Leadership and teamwork: RMO and Registrar Interview Questions Australia

A conflict example, a leadership example, a teamwork example and the nurse who complains about an intern are reported in most interviews.

Updated 26 October 2026

How to answer

One specific example per question with your own actions and the outcome clear. For the intern who is not answering calls, find out why, support them, protect patients, and involve the supervisor if needed. Show respect for nursing and allied health colleagues.

Frameworks: STAR

STAR Situation in a sentence, Task: what you had to do, Action: what you did in the first person, Result: the outcome with a number where there is one. Add Reflection for STARR. Full guide →

Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the people and cultureSTARR
Describe a situation where there was conflict between you and another member of the team.
STAR with your actions clear: what the conflict was about, what you did (early, in private, about the issue and the patient), the outcome and the relationship afterwards. Avoid conflicts where you were plainly right.
Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the head of departmentSTARR
Describe a situation where you displayed leadership.
An example at your level where you took charge: a ward emergency before the senior arrived, a ward round, a project. What you decided, how you communicated it, and the outcome.
Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the nurse unit manager or director of nursingSTARR
Describe a situation where you displayed teamwork.
A specific team, your role, what the team needed and what you provided, with the nurses or allied health staff named by role. A line on what you learned about teams.
Asked in most interviewsUsually asked by the nurse unit manager or director of nursingSTARR
A nurse complains that an intern is not attending calls and not doing their duties properly. What do you do?
Patient safety first: check the intern's patients and tasks are covered. Then find the intern, find out why, and help if they are overloaded or unwell. If it continues, tell the registrar or the term supervisor. Say what you would do if the intern was struggling personally.
Often askedUsually asked by the head of departmentSTARR
How do you work with nursing and allied health staff?
With respect for their knowledge of the ward and the patients: ask their view, act on it, be reliable, thank them. One example of a nurse or physiotherapist who changed what you did.
Often askedUsually asked by the people and cultureSTARR
Tell us about a time you supported a colleague who was struggling.
Noticed early, asked privately, found out what was going on, offered practical help, and involved the supervisor if needed. Say what happened.
Often askedUsually asked by the head of departmentSTARR
Tell us about a time you noticed a problem on the ward and did something about it.
- Follow-up: Did the change last after you left the rotation?
A real problem, what you noticed, who you involved, what you changed and whether it lasted after you left the rotation. Small and real beats large and vague.