• Based at Health Education and Research Building (HERB), Barwon Health, Geelong
• Full-time (36.75 hours per week), Fixed Term for 12 months
• RA148 $65,363 + 17% Superannuation

Founded in 1974, Deakin is a public university in Victoria with 61,000 students across five campuses: Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds, Geelong Waterfront, Warrnambool, and the online Cloud Campus. We are a progressive and open-minded university, with the highest student satisfaction in Victoria and consistently ranked in the top 1% of the world’s universities.

Working as part of the School of Medicine within IMPACT, the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, the primary purpose of the Research Assistant will be to assist in the day-to-day conduct of a clinical trial of a new medication for methamphetamine ‘ice’ use, called the Tina trial. Further information about the Tina trial can be found at www.tinatrial.info. The incumbent will be required to recruit and interview potential trial participants, screening them for suitability to enter the clinical trial, and if suitable enrol them in the trial and collect data from participants at scheduled appointments as described in the trial protocol.

The incumbent will also be involved in data entry and data management; undertake management of biological samples; assist in recruitment strategies and participant contact and undertake general administrative duties involved in research conducted within the unit. This is a multi-site clinical trial, and the incumbent will work as part of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians. Travel in the field is required and some work duties will involve undertaking assessments with trial participants in the field and in collaborating services.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Conduct interview assessments with research participants using psychiatric rating scales and other validated questionnaires
• Perform data collection for the study
• Monitor the implementation of risk assessment procedures for each trial participant, ensuring that participant care is appropriate to the perceived risk while maintaining the patient’s dignity and rights. This should include a commitment to actively managing the environmental risks encountered
• Coordinate invitations and appointments for study participants including: recruiting new participants; conducting trial interviews; follow up of missed appointments; obtaining address details and necessary consent forms from study participants; conducting assessments and interviews and collecting other relevant data; and data entry as required
• Manage the research project on a day-to-day basis by ensuring that data is being collected and stored appropriately according to procedural requirements of the research project and conforming to good clinical practice guidelines
• Effective communication and liaison with other research staff within IMPACT and Barwon Health, and other trial collaborating groups
• Experience with the principles of good clinical practice and a commitment to operate within these guidelines.  Maintain strict standards of confidentially
• Attend relevant meetings and participate in the planning and review of the trial research protocol and related activities as required
• Participate in Quality Assurance procedures related to the project and service, including any necessary training and review meetings implemented across trial sites
• Cooperate with all health and safety policies and procedures of the university and take all reasonable care to ensure that your actions or omissions do not impact on the health and safety of yourself or others

To be successful, you’ll have:

• Completion of a degree or post-graduate qualification in psychology, nursing, social work or other relevant discipline and/or relevant work experience
• Demonstrated experience in clinical interviewing and assessment *desirable
• Demonstrated administrative skills including proficient use of Microsoft Office suite of products, as well as demonstrated experience using data software (e.g., REDCap, SPSS, Stata, SAS or R)
• Exceptional record keeping skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Demonstrated organisational skills including the demonstrated ability to maintain a high standard of data record keeping and a demonstrated ability to meet competing deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to liaise with (and/or negotiate with) research clients and other research teams
• Commitment to integrity and sensitivity in interacting with marginalised or at-risk populations and about sensitive issues, including in complying with ethical, legal, and policy requirements
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training

Applications for this position close on 30/06/2022.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• This role requires the incumbent to apply for and maintain a Working With Children Check (refer to Deakin’s Recruitment Procedure for further details)
• Frequent local travel will be required to undertake assessments and visit services
• National Police Record Check

Offers of employment from Deakin University are conditional upon the applicant being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or medically exempt and providing satisfactory evidence of the same. You can view a copy of the University’s COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure.

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience for this role.

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, please contact Dr Alyna Turner, Senior Lecturer at a.turner@deakin.edu.au

Are You Ready?

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community.

We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success.

We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.