Fieldwork Coordinator

South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Job summary

SAHMRI in Adelaide is seeking a Fieldwork Coordinator to lead a small team of Aboriginal researchers for the Aboriginal Families Study. This role focuses on coordinating interviews, yarning circles and community engagement across urban, regional and remote SA, while ensuring culturally safe practices and informed consent.

You will oversee data management, risk controls during fieldwork and contribute to future publications with the team under governance guidance.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification and/or extensive experience in Aboriginal health research or communities.
• Experience in Aboriginal health research and/or public health research.
• Ability to engage respectfully with Aboriginal communities and families.
• Strong data management and record-keeping skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate a small team of Aboriginal researchers conducting interviews and yarning circles.
• Facilitate community engagement and follow-up with families in urban, regional and remote SA.
• Liaise with local community organisations to support interviews and yarning circles.
• Ensure ethical engagement and informed consent procedures.
• Oversee project databases, data security and risk management during fieldwork.
• Maintain confidential records of activities and contribute to publications.
• Collaborate under guidance of the Aboriginal Governance Group.
• Participate in Aboriginal and team cultural activities.

Skills

Cultural competence

Leadership

Communication

Data collection

Ethical conduct

Education

Tertiary qualification

Tools

MS Word

Spreadsheets

Job description

• Employment type: FTC - Full-time Contract


• Applications close: Wednesday, 23 Sept 2026

Full-Time or Part-Time (0.8FTE) | 2 Year Contract

At the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), we are committed to achieving innovative, ground-breaking health and medical research that fundamentally improves the quality of life for all people.

The Aboriginal Families Study Fieldwork Coordinator will have a leadership role co-ordinating a small team of Aboriginal researchers undertaking follow-up of Aboriginal young people and their mothers/other primary caregivers participating in Wave 3 of Aboriginal Families Study (AFS).

This position will be based at SAHMRI Women and Kids (Adelaide) and will work within the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance team.

About the role

The role will include co-ordinating community engagement and consultation; pre-testing of survey questionnaires; and training, supervision and mentoring of Aboriginal researchers undertaking interviews with Aboriginal families in urban, regional and remote areas of South Australia.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supervision and mentoring of a small team of Aboriginal researchers involved in conducting interviews and yarning circles in the Aboriginal Families Study.


• Working with other members of the research team to facilitate community engagement and follow-up of families living in urban and regional areas of South Australia.


• Liaising with local community organisations, schools, Aboriginal health services and other local community organisations to facilitate conduct of interviews and yarning circles.


• Implementing culturally and ethically sound practices, regarding participant engagement, including procedures for obtaining informed consent.


• Oversight of project data bases, data management and data security procedures during fieldwork.


• Co-ordination and oversight of risk assessment and risk management procedures to facilitate occupational health and safety during fieldwork.


• Maintaining accurate confidential records of all project-related activities.


• Opportunity to contribute to co-authored publication outputs including peer reviews papers and research reports.


• Working with guidance of the Aboriginal Families Study Aboriginal Governance Group.


• Participation in Aboriginal and team cultural activities.

About You

The successful candidate will possess the following key attributes:

• A relevant tertiary qualification and/or extensive experience working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and/or communities.


• Experience in Aboriginal health research and/or public health research.


• Experience working with diverse Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families.


• Experience in maintaining privacy and confidentiality of participant and project information.


• Demonstrated experience in accurate data collection and record keeping.


• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.


• Demonstrated ability to engage with mothers, young people and families in a respectful and culturally safe manner, including conducting sensitive discussions with empathy, discretion, and strong interpersonal skills.


• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and key stakeholders in research to achieve agreed goals and objectives.


• Meticulous attention to detail.


• Excellent organisational skills, with ability to manage time and priorities effectively and use initiative.


• Proficient computing skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, internet and email.


• Willingness to learn new skills.

Special Requirements

• Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.


• Some out of hours’ work and overnight stays for two or more nights will be required.


• DCSI Working with Children Check employment screening and National Police Checks are required.


• Primarily located at SAHMRI Women and Kids, SAHMRI - Adelaide. Regular travel is required in urban, regional and remote locations, expenses will be covered by the workplace. Travel will be undertaken with a team member.


• Immunisation Risk for this position is - Category A

SAHMRI is located on Kaurna Country. We pay respects to the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We are committed to embracing knowledge and culture as we continue our working journey to incorporate Aboriginal health research across all of our themes and further reconciliation.

(Learning and knowledge are the pathway to alter the mind)

As a not-for-profit organisation, SAHMRI employees can access salary packaging options up to $15,900. Salary packaging lets you pay for things like the everyday costs of living with money from your salary before tax. This reduces your taxable income, meaning you could pay less tax and take home more of what you earn. For more information on salary packaging please see the Maxxia website .

Applications may close earlier than advertised if a suitable candidate is found prior to the close date.

SAHMRI considers that being Aboriginal or a Torres Strait Islander is a genuine occupational requirement for this position under sub-s 56(2) of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA). To be eligible to apply for this position, applicants must identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and proof of Aboriginality will be required.

Applications close Wednesday, 23 Sept 2026

At SAHMRI, we live our commitment to equity and diversity every day: respecting people as individuals and valuing differences to create a working environment that is fair and flexible, promotes personal and professional growth and benefits from the capabilities of a diverse workforce.