Asset & Facilities Maintenance Assistant (Refrigeration)

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 78,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

12% superannuation

Mentoring and development

Job summary

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute – Parkville VIC is seeking an Asset & Facilities Maintenance Assistant (Refrigeration) to support planned and reactive refrigeration/HVAC maintenance across Institute facilities. The role emphasizes safe operation of temperature-sensitive lab equipment and critical environmental systems, with mentoring from an experienced Refrigeration Technician.

Essential skills include refrigeration/HVAC knowledge, basic fault-finding, ability to read technical manuals, and

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge of refrigeration and HVAC systems.
• Ability to interpret equipment drawings and maintenance manuals.
• Proven commitment to workplace health and safety.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Experience working in education, research or complex facilities environments.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planned and reactive maintenance for refrigeration, HVAC and related systems across Institute facilities.
• Support environmental monitoring and operation of laboratory equipment.
• Develop specialist capability in laboratory refrigeration and chill water infrastructure through mentoring.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary facilities maintenance across teaching, research and operational environments.

Skills

Refrigeration basics

Fault-finding

Technical drawings

Driver's licence

Workplace safety

Education

Certificate III in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (UEE32220)

Refrigerant Handling Licence (desirable)

Tools

CMMS

Job description

Asset & Facilities Maintenance Assistant (Refrigeration)

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute – Parkville VIC

An excellent opportunity is available for an Asset & Facilities Maintenance Assistant (Refrigeration) to join the Services and Infrastructure Department at Australia's pre-eminent biomedical research institute.

About the Position

The Asset & Facilities Maintenance Assistant (Refrigeration) will assist with delivering planned and reactive maintenance services for refrigeration, HVAC and associated mechanical systems across Institute facilities, equipment and infrastructure. The position ensures the safe, reliable and efficient operation of temperature-sensitive laboratory equipment and critical environmental systems through preventative maintenance, fault diagnosis, repairs and technical support.

The role has a primary focus on refrigeration and HVAC maintenance, with an opportunity to progressively develop specialist capability in laboratory refrigeration systems, chilled water infrastructure and environmental monitoring through structured mentoring, practical experience and knowledge transfer with an experienced Refrigeration Technician.

The position supports the Facilities Maintenance team by assisting with general facilities maintenance activities, assisting with multidisciplinary works and maintaining reliable services across teaching, research, laboratory and operational environments.

Selection Criteria

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• Foundational knowledge of refrigeration and HVAC systems gained through trade studies, an apprenticeship or practical experience.
• Basic fault-finding and maintenance skills with the ability to develop technical expertise under guidance.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, equipment manuals and maintenance documentation.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Demonstrated commitment to workplace health and safety.

Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

• Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (UEE32220 or equivalent recognised trade qualification) and current Refrigerant Handling Licence is highly regarded.
• Experience using a Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Experience working within education, research, healthcare or other complex facilities environments.
• Demonstrated interest and aptitude in developing instrumentation and control system capability.

Personal Qualities:

• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary facilities maintenance team.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• High level of organisational skills
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated commitment to providing high-quality customer service
• Demonstrated willingness to learn and develop specialist technical capability through mentoring, practical experience and ongoing professional development.

Please refer to the position description below for the full selection criteria.

Terms of Appointment

This position is an ongoing role in a full time capacity. Salary is Professional Services Employee Level 4 ($78,121- $82,911). Very attractive salary packaging options are available for general living expenses, meal entertainment, novated leasing and more. 12% superannuation payable, plus up to a further 5% after the first 6 months of service via our matching superannuation scheme.

General enquiries can be directed to ***********@wehi.edu.au.

Application Closing Date: 25 October 2026.

WEHI - Brighter together

WEHI is where the world's brightest minds collaborate and innovate to make discoveries that will help us to live healthier for longer. Our medical researchers have been serving the community for more than 100 years. We bring together people with different skills and experience who are committed to long-term discovery. Our teams of researchers are committed to solving the most complex health problems, making transformative discoveries for cancer, infectious and immune diseases, developmental disorders and healthy ageing.

WEHI is a place where people are able to shine. People who are inquisitive, who are committed, who are passionate. People who want to make a difference. And we are committed to ensuring they have the tools to flourish, personally and professionally. We are a community of researchers, students and professional service staff who work towards achieving discoveries that improve human health. We are driven by collaboration, curiosity and creativity. We are committed to making a positive difference to the lives of people in Australia and around the world. We are WEHI. We are brighter together.

WEHI's commitment to diversity and inclusion

At WEHI we strive to foster a flexible working environment that encourages individual differences and promotes collaboration and creativity. We recognise that talent does not sit within a single identifiable group in our society and that WEHI's ability to shape contemporary scientific thinking and deliver leading professional services relies on a diversity of thought within our organisation. Our action to promote gender equality has been recognised with an Athena SWAN Bronze Award from Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) and we offer a range of support for women researchers.

Our commitment to celebrating diversity and addressing inequities is further demonstrated through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, Gender Action Plan, Reconciliation Action Plan and our WE-Pride network for LGBTQIA+ staff and students. We actively encourage applications from, people with a disability, culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse people and people with diverse genders and sexualities. Should you require support during the recruitment process due to special needs or consideration, please contact the People and Culture team.

WEHI's commitment to Indigenous employment

WEHI is working to create a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be engaged at the scientific frontier, making exciting discoveries and decisions about the future of health in this country, and part of a leading professional services workforce supporting the realisation of these discoveries. We are committed to creating a culturally safe workplace and offering career development and leadership opportunities to First Nations staff and students. We strongly encourage any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.