Launch a Physiotherapy Career with Confidence – Join Our 2027 ISLHD New Graduate Program!
$79,419.00 - $87,090.00 per annum + 12% super & salary packaging | Temporary Full Time | ISLHD - Various | REQ682152 | Grade: Level 1 Physiotherapist | Applications close: 11 October, 2026
Join us in shaping healthier futures. Together we can do more.
Are you a soon-to-be or recent Physiotherapy graduate ready to launch your career? We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for the highly regarded 2027 ISLHD New Graduate Physiotherapy Program!
We’re seeking motivated and passionate graduates to join our team and gain invaluable experience across two dynamic streams within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
To apply for the role:
1. Attach a resume and cover letter
2. Upload scanned APP results from all completed placements
3. Address the selection criteria below:
a. Briefly summarise your relevant clinical experience including patient populations and clinical settings.
b. Provide two detailed examples of clinical situations or patient presentations that demonstrate your clinical reasoning skills. In your response, describe your assessment process, clinical decision-making, interventions, and the outcomes achieved.
c. Describe how you will contribute to delivering a high-quality physiotherapy service across the district.
d. Describe the strategies and tools you use to effectively prioritise tasks and manage competing priorities while working both independently and collaboratively within a team.
Information webinars – REGISTER NOW
Attend one of our upcoming Q&A sessions with Illawarra Physiotherapy staff to learn more about the role. Register using the links below:
Thursday 17th September 6:30pm
Monday 28th September 4:30pm
About the opportunity:
Stream 1
A comprehensive rotational program providing an exceptional pathway to grow clinically, gain hands-on experience, and build confidence within a collaborative and supportive team.
Rotations You’ll Experience:
- Acute Respiratory Medicine (Wollongong Hospital)
You will manage a wide range of acute and chronic respiratory conditions in a major tertiary centre, including COPD, pneumonia, and neuromuscular respiratory failure. Gain hands-on experience with airway clearance, oxygen therapy, non-invasive ventilation (NIV), and advanced respiratory supports like IPPV and MIE. Work closely with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced environment, delivering culturally responsive care to a diverse patient population.
- Acute Surgical (Wollongong Hospital)
Join a busy surgical ward caring for patients recovering from major abdominal, plastic, head and neck surgeries—including tracheostomy and laryngectomy management. You’ll assist with early mobilisation, respiratory physiotherapy, and prevention of post-op complications, collaborating with experienced teams to support recovery and discharge planning for a diverse regional population.
- Sub-Acute Rehabilitation (Bulli Hospital)
Experience working with patients recovering from trauma, amputations, neurological, orthopaedic, respiratory, and brain injuries in person-centred rehabilitation. Working in an interdisciplinary team, you’ll deliver tailored interventions, coordinate goal-setting, and facilitate smooth transitions from inpatient care to community reintegration, focusing on maximising independence and quality of life.
- Acute General Medical (Shellharbour Hospital)
This rotation, you will manage a broad range of acute medical patients with cardiac, respiratory, renal, and complex chronic conditions. Develop skills in early mobilisation, falls prevention, cognitive screening, and discharge planning within a culturally diverse community, working closely with allied health and integrated care services to deliver holistic, patient-centred care.
Stream 2
Work and stay with us at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for one year. We offer 2 new graduate physiotherapist positions employed at Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital for one year with grads swapping caseloads midway to get a varied and well-rounded experience in the one hospital.
- Acute-Surgical/Medical/Orthopaedic and ICU/HDU
Work in our busy surgical and surgical short stay units caring for patients recovering from major abdominal surgery, joint replacements, #NOF and many other orthopaedic conditions. Treat medical outliers. You will develop skills in respiratory physiotherapy, complex mobilisation and prevention of post op complications collaborating with experienced MDT to support recovery and discharge planning covering a wide geographical area.
- Outpatients/Transitional Aged Care and Ward Relief
Work in musculoskeletal outpatients with all age groups to learn diagnostic and treatment skills for patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions including chronic pain to ensure patients are healing well and achieving their goals. Work with elderly patients in the community to ensure community reintegration, focusing on maximizing independence and quality of life.
After a thorough orientation our grads work one weekend a month as the sole physiotherapist for Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital.
Why Join Us?
- Supportive Environment: Develop broad, transferable physiotherapy skills through rotations that expose you to a wide range of clinical specialty areas. Learn from experienced Senior Physiotherapists and a collaborative allied health team.
- Build Confidence Across Specialties: Develop broad, transferable physiotherapy skills through rotations that expose you to a wide range of clinical specialty areas.: Regular clinical supervision, in-service education, and professional development sessions.
- Consolidate comprehensive foundational physiotherapy skills: Build confidence through rotations that expose you to a wide range of clinical specialty areas.
- Career Pathway: Build a strong foundation for long-term success in a public hospital setting.
Applications are now open – don’t miss your chance to kick-start a fulfilling and impactful career.
Locations: Bulli, Wollongong & Shellharbour Hospitals or Shoalhaven Memorial Hospital
Program Duration: 8th February 2027 – 6th February 2028
For more information and to view the position classification, see the Position Description here.
Interviews
Interviews are scheduled for Thursday 15th October 2025 or Friday 16th October 2025 and will be held virtually. Successful candidates will need to make themselves available via MS Teams on these dates.
Benefits of working with ISLHD.
We understand that balancing career aspirations with the demand of the everyday, as well as maintaining a healthy work-life balance, can be a challenge. To help with this, we offer a range of benefits which include:
- Allocated Days Off (ADO) - once a month take a paid day off (eligible full-time employees)
- Salary packaging - less tax and more take-home pay
- Novated leasing - lease a car and pay for all running costs out of your pre-taxed salary (eligible full-time employees)
- Fitness Passport - discounted gym membership that both you and your family can enjoy (eligible employees)
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - free confidential and professional assistance for staff and their families
- Career progression, professional development and secondment opportunities
ISLHD is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
ISLHD is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.
Need more information or help applying?
- Visit the ISLHD website for application tips, to learn more about ISLHD and other important application information.
- Visit the Stepping Up website here. Stepping Up supports Aboriginal people to navigate the recruitment process and find a career or employment in NSW Health.
- Visit The Welcome Experience website here. The Welcome Experience is a free service supporting essential workers (and their families) who are considering applying for or have accepted a job in regional NSW.
- Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
- For role-related queries or help applying, contact Catherine Carnegie at [email protected]
ISLHD acknowledges that our health district is located on the unceded lands of the Aboriginal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the NSW South Coast.
