Research Assistant - Rural Project

Job no: 0047061
Location: Remote with Travel to Ballarat and Geelong Regions
Role type: Full-time; or part-time Fixed-term for 2 years
Faculty: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Melbourne Medical School
Salary: Level A – $80,258 - $108,906 p.a. plus 17% super

• Drive innovative GP-paediatrician care model, impacting rural healthcare and reducing hospital referrals.
• Collaborate with experts, contribute to research, and shape the future of rural pediatric care.
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the Role

This is a remarkable opportunity for a dedicated Research Assistant locally based in Geelong or Ballarat (Victoria) to make a meaningful impact on pediatric care in rural Victoria. As a key member of the collaborative Strengthening Care for Rural Children project, you will be at the forefront of implementing an innovative GP-paediatrician model of care across twelve GP practices in the Barwon and Ballarat regions. Your role will not only contribute to enhancing the quality of pediatric care provided by GPs but also play a vital part in reducing hospital referrals, boosting family confidence in GP services, and advancing primary care research capacity. You'll work closely with a dynamic project team and benefit from the support of the Western Victoria Primary Health Network, fostering a collaborative and enriching work environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Work in partnership with participating general practice clinics and GPs to meet project milestones
• Provide ongoing support to participating general practices, liaising with practice management and reception teams
• Participate and present in project meetings and committees
• Develop presentation material and status reports
• Regular point of contact and correspondence with general practitioners and practice staff, including communication of project activities, changes and dissemination of materials

Who We Are Looking For

You possess strong interpersonal skills, excelling in communication and stakeholder engagement. You're motivated by the opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively, showcasing exceptional time management, organisational abilities, and analytical problem-solving.

You will also have:

• Degree/Honours/master’s qualification in Health or related discipline (e.g. psychology, public health, social sciences)
• Appropriate level of expertise gained from a combination of experience, training, or professional accreditation
• Experience working in a research environment
• Own car for travel and hold a valid licence (travel reimbursement available)

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check to ensure the University provides a safe environment for everyone.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – Department of General Practice and Primary Care

The Department of General Practice and Primary Care at the University of Melbourne is a leading center for primary care research, training, and innovation. With a network of over 600 community-based practices, we provide quality medical education, postgraduate training, and collaborate on research. Through initiatives like the Data for Decisions program, we ensure privacy while leveraging electronic medical record data. Our research focuses on biostatistics, implementation science, informatics, and co-design, addressing key healthcare challenges. Join us to shape the future of primary care and make a difference in patient outcomes.

What We Offer You!

In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!

About the University of Melbourne

We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.

Be Yourself

The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact the email address listed at the bottom of the page.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

We welcome and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We recognise that reconciliation is central to our purpose. For more information, please visit our Reconciliation page.

Join Us!

If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
• The responses against the following Selection Criteria

1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills
2. Excellent time management, organisational and analytical problem-solving skills
3. Experience in stakeholder engagement and/or relationship management
4. Experience working in a research environment

^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 have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Tara Amini via email at Faculties-TA@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.

Applications close: 27 September 2023 11:55 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)

Position Description:  0047061_Research Assistant, Rural Project_PD.pdf