Northern Doctors Services

Northern Doctors Services comprises Northern Doctors Workforce and Northern Doctors Education. We provide one point of contact for junior doctors at every stage of your medical career, with your best interests at the heart of all decisions.

Northern Doctors Education

Empowering Tomorrow’s Clinicians, Today

We provide education and training to help our junior doctors deliver safe, high-quality care. We support prevocational medical trainees (PGY1 and PGY2) and newly arrived International Medical Graduates (IMGs) as they begin their medical careers in Australia.

Education Team

Clinical Team

  • Dr Kim Jeffs – Director of NDE
  • Dr Carol Chong – Supervisor of Intern Training
  • Dr Chiu Kang – Director of Clinical Training
  • Dr Anastasia Castles – Director of Clinical Training (on parental leave until Oct 2026, Dr Laura Ehlert covering)
  • Dr Georgie van der Vliet & Dr Alison Giles – IMG Supervisors

Administration

  • Susie Sangas – Manager of Education
  • Kirra McGaw – Medical Education Officer
  • Ijaza Lafeer – Advisor, Education (on parental leave Mar 2027, Lisa Bootlis covering)
  • Andrea Kim – Advisor, Education

What We Provide

  • Structured weekly orientation program for interns at the beginning of the year and unit orientation meetings at the beginning of each term
  • Resources to complement orientation – Annual Junior Doctor Handbook, unit handbooks and ROVERs accessible 24/7 on SharePoint
  • Formal teaching programs for interns and HMOs – Intern Education: Tuesday 12:30pm, HMO Education: Thursday 12:30pm (hybrid format, recorded for those unable to attend)
  • Clinical skills workshops – suturing, plastering, IV/UG cannulation, airway management, chest drains
  • Annual Careers Expo – CV writing, interview techniques, specialty presentations, RACGP, Surgical and Radiology info sessions
  • Intern Mentoring program – matching interns to consultant mentors in their preferred specialty, plus peer-to-peer mentoring for HMO2s in the AMC Framework
  • Mandatory Catch Ups with the Supervisor of Interns Dr Carol Chong (and a Workforce representative) – career development, future plans, and ongoing support
  • Catch ups with Directors of Clinical Training for HMO2s and HMO3s – reflecting on the year and planning ahead
  • Support with mid/end of term assessments, beginning of term discussions and EPAs – ensuring mandatory requirements are met before ARP meetings
  • Monthly newsletter – keeping you informed of new initiatives and programs
  • WhatsApp Groups – Northern Doctors Education, AMC Framework trainees, IMG Peer Support, GP Training
  • Transition To Practice Program for International Medical Graduates – 6-week observership for successful candidates

Other Programs

Introduction to Clinical Governance

Opportunities for junior doctors to become involved in Quality, Safety and governance processes with certification. Winner of the Health Service Innovation and Excellence Award (Metro) at the Victorian Prevocational Medical Training Awards, November 2025.

Annual Education Award Night

Recognising exceptional educators with awards for: Excellence in Supervision, Excellence in Clinical Teaching, Mentor of the Year, Research Supervisor of the Year.

Wellbeing Program

“You Said, We Did” feedback initiatives, Thank You recognition for junior doctors covering critical shifts (CMO note + coffee voucher).

Monthly JMO Forum

Regular forum with Deputy CMO for junior doctor feedback and engagement.

Quarterly NDETS Committee

Northern Doctors Education, Training and Supervision committee meetings.

Research Linkages

Connecting junior doctors with research opportunities and supervisors.

Northern Doctors Workforce

We manage recruitment, rostering, leave, and pastoral support for approximately 2,000 medical staff across Northern Health’s campuses. Our experienced recruitment and rostering coordinators ensure smooth operations across all streams.

Workforce Team

Leadership

  • Vinod Chellaram – Director of NDS and Director of Pharmacy
  • Sarah Kliene – Operations Manager, JMS Recruitment
  • Melanie Vellios – Operations Manager, JMS Rostering and Well-being
  • Natalie Grouios (Bootlis) – Operations Manager, Virtual Services
  • Seda Aydin – Administration

Surgical, Critical Care, General

  • Andie Kliene – Rostering & Well-being
  • Jessie Papa – Recruitment
  • Emma Tobin – Rostering & Well-being (EM, ICU, Cardiology, Aged Care)
  • Maegan Myers – Recruitment (EM, ICU, Cardiology, Aged Care)

Medical, Women’s & Children’s

  • Jijo Mathew – Rostering & Well-being (BPT, Medical, Cancer Services)
  • Lilia Bailey – Recruitment (BPT, Medical, Cancer Services)
  • Marina Hondros – Rostering & Well-being (Women’s & Children’s, Mental Health, Diagnostics, PGY1s)
  • Hannah Peart & Kel Fontinovo – Recruitment (Women’s & Children’s, Mental Health, Diagnostics, PGY1s)

Chief Medical Officer Directorate

The Directorate of the Chief Medical Officer has developed the structures, processes and staff members to support medical staff at Northern Health.

Education Enquiries

Phone: 8468 0748
Email: NorthernDoctorsEducation@Nh.org.au
Location: NCHER, Level 2, La Trobe area

Workforce Enquiries

Onboarding: NorthernWorkforceOnboarding@nh.org.au
General: northerndoctorsworkforce@nh.org.au