating hospital site, clinic or health service in 2025 at a minimum of 0.5 FTE (See list of participating sites in the section below).
  3. Current professional registration to practice in your clinical field.
Participating sites by clinical profession

In 2025, rotations will be undertaken at the following hospitals, clinics and services.

Medical Nursing/Midwifery Allied Health
  • Child and Adolescent Health Service*
  • Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group (SCGOPHCG)

  • King Edward Memorial Hospital

  • NMHS Inpatient Mental Health Services

  • Rockingham General Hospital

  • Royal Perth Bentley Group

  • St John of God Midland

  • Bunbury Regional Hospital 

  • Broome Health Campus

  • Geraldton Regional Hospital

  • Child and Adolescent Health Service
  • King Edward Memorial Hospital

  • NMHS Inpatient Mental Health Services

  • Rockingham General Hospital

  • Royal Perth Bentley Group

  • St John of God Midland

  • Bunbury Regional Hospital 

  • Busselton Health Campus
  • Child and Adolescent Health Service

  • King Edward Memorial Hospital

  • NMHS Inpatient Mental Health Services

  • Rockingham General Hospital

  • Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group

  • Royal Perth Bentley Group

  • St John of God Midland

  • Bunbury Regional Hospital 

  • Busselton Health Campus

  • RMOs are eligible to participate in the program at any of the above sites. Note: RMOs employed by SMHS/FSFHG are eligible to participate in the program at Rockingham General Hospital.
  • Registrars are eligible to participate in the program at the sites indicated with an *
How to apply

Applications for 2025 will open on 12 August 2024.

Applicants will need to complete an application pack (including responses to selection criteria) and provide an up-to-date CV.

All applications will be done via MedCareers.The specific application link will be published once applications open.

More information

There will be a virtual information session on Wednesday 7 August (5-6pm), providing more information on the program structure and application process. To register for this session, please complete this Microsoft Form

For more information about the Clinical Service Improvement Program, email the Institute for Health Leadership.

Last reviewed: 11-07-2024
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Institute of Health Leadership