Emergency Medicine Specialist
- Timaru Hospital - South Island
- Permanent - 1.0 FTE
Be part of a team that loves what they do - and where they live.
In ED at Timaru, we`re building a future-focused health system grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi - one that delivers partnership, equity, and excellence for all. In South Canterbury, that vision comes to life through a team of dedicated Emergency Department physicians who bring a breadth of experience - and who now choose to call Timaru home.
2026 is going to be an exciting year of change in Timaru Emergency Department as we are developing a new staffing model which includes a 24/7 registrar tier, with SMO on-call overnight to support the Registrars from February 2, 2026.
The Role
Timaru Emergency Department is dynamic, collegial, and varied - just like the community we serve. With around 22,000 presentations a year, you`ll see everything from everyday emergencies to trauma, supported by inpatient colleagues in Anaesthesia, Paediatrics, Mental health, O&G, General Surgery, Orthopaedics and Internal Medicine.
You`ll join a tight-knit, supportive team of specialists, Medical Officers, and highly skilled ED nurses. We`re proud of our culture: collaborative, welcoming, and flexible. Rostering is designed with people in mind - balancing service with lifestyle and valuing individual preferences. The current roster system is in the process of redesign at the time of advert and will allow for the expanded clinical supervision and on-call component.
The great thing about a smaller hospital is the opportunity to spend time at the patient`s bedside, to work up diagnostics as well as undertake practical skills that brought many of us into Emergency Medicine in the first place. The department has excellent access to imaging to aid clinical decision making.
Our patients often get a consultant delivered service and as a consequence we have one of the lowest admission rates in the country and excellent performance for Shorter Stays in the ED (SSED)
About You
You`ll bring New Zealand Vocational Registration (or be eligibility for vocational registration) in Emergency Medicine or Rural Hospital Medicine. Most importantly, you`ll thrive in a team environment and value the variety and autonomy that comes with working in a smaller hospital setting.
We welcome Specialists trained in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia or those who have trained in similar healthcare systems globally.
Why Timaru?
Forget the traffic jams and sky-high house prices - Timaru offers balance. Nestled between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean, you`ll have skiing, hiking, cycling, and beaches on your doorstep, all while being just two hours from Christchurch and Dunedin.
Join us - not just for the job, but for the team, the lifestyle, and the opportunity to make a real difference in a region that values and supports its people.
Timaru is a place where you can:
- Build your career in a hospital big enough to challenge you, yet small enough to know everyone - s name.
- Raise a family in a safe, friendly community with great schools and affordable housing.
- Enjoy a lifestyle where your commute is measured in minutes, leaving more time for the things you love.
- A number of our ED staff commute to work by foot or bike in a safe town for active commuting with great walking and cycling right on the doorstep of the hospital.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply online and attach an up to date copy of your CV for consideration.