We’re excited to announce that Kern is partnering with Bethesda Health Care to deliver professional, tailored physiotherapy services to their hospital patients.

About the partnership

Bethesda is a private, independent acute surgical and specialist palliative care organisation that puts patient-centred care at the forefront.

Our physio team at Bethesda – Jill, Sophie, Emile, Amy and Mark – love what they do and strive to deliver person-centred physiotherapy services that put patients first. For our team, success is defined by great outcomes for our patients and our team.

It’s a pleasure to be partnered with another organisation with a passion for delivering person-centred care.

Reinventing the therapy experience

Kern has an ongoing commitment to not just survive as a therapy provider, but to thrive. We’re constantly investigating how we can improve, grow and be better. It shows in our clients’ satisfaction, and it shows in our strict NDIS compliance.

While our services are client-focused, and client satisfaction is a high priority, we also invest in our team ongoing, providing different pathways for the professional and personal growth of our team.

We support our team by allowing them to discover their own definition of success, whether that’s through a leadership-inspired pathway, specialisation-inspired pathway, or service delivery-inspired pathway. We’re invested in our team member’s professional journeys – and we want them to reach their career goals and explore their interests, while also being recognised for their value to Kern.

It’s our investment in our people that truly enables us to deliver exceptional compassionate and respectful care to our clients.

You can enquire about supports or request a call here.

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Ignite your career with our graduate program.

Reimagining a different, better experience is why we exist. Creating a graduate experience like no other is what we are all about at Kern.

As an Early Career Therapist on the Graduate Program, you will receive:

• Regular, ongoing coaching & development support as you need it
• A supportive, approachable and welcoming leadership team
• Competitive pay and access to other benefits
• A caring, collaborative and friendly inter-disciplinary environment

Our coaching & development promise: your roadmap to success

Clinical excellence

Our graduate program is designed to provide you with first class coaching & development aimed to build your capacity and confidence as a clinician.

For your first year, building your foundational clinical skills are our aim. Through our Coaching & Development
approach, you will be put in the driver’s seat – developing the scope of your professional practice, balancing your passions and interest areas. Supported by internal mentors, seniors and leaders, your growth will be accelerated.

Professional skills

Developing your professional skills is critical to your success as a community-based therapist.

Working with your Team Lead & the wider support network, we will build your confidence in areas such as communicating with participants and their families, managing challenging situations and escalating risk. To help you effectively plan and self-manage your day, you will learn critical skills in diary & time management, scheduling and organisational skills.

Personal development

We can’t do all of this without focusing on the most important factor – YOU!

As part of personal development, working with our extended leadership team, and your cohort of other new grads, we will support you to ensure your self-care and wellbeing needs are met. This means providing you the tools to have a balanced approach to work & life. Being able to show up as the best version of yourself everyday.

Supported by internal mentors, seniors and leaders, your growth will be accelerated.

What to expect

Support, support, support

From your Team Lead, to your teammates and everything in between. When you work for Kern you will be supported by our extended leadership team, our seniors and mentors. Learn from those that have walked the Graduate pathway before you who will share tips and tricks to make your Graduate year a success.

Your growth, your way

Our approach to Coaching & Development puts you in the driver’s seat. As an active participant in your learning journey, you will have access to a wide range of internal and external professional development and training.

Want to explore a specialty? Let us support you in reaching your professional goals with caseloads aligned to your interest areas and the training to match!

Fun, inclusive team culture

At Kern, teamwork and connection are at the heart of our culture.

Creating meaningful outcomes, for our participants and team alike, through a collaborative, supportive and engaging approach.

We believe when we are having fun doing what we love, we get the best results. We love to celebrate successes, big and small.

Great pay & rewards

Being rewarded for doing what you love, it doesn’t get much better than that!

Our pay and review structure ensures you are recognised for the value and contribution you bring to the team.

Over and above your pay, there are plenty more benefits to working with the Kern team. Apply now to find out more

Application process & key dates

To apply for the Kern Graduate Program, please send your CV along with a covering letter to amanda@kernhealth.com.au.

In your covering letter, tell us about you – what your interest areas are, what you enjoy about your chosen discipline and why you would make a great fit for the Kern team!

Our first stage is a telephone interview. This is an opportunity for us to find out a little more about you and for you to find out a little more about us and what makes our Graduate program better than the rest.

Phone interviews will commence from 26th September.

You will be invited to attend a face-to-face interview held at one of our clinics where you will meet with members of the clinical leadership team. This is a great chance to get to know the team and see our clinics first hand. Bring along your burning questions too!

Interviews will commence from October.

The Offer stage! If you are successful throughout the recruitment process, you will receive an offer to join the Kern team.

The 2023 Kern Graduate Program will commence on Monday 16th January 2023.

To find out more, contact:
Amanda Hardwick
People & Culture Manager
Phone: 1300 122 155
Email: amanda@kernhealth.com.au

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It was a privilege, in Kern Health’s 10th year, for founder and MD Mark Kerns, to receive a winning place in WA’s official 40 Under 40 line up for achievement in business.

Run by Business News WA, the awards night showcases 40 WA business leaders under 40 years of age. The publication is a great way to keep abreast of developments in the business world in Perth, and WA wide. The calibre and diversity of the entrepreneurship showcased, always keeps the event interesting.

Mark reflects on the significance of this award, as an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the successes of the whole Kern team:

The submission process itself was worthwhile and rewarding. I would recommend any business owner to take the opportunity to submit for this award, if nominated. It is a good incentive to prioritise a deep dive review of your own company. It is easy to get carried away with the day to day running of a business. So an award nomination is a good reason to take some time to reflect on the broader journey and the factors that contributed to getting the business to where it is today.

The nomination process asks for specific success indicators for your business. In a review of Kern, we realised that in 10 years of providing quality outsource services to 4 separate sectors; aged care, hospital, community and occupational health, Kern has enjoyed 100% client retention. At the same time, we have grown at a rate of 34% year on year. This is a testament to our commitment to quality service, genuine person-centred care, and a focus trained on the specific outcomes of our clients.

The award acknowledges success in terms of both economic growth and social contribution. It is very inspirational to see a showcase of outstanding business acumen, but also generosity and dedication to society and community. Of course, for me personally, it is always interesting to read about healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs, in particular. I was especially blown away by First Among Equals 2015, Dr Angus Turner, founder of Outback Vision. Turner’s specialist eye clinics aim to prevent or treat 94% of blindness and vision loss, in indigenous communities in remote or regional WA.

It was a real treat to celebrate the award at the gala presentation with my wife and parents. It meant as much, if not more, to my parents, who have always been a great source of support and inspiration. My Dad won a Telstra business award in the 1990’s for his company Compac. From a small concern, Dad built the business into WA’s largest signwriting and screen printing company. Mum was a registered nurse who somehow always managed her work commitments as well as raising 4 very active kids. I suppose I owe the impetus to bring together effective healthcare practices alongside good business systems and processes, to my parent’s partnership.

In terms of partnerships, I have to take this opportunity to say how much it meant to me to share the awards night with my wonderful wife, Steph. Steph is a physiotherapist and built and sold 2 highly successful practices of her own, before dedicating most of her time to raising our children. Every small business founder knows the importance of a great support crew. Steph’s a great sounding board and always offers an insightful angle on every fresh business challenge that follows me home.

Whether it’s industry specific or business achievement generally, awards can be a great way to consolidate your story, capabilities and priorities. As a team leader, building and maintaining a high performing team culture is a large part of what I do. I am always looking for indicators of success to help me to select therapists not only with the right credentials but with an attitude, and personality, that aligns with our company values.

The 40 Under 40 award is about recognition. Recognition is also an important core value for us at Kern. We encourage a culture of sharing ideas, responsibility and credit. We have a Golden Monkey Award presentation once a quarter. The award goes to an employee nominated for ‘taking the monkey off of someone else’s back’. It is a light hearted but poignant way to recognise commitment, initiative and teamwork.

The Business News award, 2016, was a great honour for myself, my family, but above all my team. The dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism, which each member demonstrates, daily and without fail, has made Kern Health the thriving and growing company that it is.

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