During the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program, participants will have the opportunity to work alongside a multidisciplinary team of world class cancer experts, caring for patients’ through-out the treatment trajectory, from diagnosis, through to treatment, supportive care, survivorship and palliative care.
See the Cancer Nursing Discovery page for all the information about wards and units, program details, eligibility and application process, and interview process.
Contact us about the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program
For enquiries about the Graduate Nurse Program, contact:
Lou Wilks - Cancer Nursing Discovery Program Coordinator
- Phone: (03) 8559 5674
- Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program
Please apply for the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program with us if:
- You are a Registered Nurses
- You have at least 12 months acute care experience
- This experience follows your graduate year (YP4 and above)
The Cancer Nursing lets you:
- Advance your acute nursing career
- Develop knowledge and ability in various cancers and treatment types.
- Focus on on-going care of cancer patients:
- Diagnosed
- Mid-treament
- Post-treatment
- In survivorship care
- In palliative care
- Use ultramodern equipment and facilities
- Join a great nursing team with educational support and opportunities
- Choose between a 12 or 18-Month program, with ongoing employment offered on successful completion
- Take part in up to three rotations in our Haematology Ward, Medical Oncology Ward and Chemo Day Unit
The Program lets Registered Nurses transition to the acute care oncology setting. It lets them do so with confidence and support. All they need is an interest in oncology nursing.
Clinical Rotations
Medical Oncology
This is a 32-bed ward. It has a clinical focus on people who we have diagnosed with cancer.
This includes cancers involving their:
- Bone and soft tissues
- Lungs
- Gastrointestinal systems
- Skin
- Urological systems
- Gynaecological systems
- Head and neck
- Brain
Treatment modalities provided to patients include:
- Chemotherapy
- External beam radiotherapy
- Nuclear medicine treatments
- Palliative care
Haematology
This is a 32-bed ward providing treatment and care for patients with haematological cancers. This can include:
- Myelodysplastic syndromes
- Myeloproliferative disorders
- Aplastic anaemia
- Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
- Plasma cell disorders
Day Therapy
The Day Therapy Unit supplies patient care. It does so under a shared service model with Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Royal Women’s Hospital. The service includes of 85 chairs across five areas:
- Chemotherapy Day Unit
- Medical Day Unit
- Transfusion Lounge
- Apheresis Service
- Clinical Trials Unit
Education and Support
Our Academic Nursing Unit supports the Discovery Program. It does so with a targeted set of goals and educational programs for participants. These include:
- Introduction to Cancer
- Chemotherapy Module 1
- Cancer Care Emergencies
- Haematology Malignancies
We will provide you with an added four study days above the Award entitlement. You can use these studies throughout the one and a half years of the Discovery Program. Doing so will help you achieve your goals.
Eligibility Criteria
You will be eligible for the Discovery Program if you:
- Are a Division 1 Registered Nurses
- Have at least 12 months acute care experience following your graduate year (YP4 and above)
- Are available at least six days per fortnight. (We will need you to work a 24-hour, seven day a week rotating roster while in the inpatient areas)
More Information about the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program
Commencement Date: the first intake for Peter Mac Oncology Discovery Program begins April.
You can find out more about this exciting opportunity. Please register for our online information evening.
You can also find out further information about this opportunity. Please review the position description or contact us for a confidential discussion.
- Andrew Pilcher - Manager Nursing Workforce (03) 855 96793
- Doris Vella - Operations Director Haematology and Medical Oncology (03) 855 98754
Payment is in line with the Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2016-2020 Classification Scale: YP4 (Year 4) – YP11 (Year 10).
Pages related to the Cancer Nursing Discovery Program
Cancer Nursing Discovery Program (News)
See also
Go back to the Professional Development page
