Research Officers and Project Officers, Various research teams

An exciting opening has arisen for Research Officers and Project Officers (APS 3-4) to support and undertake administrative and project support tasks across varying projects. If you are passionate about the welfare of children and families and want to be at the forefront of making a difference, we want to hear from you.

We are the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the Australian Government’s key independent research body and advisor in the area of family wellbeing, based in the Melbourne CBD. We produce research about ‘what works for families’ and make it accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the general public.

Research Officers (ROs) and Project Officers (POs) play a vital role in helping AIFS deliver its research projects. ROs and POs are entry- level researchers who have subject matter experience in one or more topic areas relevant to AIFS projects; for example, family relationships, program evaluation, child wellbeing, family law, out-of-home care, family violence, gambling harm, community development, communities and families and/or family policy and services. 

RO and PO positions that may be filled from this recruitment process include roles involved in:

• Evidence synthesis, knowledge translation and impact
• Research management and impact
• Evaluation and impact
• Evaluation capability building for child and family services
• Longitudinal and lifecourse studies on topics including child and adolescent development and men's health
• Family trends and transitions
• Families, work and care
• Families and service systems
• Families experiencing disadvantage
• Family, domestic and sexual violence 
• Defence and Veteran families research
• Public policy, families and institutions.

This recruitment process also seeks to establish a merit pool of suitable candidates for RO and/or PO roles that may be required in the future.

We are seeking Research Officers for each of the following teams:

• Child and Family Evidence
• Defence and Veteran Families Research 
• Family Law, Family Violence and Elder Abuse
• Families, Society and Lifecourse Research
• Ten to Men: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Male Health 

Please see the position description for information about each of the teams. This selection process will also be used to establish a merit pool to fill vacancies across AIFS that arise over the next 18 months. 

About us

We are the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), the Australian Government’s key independent research body and advisor in the area of family wellbeing, based in the Melbourne CBD. We produce research about ‘what works for families’ and make it accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the general public.

Position description

The duties of Research Officers and Project Officers will depend on the position but may involve one or more of the following:

• Assist with the preparation of research reports, study documents, papers, submissions, publications, short articles, and other related research materials. 
• Assist or undertake research and associated activities. 
• Assist with the design and implementation of qualitative and/or quantitative research and evaluation projects.
• Contribute to the development of survey instruments and interview protocols, applications for ethical clearance and other research materials. 
• Assist with data cleaning and related work with administrative or survey/census data.
• Assist with literature review and analysis to feed into research reports.
• Assist with multimedia activities including e-newsletters and webinars.
• Respond to helpdesk queries, maintain records and assist with progress reports.
• Assist with administration tasks such as taking minutes, assisting with reporting, organising meetings and events, and co-ordinating quality-assurance processes. 
• Liaise with stakeholders such as study participants, data users, government agencies and community organisations.
• Respond to research queries, undertake database searches, maintain records and undertake other research tasks as required.
• Assist with the preparation of presentations or workshops for practitioners and researchers.
• Liaise with external stakeholders including government agencies, community organisations and researchers.

Terms

The Research Officer and Project Officer positions may be offered on an ongoing or non-ongoing basis of up to 18 months (with the possibility of extension to a maximum term of 3 years) on a full-time or part-time basis (0.6 FTE minimum).  The position is in the APS3-4 broadband with a salary range of $61,121 to $73,964 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation.

To be eligible for engagement, applicants must be Australian citizens unless special approval is given. For example, applicants with permanent resident status who have applied or intend to apply for Australian citizenship may be considered for engagement.

Conditions of engagement including probation, health, and character clearances (including police records check, Working with Children Check and security clearance) may apply to this position. 

Working at AIFS

We provide a family-friendly and flexible workplace that supports the wellbeing and professional development of our diverse workforce. Benefits include workplace health and wellbeing activities, a healthy promotion allowance and Christmas closedown period with no deduction from leave credits. Our salaries and conditions of employment are set out in our Enterprise Agreement.

AIFS is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace.  We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, mature age people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTI+, and people with parenting and/or caring responsibilities.