Research Assistant - Outreach Fieldworker

The Opportunity 

An exciting opportunity now exists for a Research Assistant to join Burnets Alcohol and Other Drugs Team to work on projects connected to the Melbourne Supervised Injecting Room!

In this role, you will conduct fieldwork involving interviews and blood sample collection from participants in studies of drug use currently being undertaken at the Burnet Institute. There will be opportunities to contribute to a range of studies run by the team. Examples of these studies include: 

• ‘VMAX’ – A prospective cohort study of people who use methamphetamine in Melbourne and regional Victoria. 

• ‘MIX’ – a prospective study of people who inject drugs in Melbourne. 

• ‘SIRX’ – a prospective cohort study of clients of the Melbourne Supervised Injecting Room 

The Research Assistant will conduct interviews with (and possibly collect blood samples from) study participants; manage data collection; and, participate in the wider activities of the Alcohol and other Drug Research Group. Training will be provided in all aspects of the position (including phlebotomy if needed) and work will be undertaken under the supervision of the project investigators and senior members of the fieldwork team.

Refer to the position description for full details. This is a 0.6 - 1.0 FTE (optional) position, initially for a 1-year period with the possibility of extension.  Occasional part time working from home will also be provided.

Let’s talk about you

You possess excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage professionally with stakeholders and display empathy, maturity and understanding in dealing with people who experience marginalisation. You are a natural communicator with strong time management skills that allow you to manage multiple research related tasks at once. Assertive and proactive, you often show initiative, and you work well both independently, as well as a member of a team. 

The following experience is also preferable:

• Bachelor Degree in public health, psychology, social work or related discipline
• Advanced degree in public health, epidemiology or related discipline
• Experience in the dissemination of research findings
• Statistical analysis skills and experience in the use of statistical software such as Stata/SPSS 

The Burnet experience…

We want you to have a successful and meaningful career at Burnet and are committed to providing a supportive workplace environment for all our people. You will be part of a collaborative culture where progressive leadership, innovation, respect, and excellence are valued. Join a team of talented individuals who are passionate about what they do – improving the health of vulnerable communities around the world. 

We offer:

• A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff  
• Flexible working arrangements
• 12 weeks paid parental leave 
• Generous salary packaging 
• Opportunities for career and professional development 

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation that uniquely links medical research with practical action to achieve better health for disadvantaged communities and help solve devastating global health problems. 

Burnet Institute brings together a highly diverse skill base, with more than 400 staff and students working across cutting-edge research and projects to address some of the most relevant global health issues. Institute-wide interdisciplinary health programs Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Disease Elimination, Behaviours and Health Risks, and Health Security, are at the heart of our daily decision making. Harnessing our international and local field presence, our laboratories, and our mixed development and research cultures drives a greater focus on the most relevant health issues and achieves a greater impact as a result. 

Whilst our headquarters is in Melbourne, Australia, we also have offices in Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, and are actively involved in research and public health programs throughout Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Burnet is the only unaligned organisation in Australia that has dual accreditation with both the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Bring your whole self to work 

At Burnet, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture. We want our people to feel like they belong and are free to be themselves at work. We have an active Gender Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (GEDI) Council that works to promote and improve gender equity, diversity and inclusion across the Institute, by developing and implementing strategies informed by both national and international best practice and staff input. Burnet holds an Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Award from Science in Gender Equity (SAGE). If you have a reasonable adjustment, support, or access requirement at any stage of the recruitment process, we encourage you to let us know by emailing *******@burnet.edu.au. 

Sounds great! How do I apply?  

Apply below and attach the following documents:

• Resume 
• Cover Letter 

Applications close at 11:59pm AEDT on Tuesday, 30th January 2024. 

As part of our commitment to gender equity, we have included a question in the application process on gender. This will allow us to monitor and report on gender in relation to our recruitment process.

Burnet is a child safe organisation. The successful applicant will be required to apply for a Working with Children check and/or National Police Check. Current Australian working rights are required for all applicants.