Consultant and Fellow - Medical Retrieval

This is a recruitment pool to several 12-month fixed-term, sessional appointments (0.50 FTE), with the possibility of extension(s)*. Appointments from this pool are available until the 30/04/2027.

*Appointment with the possibility of extension(s) are subject to on-going funding. 

 

Renumeration:

Consultant Year 1-9 - $817.44 - $1038.17 per session*

*Sessional rate is inclusive of a base sessional rate between $658.10 - $854.31, Professional Development Allowance equal to $68.51 per session and 12.5% employer contributed superannuation.  

OR

Fellow Year 1-2 – $443.34 - $463.45 per session*

*Sessional rate is inclusive of a base sessional rate between $361.96 - $379.84, professional development allowance $32.12 per session and 12.5% employer contributed superannuation.

 

*Rates are reflective of an incremental increase that takes into effect on 3 September 2026. Superannuation of 12.5% takes effect on 1 July 2026.

 

About the WACHS Command Centre, DFES and the ERHS

WA Country Health Service (WACHS), in partnership with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES), is seeking Consultants and Fellows in Pre‑hospital and Retrieval Medicine to join the Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service (ERHS), delivering a 24/7 rescue and aeromedical response across Western Australia.

ERHS, operated by DFES, provides search and rescue, all‑hazards rescue, and time‑critical patient transport, including pre-hospital (MEDEVAC) and interhospital retrievals (IHPT). The service operates rescue helicopters from bases in Jandakot and Bunbury, enabling statewide coverage, with aircrew on base to ensure activation‑to‑airborne times of approximately 15 minutes.

Under a WA Government directive, WACHS is assuming responsibility for ERHS clinical services and tasking, strengthening integration with the broader health system and implementing recommendations from the 2022 Chief Health Officer’s Inquiry into Aeromedical Services in WA.

Clinical and tasking operations will be coordinated through the WACHS Command Centre within the State Health Operations Centre (SHOC), a 24/7 hub providing centralised operational coordination, virtual clinical support, and statewide road and aeromedical retrieval oversight. ERHS clinical teams work closely with the Command Centre to deliver coordinated aeromedical and rescue care across Western Australia.

 

About the Roles

As a Consultant/ Fellow – Medical Retrieval, you will deliver high-quality pre-hospital and retrieval medicine within the WACHS Emergency and Retrieval Health Service (ERHS). Operations include search and rescue (SAR), MEDEVAC pre-hospital responses, and interhospital (IHPT) retrievals, supporting rural and regional communities across Western Australia.

From 2026, ERHS will operate under an interprofessional physician–paramedic model, commencing in Perth and expanding to all bases. In addition to clinical duties, clinicians contribute to service development portfolios and work closely with key partners including DFES and contracted ambulance services to ensure an integrated aeromedical response.

 

Consultant – Medical Retrieval (Year 1–9) *
Senior specialists providing autonomous clinical leadership in retrieval medicine, including patient assessment, triage, and coordination of interhospital transfers. Consultants lead multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with regional and metropolitan services and transport partners.

*Minimum 6 months (full-time equivalent) rotary-wing pre-hospital and retrieval medicine experience required. Remunerated at Consultant sessional rates.

 

Fellow – Medical Retrieval (Year 1–2) **
Specialists undertaking advanced subspecialty training in retrieval medicine under limited supervision. Fellow’s support interhospital transfer coordination, work closely with the Command Centre, and develop leadership and retrieval expertise.

**Successful applicants will be appointed and remunerated at a Senior Registrar Year 2 sessional rate.

 

Service Development & Leadership

Consultants and Fellows contribute to ERHS clinical leadership portfolios across education, governance, and service innovation, including (role-dependent):

• Safety & Quality
• Education & Training Supervision
• Equipment & Ultrasound
• Paediatrics, Airway & Blood Management
• Human Optimisation
• Deputy Medical Lead – Bunbury

These roles support the continued evolution of ERHS following the 2022 Chief Health Officer’s Inquiry into Aeromedical Services in WA. Applicants are encouraged to review the Job Description Forms (JDF) to see the role dependent portfolios:

•  JDF - Consultant Year 1-9 - Medical Retrieval - Generic.pdf
•  JDF - Fellow Year 1-2 - Medical Retrieval 2026 - Generic.pdf

 

Eligibility

• Specialist registered for senior specialist critical care clinicians with pre-hospital and retrieval experience, including specialists from ACEM, ANZCA, CICM, ACRRM, or other relevant colleges (e.g. RACGP), with appropriate experience.
• To be considered for the Consultant – Medical Retrieval role, you must have a minimum 6 months (full-time equivalent) of rotary-wing pre-hospital/retrieval experience.
• To be eligible for employment in the Western Australian public sector, applicants must have unrestricted or appropriate Australian working rights at the time of application.
• Applications from recruitment agencies, employment agencies or third‑party suppliers will not be considered in this process. Any candidate details submitted by agencies will not incur any obligation or fee payable by the organisation.

 

Rostering

Across an eight‑week cycle, this position averages 20 hours per week. During weeks rostered to work, the role must be physically on site at the designated DFES Rescue Helicopter Base.

This includes night shifts, weekend shifts, and attendance at mandatory clinical and aviation training required to maintain operational competencies.

Due to the operational nature of the pre-hospital and retrieval medicine environment, staff should expect that shift overruns or additional hours may occasionally occur to meet operational needs.

 

Benefits of working with WA Country Health Service:

• Access to generous salary packaging arrangements. 
• Generous leave entitlements.  
• Professional development opportunities. 
• Flexible working arrangements. 
• Professional development opportunities.

 

Keen to know about the details in detail? Check out the medical practitioner salaries and benefits page.

 

Application Instructions

Applicants must have a current, valid email address to apply online. If you experience difficulties applying online, please contact WACHSDoctors.Senior@health.wa.gov.au for assistance.

Applicants are required to attach the following documents:

1. A statement of no more than two (2) pages addressing the work-related requirements listed above. The statement should outline:
   1. How you demonstrate the attributes described
   2. How you meet the requirements for at least two of the clinical support roles outlined above.
2. Curriculum Vitae
   1. A maximum two (2) page CV summarising your
      1. Qualifications
      2. AHPRA registration details
      3. Relevant clinical and operational experience.
      4. Referees:
         Please include one current supervisor or line manager who can speak to your leadership and team contribution, and one non‑physician referee (e.g. nurse, anaesthetic technician, paramedic) who can comment on your crisis management skills. Referees will be contacted before interviews are scheduled.
         1. For Consultant applicants, at least one referee must be from a pre-hospital and retrieval medicine (PHRM) service and preferably include a paramedic that you have worked alongside.
         2. For Fellow applicants, a PHRM referee is desirable.

 

Interviews will be focussed on how you perform during a crisis and how you operate in a team.

 

All applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Medical Lead prior to applying to discuss the role and recruitment process.

 

Please contact:
Dr Andrew Challen
Medical Lead, WACHS ERHS Program

Email: WACHS.ERHSprogram@health.wa.gov.au
Subject line: Interest in job application for ERHS Consultant / Fellow

 

Other Conditions

WA Health requires criminal record screening and integrity checking as part of the appointment process. Referees may be asked to comment on an applicant’s integrity and ethical conduct.

The selection process includes completion and maintaining of a CASA Aviation Basic Class 2 Medical, ASIC clearance, and a helicopter aircrew fitness assessment, which comprises:

1. Weighted walk: 2 km in under 20 minutes wearing a 10 kg vest
2. Plank hold: 1 minute
3. Push-ups: 20 standard repetitions
4. Squats: 30 unweighted repetitions

Successful applicants will also be required to complete Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), Emergency Breathing System (EBS) training, and vertical Rescue Helicopter training.

This position is subject to a Western Australian Working with Children (WWC) Check. Please refer to the WWC website for further information.

The recruitment process also requires completion of a satisfactory Pre-Employment Health Assessment (PEHA).

LATE OR EMAIL APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.