Community Research Assistant - Identified Position

University of the Sunshine Coast; Mount Isa City; Remote; AUD 83,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cultural leave

Flexible work arrangements

Wellbeing support

Professional development

Job summary

University of the Sunshine Coast in Mount Isa is seeking a Community Research Assistant to support the LYAS initiative. You will coordinate participant recruitment, provide administrative and customer service support, and serve as the regional point of contact for participants, staff, students and community stakeholders.

The role is identified for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and offers culturally safe, supportive employment with opportunities for professional development and

Qualifications

• Knowledge of research administration and data management; ability to apply established protocols.
• Understanding of culturally safe community engagement and yarning approaches in research.
• Strong written and verbal communication; liaise with participants and stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and manage records under general direction.
• Experience maintaining databases and ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; capacity to learn PSG and actigraphy technologies.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate end-to-end participant recruitment for the sleep health program across North West Queensland.
• Provide high-quality program administration, prioritising routine activities and maintaining records.
• Support recruitment, data collection and triage of stakeholder communications in research.
• Coordinate culturally responsive community sleep health activities and contribute local knowledge.

Skills

Research admin

Recruitment

Data management

Communication

Ethical compliance

Project coordination

Tools

Microsoft Office

PSG

Actigraphy

Job description

Community Research Assistant - Identified Position

University of the Sunshine Coast - Mount Isa QLD

• Thompson Institute | Fully remote work arrangement fromNorth West Queensland
• Based in Mount Isa, on the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon (Kalkatungu) Peoples
• Level 5, $82,843 - $93,358 p.a., plus up to 17% employer superannuation
• Full-time (36.25 hours per week), fixed-term appointment until January 2030

The Opportunity

Join a meaningful community research initiative and make a real difference to the lives of Queensland families! As a Community Research Assistant, you'll play a key role in supporting the Lets Yarn About Sleep (LYAS) initiative, helping coordinate participant recruitment and providing welcoming, high-quality administration and customer service. As the regional first point of contact, you'll connect with participants, staff, students and community stakeholders, respond to enquiries, coordinate activities and provide proactive support to help deliver this important research program successfully.

This role is identified and open only to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

For more information, please visit us online: Thompson Institute

You will

• Coordinate end-to-end participant recruitment for the sleep health service delivery program across the North West Queensland region, applying established research protocols and exercising judgement to resolve routine recruitment and scheduling matters;
• Provide high-quality, responsive program administration, independently prioritising routine activities and ensuring records, documentation and communications are accurate, timely and compliant with University and research requirements;
• Provide high level administrative and communication support for research including recruitment, data collection and collation, participant enquiries and effective triage of stakeholder communications; and
• Coordinate and support culturally responsive community sleep health improvement activities and service delivery, contributing local knowledge and practical recommendations to enhance participant engagement and program outcomes.

At UniSC, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, culture and lived experience are valued and respected. We are committed to a culturally safe workplace where Indigenous staff can build meaningful relationships, contribute to their communities and develop their careers.

In this role, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research and community engagement while connecting with UniSC's Indigenous Staff Network (ISN) and a supportive network of Indigenous colleagues across the University.

About you

You are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander professional who is approachable, confident and committed to building positive relationships with participants, colleagues and community stakeholders. You are organised, self-motivated and detail-focused, with the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines and maintain accurate records. You bring a collaborative and culturally respectful approach to community engagement and are committed to delivering high-quality work and meaningful research outcomes.

To be successful you will possess:

• Demonstrated knowledge of research administration, participant recruitment and data management processes, with the ability to interpret and apply established protocols, procedures and ethical requirements. Knowledge of sleep science and narrative therapy, or the demonstrated capacity to acquire this knowledge, is desirable;
• Demonstrated understanding of culturally safe community engagement and yarning approaches used in research data collection, including the ability to build respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants and communities;
• Well-developed interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain information clearly, manage sensitive enquiries and liaise effectively with participants, community stakeholders and multidisciplinary research teams;
• Demonstrated initiative, organisational ability and sound judgement in prioritising competing activities, resolving routine operational issues and meeting research and service delivery deadlines under general direction;
• Demonstrated experience maintaining databases and research records, undertaking data validation and quality assurance, identifying discrepancies and ensuring confidentiality, accuracy and data integrity;
• Demonstrated technical proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and relevant research or clinical systems, with experience in, or the capacity to rapidly develop proficiency in, PSG and actigraphy technologies; and
• Demonstrated commitment to high-quality service, continuous improvement and culturally responsive practice, with a proven ability to work accurately, ethically and collaboratively.

Identified position and support

The University of the Sunshine Coast considers that being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under s25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act1991 (Qld) and the filling of this position constitutes a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).

The position is therefore only open to Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

We recognise that cultural knowledge, community leadership, lived experience and professional expertise are valuable strengths and encourage applicants from diverse career pathways to apply.

• Indigenous-specific employment provisions under UniSC’s Enterprise Agreement, including paid cultural leave and support for cultural and community responsibilities;
• Flexible work arrangements that support connection to Country, community and family;
• Culturally informed wellbeing support, including access to employee assistance services;
• Professional development and career progression opportunities, with support that recognises achievement relative to opportunity;
• Respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander intellectual and cultural knowledges, with clear protections around ownership, consent and ethical use; and
• A collegial, values-led workplace where relationships, respect and care for people matter.

Support doesn't end at recruitment. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees are supported through culturally informed onboarding, professional development, mentoring opportunities and ongoing cultural support throughout their employment journey. The successful candidate will join a growing network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academic and professional staff across UniSC and be supported through established Indigenous leadership, employment and community engagement initiatives.

These benefits sit alongside UniSC’s broader commitment to providing a safe, supportive and flexible workplace where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff can build sustainable, meaningful careers.

For more information, visit https://careers.usc.edu.au/employer-information