NSW Nreborn Screening Programme - Hospital Scientific Officer

The NSW Newborn Screening (NBS) Programme, situated in The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, is the State Reference Laboratory which screens all newborns in NSW and the ACT (approx 100,000 babies per annum) for the detection of over 30 inborn errors of metabolism. The Department also provides an advisory service for the further investigation, monitoring and management of patients detected with a disorder by the screening tests, as well as specialised services to interstate and overseas reference laboratories.

This scientific staff member is required to support all activities performed within the Statewide Programme. The scientist will perform analytical screening assays using tandem mass spectrometry, immunoassay, manual enzymatic and chromatographic techniques to detect selected inborn errors of metabolism. The scientist will be expected to be competent with computer systems and may be responsible daily for data entry of results, generation of reports and to assist with data entry of demographic information on babies born in NSW and ACT. The scientist will be required to perform equipment maintenance tasks for any instrumentation within the Programme. The scientist will assist with all quality activities of the Department including database audit.

All staff within the department are expected to act in a courteous and professional manner in all aspects of interaction with other hospital staff, parents, associated medical officers and other health professionals.