Co-researcher (Research Associate) – Six positions available

- Contribute to the Rainbow Inclusive Aged Care Project between 2025 and 2028
- Casual position, up to 160 hours between 2025 and 2028
- Located in Perth, Brisbane/Gold Coast

Southern Cross University is a dynamic, ambitious institution focused on its purpose of changing lives through revolutionary learning and research with real impact. Our game changing Southern Cross Model brings a deeper learning experience, improving individual student outcomes, quality of life and a better way to learn. Our world-ranked research is driving positive impact for our communities, environment and economy.

Working at Southern Cross University combines a rare combination of being surrounded by ambitious students, dedicated colleagues and an environment of stunning natural beauty. We are leaders in our communities in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Coffs Harbour and the Gold Coast and pride ourselves on helping shape a better tomorrow.

The Rainbow Inclusive Aged Care project is led by Southern Cross University in collaboration with four other universities and seven partner organisations. The project aims to investigate what enables and hinders inclusive residential aged care for gender and sexually diverse people. Together, we will co-create a model of rainbow-inclusive care, and then implement and evaluate the model across 12 residential aged care homes in Brisbane and Perth. For more details, please visit our website.

Co-researchers are community researchers with lived experience expertise who will contribute to the Rainbow Inclusive Aged Care Project between 2025 and 2028 (three co-researchers in Perth and three in Brisbane/Gold Coast). It is not expected that co-researchers will have previous research experience and we welcome interest from older people, people living with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and First Nations people.

As a co-researcher, you will be involved in a community of practice across the life of the project, supported and guided by the Research Fellow and representatives from LGBTQ+ organisations. Alongside the Research Fellow, you will contribute to a range of research activities, including observations, focus groups and interviews. You will also collaborate to make sense of the research findings and participate in co-design workshops.

Your core responsibilities will include:

• Participate in research training, support and capacity-building activities throughout the project.
• Work with the Research Fellow to plan and conduct observations, interviews and focus groups in residential aged care homes, with residents, staff, friends/family and visitors.
• Participate in Communities of Practice with other co-researchers, service provider representatives and LGBTQ+ organisation representatives.
• Participate in co-design workshops to develop guidelines and other resources to support the implementation of the rainbow-inclusive model of residential aged care.
• Participate in an organisational summit with other co-researchers and staff within Wesley Mission Queensland or Amana Living.

Ideally, you have the ability to draw on your lived and living experience to understand the issues for LGBTQ+ people in residential aged care, and you have an interest in contributing to the development of a rainbow-inclusive model of residential aged care.

Co-researchers will need to have a Criminal History Check and current Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, Varicella, Tetanus, Diphtheria, COVID-19 vaccinations. You will need a valid driver’s licence, with the ability and willingness to travel between residential care homes in Perth or Brisbane to conduct research activities over the course of the project. You will also need sufficient capability, equipment and connectivity to participate in online meetings, workshops and Communities of Practice, including using Zoom or similar.

In addition, you possess:

• Ability to work in groups or teams and collaborate with others.
• Commitment to cultural diversity and a working knowledge of equity and WHS principles in the workplace.

There are six casual positions available, offering up to 160 hours of work between 2025 and 2028, based in Perth and Brisbane/Gold Coast. Successful applicants will be remunerated in accordance with Southern Cross University’s Academic pay scales at Level A.

Find out more about working at SCU and staff benefits by visiting Why Work at SCU.

Information to support you prepare your application is available on our website. For further information or to apply for the position, contact Meaghan Vosz via email at: [email protected].

Job applicants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident or currently hold a visa with unrestricted work rights in Australia for the entire duration of the appointment. Employer visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Closing Date: 11.30pm AEDT, 20 October 2024

Southern Cross University is committed to ensuring that the University reflects the rich diversity across the region in which the University’s campuses are located.

The University encourages applications from people of all ages, women, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people, people living with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people who are LGBTQI+.

We encourage applications from people with disability and will provide adjustments to the recruitment process upon request.

Use the position description link below to access further information about the selection criteria for this role. You will need to submit complete responses to the selection criteria with your application, including providing examples where relevant. Please prepare these and submit each response when prompted in your online application submission.