Aquarium Technician

University of Melbourne; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

17% superannuation

Flexible work arrangements

Academic Women in Leadership programs

Diverse leave provisions (parental, 性别

Health insurance discounts and salary-

Job summary

The University of Melbourne invites applications for an Aquarium Technician to ensure the health and welfare of zebrafish underpinning cutting-edge research. You will perform daily husbandry, water quality testing, breeding support and routine maintenance in a collaborative environment within the Melbourne Bioresources platform.

Join a small technical team focused on animal welfare and developing specialist aquaculture skills, with weekend work as needed and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Year 12 completed and Certificate II in aquaculture or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrate attention to detail, clear communication and reliable record-keeping.
• Able to follow SOPs independently and manage routine tasks.
• Collaborate with a small technical team to support facility operations.
• Experience with recirculating aquaculture systems or lab animal facilities.
• Available for occasional weekend work to support operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily husbandry, feeding, cleaning and health monitoring of zebrafish.
• Perform routine tank cleaning and equipment care for reliable aquarium operations.
• Conduct water quality testing, record results and report issues.
• Maintain breeding colonies and live food cultures for research needs.
• Adhere to AWV, POCTA, OGTR and DAFF regulatory requirements.

Skills

Attention to detail

Clear communication

Record keeping

Organisational skills

Team collaboration

Weekend work availability

Education

Year 12

Certificate II in aquaculture

Tools

Recirculating aquaculture systems

Aquarium equipment maintenance

Job description

The University of Melbourne

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.

Your next career opportunity:

In this Aquarium Technician role, you will ensure the health and welfare of zebrafish that underpin cutting-edge research. You will develop specialised aquaculture and laboratory animal skills while working in a highly collaborative, research-focused environment.

What you will deliver:

• Provide daily husbandry, feeding, cleaning and health monitoring of zebrafish to the highest animal welfare standards.
• Perform routine tank cleaning, facility hygiene tasks and basic equipment care to ensure reliable aquarium operations.
• Conduct regular water quality testing, record results accurately and report issues promptly to support stable system performance.
• Maintain breeding colonies and live food cultures to support research requirements and colony health.
• Adhere to regulatory and ethical requirements, including AWV, POCTA, OGTR and DAFF, in all facility activities.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Hold completed Year 12 and a Certificate II in aquaculture, or equivalent relevant experience and training.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, clear communication skills and reliable record-keeping in technical or animal care settings.
• Apply sound organisational skills to manage routine tasks efficiently and follow established standard operating procedures independently.
• Collaborate effectively within a small technical team to support consistent facility operations and animal welfare outcomes.
• Bring experience with recirculating aquaculture systems, equipment maintenance or aquatic animal health monitoring, or similar environments.
• Offer prior experience working in a laboratory animal facility or regulated animal research environment.
• Are available to undertake occasional weekend work as required to support facility operations.

What we offer you!

We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:

• Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave, cultural leave, and menstruation and menopause leave.
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page!

Your new team:

Within the Chief Operating Officer Portfolio, you will join the Melbourne Bioresources platform in the state-of-the‑art Zebrafish Aquarium. The team enables high‑impact research by providing exceptional animal care, technical support and reliable aquatic systems for University of Melbourne researchers. You will be part of a collaborative, detail‑focused group that values animal welfare, continuous improvement and developing specialist skills in aquaculture and laboratory animal science.

Be Yourself

The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child‑safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.

We're committed to a barrier‑free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants

We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.

Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at ***********@unimelb.edu.au.

Eligibility and compliance

• You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.

Contact for queries

• For questions related to our recruitment process email Alessandro Storani at ***************@unimelb.edu.au
• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on [phone] or at **********@unimelb.edu.au (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').