Switchboard Telephonist

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Location: John Hunter Hospital
Hours per Week: 38 (7-day, 24-hour rotating roster)
Position Classification: Telephonist Level 2
Remuneration: $68,155.65 – $70,929.46
Requisition ID: REQ648138
Application Close Date: Sunday, 5th April 2026

About the Team
The Switchboard at John Hunter Hospital is a small, dedicated team essential to the smooth operation of the hospital. Our team manages a high volume of internal and external calls, ensuring patients, staff, and health service providers are connected with the correct department or professional. The role is fast paced, often coordinating emergency responses such as code reds, and requires excellent communication, accuracy, and teamwork. The team culture is supportive, collaborative, and professional.

Role Purpose
This position provides a comprehensive switchboard service to internal and external customers. You will manage high volumes of calls, pages, rostering enquiries, and general requests, ensuring accurate and timely communication to support safe patient care.

Key Accountabilities

• Act as the first point of contact by telephone or in person for healthcare consumers, responding to enquiries and referring to the appropriate services, clinicians, or managers.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with patients, families, the general public, and health service providers.
• Maintain accurate and detailed phone and communication records in line with legislative requirements.
• Deliver timely, complete information to clinical staff to support safe patient care.
• Record and disseminate messages accurately and efficiently.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships across the organisation to promote cooperation and support.
• Implement and evaluate a prioritised work schedule, adjusting to changing work priorities and team needs.
• Work in accordance with the HNE Health Values Charter and NSW Health Code of Conduct, modelling excellence and cultural respect.
• Take reasonable care to ensure personal actions do not adversely affect workplace health and safety and report hazards, risks, or incidents promptly.

About You
You are a professional, reliable, and adaptable individual who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. You have excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail, ensuring accuracy under pressure while supporting safe patient care. You work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing multiple priorities while maintaining a calm and professional approach. You understand the importance of acting within the scope of the telephonist role and are committed to building positive relationships with patients, families, staff, and health service providers. You demonstrate initiative, resilience, and a commitment to the values of HNE Health and NSW Health, contributing to a supportive, collaborative, and professional team culture.

 Why Join HNE Health

• Join a small, supportive, and collaborative team that plays a vital role in hospital operations.
• Contribute to safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care across a major hospital.
• Opportunities for professional development and learning in a dynamic health service environment.

Need more information?
  1) Click here for the Position Description
  2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Bonnie Bridge on Bonnie.Bridge@health.nsw.gov.au

• An eligibility list will be created for future temporary full or part time vacancies
• To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa. 
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.    

Information for Applicants: 

Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2 
 
Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp 
 

Salary Packaging: is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23. 

 At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace.  Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact HNELHD-Diversity@health.nsw.gov.au  for confidential support.   

Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.  
 
Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn!