Visiting Medical Officer in Hand Surgery - John Hunter Hospital

Visiting Medical Officer in Hand Surgery 
John Hunter Hospital
Quinquennial VMO | VMO Sessional/Fee for Service Determination 

Hunter New England Local Health District is seeking a highly skilled Visiting Medical Officer in Orthopaedic Surgery or Plastic Surgery to join our specialist service. This role contributes to the delivery of high-quality, contemporary specialist care across multiple HNELHD facilities including John Hunter Hospital, Belmont District Hospital and Maitland Hospital, with clinics and operating time as rostered. 

About the role

The VMO will provide safe, effective, evidence-based and patient centred Orthopaedic Services for the Hunter New England community, including:

•    Admitting, consultative, diagnostic, procedural, outpatient and telehealth services as required by HNELHD. 
•    Provide effective hand and plastic surgery services to patients of the Hunter New England Area.
•    Scope to be involved in all aspects of hand surgical reconstruction.
•    Participation and commitment in the emergency hand surgery on-call roster (typically 1 in 8 including weekends) and treatment of hand trauma patients at the John Hunter Hospital.
•    Attendance and leadership in public outpatient and hand surgery clinics.

About you

•    Hold a primary medical degree registrable with AHPRA 
•    Hold Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and Australian Orthopaedic Association or Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 
•    Have completed Post Graduate Fellowship in Hand Surgery including microsurgery ability combined with osteosynthesis of the hand and wrist.
•    Experience in congenital hand surgery is desirable. 

About Us: 

Hunter New England Local Health District is one of the largest and most diverse health districts in NSW, delivering care to more than 970,000 people across the Hunter, New England and Lower Mid North Coast regions. John Hunter Hospital is a Level 6 tertiary referral, major trauma and teaching hospital and the largest facility in HNELHD. We are proud of our strong academic partnerships with the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, fostering innovation, research and world class clinical practice. 

Why join us?

•    John Hunter Hospital Health and Innovation Precinct: Work within a major teaching hospital and innovation hub supporting education, research and multidisciplinary excellence.
•    Sustainability focus: John Hunter Hospital is committed to environmentally sustainable healthcare through energy-efficient and waste-reduction initiatives.
•    Staff wellbeing supports: Access to Fitness Passport, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and a range of wellbeing initiatives.
•    Medical Settlement Concierge: Personalised assistance with onboarding, relocation and settling into the district – for clinicians, families and even pets. Find out more.

Why Newcastle?

Newcastle offers an unbeatable lifestyle with stunning beaches, a vibrant city culture, and easy access to the Hunter Valley wine region. Enjoy coastal living, excellent schools, and a thriving food and arts scene, all just two hours from Sydney. Whether you love surfing, hiking, or relaxing in wine country, Newcastle provides the perfect balance of career and lifestyle.

Exciting Future at John Hunter Hospital

In 2026, John Hunter Hospital will open a state-of-the-art acute services building as part of the $835 million Health and Innovation Precinct redevelopment. This will expand critical care capacity, enhance emergency services, and support advanced clinical care across the region, making now the perfect time to join our team and be part of this transformation.