Project Officer

Are you passionate about working collaboratively with Aboriginal & and Torres Strait Islander communities and have strong engagement skills and passion for improving health outcomes for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander women?

If this sounds like you, join our team to help make a difference.

About the role:

Menzies School of Health Research is looking to engage an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project Officer to join the DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE project, and contribute to the team’s community-based, co-design and community engagement work that aims to reduce diabetes related risks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women before, during and after pregnancy.

The DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australian Partnership commenced in the Northern Territory in 2011, was expanded to Far North Queensland (FNQ) in 2015 and includes researchers, policy makers and health providers. The Partnership initially focused on research activities to improve the care and outcomes for women (and their babies) who had a pregnancy complicated by diabetes. Since this time, the Partnership’s research activities have expanded across northern Australia and now also has a focus on type 2 diabetes in children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.

Based in Cairns, the Project Officer will foster links with communities and participants at the study sites, including women with diabetes in pregnancy, health professionals and community stakeholders; in collaboration with the research team, plan and deliver workshops, interviews, and other activities. The successful candidate will also be required to support the coordination and facilitation of research related activities such as communicating and promoting the project through community engagement, participant recruitment, obtaining informed consent, data entry and storage and ethics reporting, in line with relevant standards, guidelines and reporting obligations.

Some additional responsibilities for appointment at a higher level PAT 6:

• Provide coordination of research activities such as project planning, ethics management, recruitment, fieldwork, data collection and reporting processes.
• Play a role in leading stakeholder and community engagement (identifying stakeholders, arranging meetings, building relationships, and ensuring stakeholders are kept informed).
• Provide recommendations to innovate and improve systems, processes, and activities.

Please see the Position Description for a full list of responsibilities and to view the selection criteria.

What you will bring to the role

As an enthusiastic, resourceful and motivated individual, you will already have exceptional communication and IT skills (including previous use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel or similar applications). The successful applicant will also possess:

• Completion of a degree (without subsequent experience) or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or training.
• Understanding of, or an ability to acquire understanding of, diabetes and chronic conditions, and research processes and the ethical considerations for conducting research with human participants.
• Experience conducting secretariat duties such as organising meetings, workshops, booking travel, catering and organising participant gift vouchers.
• Experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and peoples in a health or community service environment and ability to build positive working relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and stakeholders.

Some additional selection criteria for appointment at higher level PAT 6:

• Completion of a relevant degree, with subsequent relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and education/training.
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to work flexibly and independently with minimal supervision, and experience in adapting processes or techniques as required to achieve objectives without impacting on other areas.
• Experience working in research setting and demonstrated experience in undertaking project planning, contributing to ethics management, fieldwork, data collection and reporting.

Why Menzies

Menzies is one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a leader in global and tropical research into life-threatening illnesses. If making a positive health impact in Australia and across our region excites and motivates you, join us as we continue to translate our research into effective programs and partnerships in communities across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, and find enduring solutions to health problems that matter.

Benefits of working for Menzies

• Attractive salary package $79,299 - $94,618 pa including superannuation and salary packaging benefits up to $15,900 tax free (Base salary $101,466 - $119,009)
• Option to increase employer superannuation contribution to 14%
• 6 weeks Annual Leave

To apply for this position, you will need to provide proof of your right to work in Australia.  This could be a working visa, evidence of permanent resident status, an Australian or New Zealand passport, Australian birth certificate or a certificate of Australian citizenship.

If you have any questions regarding the role, please contact:

Lisa Pigliafiori

Project Coordinator

***************@menzies.edu.au

How to Apply:

Please visit Menzies’ careers website: http://careers.menzies.edu.au and click on the 'Apply' button to submit your application.  

Applicants are required to provide the following supporting documents:

• Cover letter stating your interest in the role
• Updated resume
• A statement addressing the Selection Criteria (no more than 2 pages)
• Any other relevant supporting documentation   

Closing date:  Sunday 28 January 2024

Menzies is committed to diversity and inclusion in our workplace. If you require any support or accommodations during the recruitment process, please let us know.

• Position Description