Work type: Fixed Term
Location: Parkville
Division/Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: Centre for Youth Mental Health
Role & Superannuation rate: Academic - Part time - 17% super

Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is Australia’s #1 university and is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

About the Centre for Youth Mental Health

In January 2009 the University of Melbourne established a new Centre for Youth Mental Health (CYMH) within the Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences, where the academic and professional staff who are provided to Orygen are now based. All NHMRC and ARC Grants to be used for Orygen activities are managed within CYMH.

Orygen delivers cutting-edge research, policy development, innovative clinical services, and evidence-based training and education for the mental health workforce to ensure that there is continuous improvement in the treatments and care provided to young people experiencing mental ill-health.

About the Role

The Research Assistants will work on two projects, VERBATIM and EScAPe.

• VERBATIM is a randomised controlled trial investigating whether a second-generation antipsychotic (aripiprazole) can reduce the severity of auditory verbal hallucinations in young people with BPD.
• EScAPe is a study that will (i) investigate the performance of the latest screening measures for personality disorder in young people and (ii) determine whether an intervention called relational peer work is acceptable and safe for young people with personality disorder.

In a typical week at work, you may:

• Liaise with young people and their families, and clinical staff (Orygen, headspace), to recruit participants and conduct the informed consent procedure
• Collect research data using multiple standardised clinical assessment instruments according to the research protocol
• Organise, conduct and facilitate participant MRI imaging sessions at the Austin Hospital
• Facilitate participants’ attendance at pathology collection centres for blood tests and conduct bio-specimen (hair sample) data collection

About You

You will have a high-level understanding of mental disorders (particularly BPD), including adolescent development issues.

Ideally, you will further have:

• an Honours or Masters degree in behavioural or social sciences and/or related discipline
• Demonstrated ability to manage the informed consent procedure, conduct interviews and interact with young people with mental health problems
• Demonstrated ability to understand and adhere to a research study protocol and familiarity with research and experimental design issues
• Demonstrated administrative, organisation and problem-solving skills in a research setting, including meticulous record keeping, data management skills (e.g. data entry, data verification)

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

Benefits of Working with Us

In addition to having the opportunity to grow and be challenged, and to be part of a vibrant campus life, our people enjoy a range of rewarding benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements and generous personal, parental and cultural leave
• Competitive remuneration, 17% super, salary packaging and leave loading
• Free and subsidised health and wellbeing services, and access to fitness and cultural clubs
• Discounts on a wide range of products and services including Myki cards and Qantas Club
• Career development opportunities and 25% off graduate courses for staff and their immediate families

To find out more, please visit https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/staff-benefits.

Be Yourself

At UoM, we value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community, and we encourage and celebrate diversity. Indigenous Australians, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, people of all ages and culturally diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for our roles. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

Join Us!

If you feel this role is right for you, please submit your application including a brief cover letter, your resume and your responses against the selection criteria* (found in the Position Description) for the role.

*For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

If you're interested in this role and would like a private and confidential discussion, please contact Jennifer Betts via telephone on 0401 772 660 or via email at Jennifer.betts@orygen.org.au.

Should you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at hr-talent@unimelb.edu.au.

Due to the impacts of COVID-19, we are currently prioritising applications with current valid working rights in Australia and candidates who are not affected by travel restrictions. Please see the latest updates to Australia's immigration and border arrangements: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Position Description: 0055101_Research Assistant HYPE_PD.pdf

Applications close: 06 Feb 2022 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time