2026 Graduate Nurse and Midwifery Transition Program

About Calvary John James Hospital

Calvary John James Hospital is a 150-bed private healthcare facility in Canberra, delivering comprehensive acute and sub-acute services across medical, surgical, orthopaedic, maternity, rehabilitation, perioperative and critical care specialties. The hospital includes a Medical Ward, Rehabilitation Ward, Orthopaedic Surgical Ward, General and Paediatric Surgical Wards, ICU/HDU, Perioperative Services (Scrub/Scout, Anaesthetics, PACU, DSU), and a Pre-Admission Clinic. It is also home to the south side’s only private maternity unit, featuring a Birth Suite and Special Care Nursery, and is the only private hospital in the ACT with a hydrotherapy pool. Guided by Calvary’s mission of compassionate, person-centred care, the hospital is committed to delivering safe, high-quality care to the community.

As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from people of culturally diverse backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and those with varied life experiences and faiths.

Start your nursing career with confidence at Calvary John James Hospital.

Join our 2026 Graduate Nurse Transition to Practice (GNTP) Program at John James Hospital, a comprehensive 12-month program designed to support your transition from student to professional nurse.

This program is open to both Enrolled Nurses (EN), Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM).

  • Program intake: February and August 2026
  • Employment: 0.8 FTE, fixed-term, with potential for ongoing employment


Apply Now via Calvary Careers

Download GNTP Information Booklet


Learn more about our hospital:

VISIT CALVARY John James Hospital

About the GNTP Program

Following Calvary’s National GNTP guidelines, the Calvary John James Hospital program offers graduates the opportunity to consolidate clinical knowledge, build confidence, and develop professional identity in a supported, compassionate environment. The 12-month practice-based program is designed for newly registered nurses and midwives transitioning into professional practice, with structured education, dedicated supervision, and diverse clinical experience across the hospital’s specialty areas.

  • Duration: 12 months (two × 6-month rotations; optional 3rd rotation for eligible graduates)
  • Intake: February (RNs, ENs, and RMs) and August (RNs and ENs)
  • Streams: Medical, Surgical, Rehabilitation, Maternity, ICU/HDU, and Perioperative (Note: stream availability differs for RNs, ENs, and RMs)
  • Employment: 0.8 FTE, fixed-term, with potential for ongoing employment
  • Probation: 6 months
  • Supervision: Dedicated New Graduate Coordinators, Preceptors, Clinical Development Nurses, Learning & Development Coordinators, and Clinical Nurse/Midwife Facilitators

Key Benefits

  • Structured clinical transition program across multiple specialty areas
  • Paid tailored study days with competency-based specialty content
  • Monthly clinical workshops delivered throughout the year
  • Dedicated onsite New Graduate Coordinator and Clinical Facilitators for daily support
  • Permanent employment opportunities upon program completion
  • Regular clinical supervision and access to experienced preceptors
  • Supernumerary shifts at the beginning of each rotation to support a safe and confident transition
  • Ability to nominate preferred rotation areas
  • Opportunities for ICU, maternity, and specialty clinical exposure
  • Flexible rostering
  • No on-call requirements during the Graduate Year
  • Career progression across Calvary’s broad range of specialties
  • Access to mentoring, professional development pathways, and UTAS Clinical Honours Scholarship
  • A welcoming, inclusive and values-driven workplace

Program Structure

All graduate programs include:

  • 3 days of clinical orientation
  • Supernumerary shifts at the beginning of each rotation
  • Graduate study days and monthly clinical workshops
  • Competency-based professional development
  • Preceptor-supported shifts and facilitated learning
  • Access to postgraduate scholarship opportunities

Rotation availability varies depending on profession (RN, EN, RM) and clinical placement capacity.

The General RN program provides two structured 6-month rotations across core acute and sub-acute areas, with the option of a third specialty rotation for eligible graduates.

Core RN Rotations

  • Medical Ward
  • Rehabilitation Ward
  • Orthopaedic Surgical Ward

Optional Specialty Rotation (availability-based)

  • ICU / HDU
  • General Surgical Ward
  • Paediatric Surgical Ward
  • Maternity

RNs receive mirrored preceptor shifts (4–6 weeks in rotation 1, 2 weeks in rotation 2) and ongoing support through workshops, clinical supervision, and competency consolidation.

A separate Perioperative Stream is also available for graduates who wish to begin their career in the Operating Theatre environment. This pathway offers structured learning guided by the Perioperative Graduate Nurse Coordinator and Clinical Development Nurses and focuses on developing safe and contemporary perioperative practice in line with ACORN standards.

EN graduates complete two 6-month rotations across supervised acute and sub-acute environments, developing essential clinical capabilities with structured educational support.

EN Rotations

  • Medical Ward
  • Surgical Ward
  • Rehabilitation Ward

ENs participate in graduate study days, monthly workshops, and receive supernumerary time and consistent support from Clinical Development Nurses and preceptors.

A separate Perioperative Stream is also available for ENs who are interested in perioperative nursing. This pathway provides supported development within the Operating Theatre environment, with focused learning facilitated by the Perioperative Graduate Nurse Coordinator and the perioperative education team.

RM graduates participate in a dedicated maternity stream covering the full perinatal journey, supported by midwifery facilitators and experienced clinical teams.

Maternity Stream
Rotations may include:

  • Birth Suite
  • Antenatal
  • Postnatal
  • Special Care Nursery

RMs receive midwifery-specific study days, regular workshops, and supernumerary shifts to support a safe, confident transition into midwifery practice.

How to Apply


Does this sound like the career path for you?

  • Application period: July 2025
  • Platform: Calvary Careers website
  • Employment: 0.8 FTE, fixed-term with potential for ongoing employment

Application Documents (required):

  • Your resume (maximum 2 pages)
  • Your current unofficial academic transcript
  • Recent clinical placement assessments
  • At least two referees, including one clinical referee
  • A cover letter of no more than 1 page responding to the questions below:

Please provide specific examples in your cover letter:

  • Why do you want to participate in the Calvary John James Hospital Graduate Nurse Transition Program?
  • How do you ensure your practice aligns with safe, high-quality, person-centred care?
  • Describe a time when you demonstrated effective communication and teamwork in the clinical environment.
  • Describe a time when you assessed, planned, implemented, and evaluated nursing or midwifery care.
    (Note: Selection criteria do not need to be addressed separately.)

 

 

For enquiries


Jennifer Kal
Learning & Development Coordinator
Email: Jennifer.Kal@calvarycare.org.au

Milan Adhikari
Clinical Development Nurse
Email: Milan.Adhikari@calvarycare.org.au

 

Questions? Check out our FAQ's below:

You will complete two 6-month rotations, with the option for a third specialty rotation depending on availability and performance.

Yes. You can nominate preferred rotation areas, and assignments are made based on your preferences, service needs, and available placements.

Yes. Graduates may be considered for ongoing positions based on performance, interest, and available roles. Calvary John James Hospital has a highly successful graduate program, with most graduates remaining employed with us after completion.

No. There are no on-call requirements for new graduates during the program year.

Most clinical areas operate 7-day rotating rosters, including early, late, and occasional night shifts depending on the rotation.

You will receive rotation details before your start date, with opportunities to discuss preferences with the Graduate Coordinator.

Ready to begin your nursing career with Calvary?


👉 Apply Now via Calvary Careers     or     📖 Back to National GNTP Overview