Research Assistant (Qualitative, Public Health)

You are applying for the position of Research Assistant (Qualitative, Public Health) at Burnet Institute. Please fill in your details below to submit an application for this position.

This position is located in: Melbourne

In this role you will support projects in the Infectious Disease Implementation Science Working Group and Justice Health Working Group with a specific focus on hepatitis C elimination research and programs. You will have experience in using qualitative methods, ideally in projects related to health, infectious disease, drug use, and/or working with affected communities. You will also help shape collaborations with community-led organisations and health service providers and assist in the day-to-day administration of the project including through preparing ethics submissions, project reporting, and data collection and analysis, in partnership with the research team.

You will also:

1. Attend meetings associated with the research and working group to which the research or technical support is connected.
2. Liaise with participating institutions, clinicians, researchers and research participants as required.
3. Develop and maintain project and data management plans in consultation with the study principal investigators and project coordinator.
4. Ensure that the activities performed under your responsibility are carried out in ways that safeguard the OHS of staff or students and consistent with Good Clinical Practice.
5. Support the preparation of conference and seminar papers and publications from research conducted or technical support provided to relevant research projects/programs.
6. Be involved in professional development activities including attendance and presentations at conferences and seminars as appropriate.

Refer to the attached position description for full details. This is a 1-year fixed term position with possibility of extension. We are open to candidates seeking part time or full-time options (0.8 -1.0 FTE). You will have flexible working hours as well as part time working from home options (depending on proportional fieldwork).

Furthermore, this position is funded for a period of 12 months with the option to apply for a PhD position within the same research program. Applicants with an interest in gaining social science research experience to undertake a PhD at Burnet are strongly encouraged to apply.

Let's talk about you

The following criteria are essential requirements:

1. Bachelor's degree (honours) or equivalent qualification in a related area (e.g., disease elimination, public health, implementation science, social science).
2. Experience and/or interest in qualitative methodologies and processes for collecting, managing and analysing data, ideally in the context of health, infectious disease, disease elimination, and/or drug use.
3. Interest in social science theories applied to health (for instance, in sociology, anthropology, science and technology studies, cultural studies, geography).
4. Ability to collaborate effectively and work flexibly, and as part of a team.
5. Evidence of excellent writing skills and good organisational skills, including effective time management.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills, organisational skills, self-motivation and enthusiasm.

The following are preferable but not essential:

1. Previous experience and/or interest in undertaking research among socially disadvantaged populations.
2. Interest in PhD research.

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 - achieving a more equitable world through better health.

We offer:

1. A monthly accrued day off for full-time staff
2. Additional long service leave - 17.3 weeks (minimum is 8.67) at 10 years of service
3. Study leave
4. Flexible working arrangements
5. Generous salary packaging
6. Opportunities for career and professional development

Who are we?

Burnet Institute is a leading Australian, unaligned, not-for-profit, organisation passionate about social justice, equality and evidence-based research.

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 Disease Elimination, Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness, and Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health 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 .

Apply below and attach the following documents:

1. Resume
2. Example of written work (this is optional - to be included in one combined document with your cover letter)

Applications close at 11:59pm AEST on Sunday 16 March 2025.

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 National Police Check and/or Working with Children. Current Australian working rights are required for all applicants.