Research Assistant - Domestic and Family Violence Work

Job no: 0061955
Location: Sydney, New South Wales
Role type: Part-time (0.4 FTE); Fixed-term to 30 September 2025
Faculty: Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: School of Health Sciences, Department of Social Work
Salary: Level A – $80,258 – $108,906 p.a. (pro rata) plus 17% super

• Support the research activities of the CHRISTIE research
• Make a real impact!
• Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!

About the Project
The CHRISTIE (Collaboration to Harness Research Involving Safe & Together: Inquiry and Evidence) project involves training for participants in the Safe & TogetherTM Model, followed by participation in 5 Communities of Practice to build capacity in working with families challenged by DFV as well as substance use and mental health issues.  This project focusses on children living with DFV.

The research component will assess the capacity-building approach undertaken in this project for professionals in specialist domestic and family violence (DFV), non-government child protection and other services. The research team aims to build evidence about how to ‘centre’ children in this area of practice.

This project will be conducted in NSW, in four local government areas - two metropolitan and two regional. Some travel outside Sydney will be necessary.

About the Role
The research assistant will support the project management of the CHRISTIE research, based in NSW, including organisation of meetings and minute-taking. Research activities will include literature review, ethnographic note-taking, qualitative analysis of group discussion transcripts, and the development and administration of surveys. Writing skills to support the completion of research reports and academic papers will be expected.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Contributing significantly towards the research effort of the team
• Undertaking qualitative research analysis through Nvivo on group discussions and survey data
• Writing research reports in collaboration with the research team
• Supporting the management of the research project

Who We Are Looking For
You will have research and work experience in the area of domestic and family violence. Strong interpersonal skills are critical to this role, you will need to be able to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders and remain personable working across sensitive topics. You will ideally hold a degree in Social Work, though similar relevant degrees are still suitable for this appointment. It is desirable that you are familiar with the Safe & Together TM   Model and have experience with Nvivo, though these are not essential.

You will also have:

• Completion of a degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and/or education/training
• Strong ability to liaise and negotiate with a diverse range of stakeholders

For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.

This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date NSW Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid NSW Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the NSW WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.

Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.

Your New Team – Department of Social Work
https://healthsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/socialwork

Social Work, in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, is a vibrant learning community which seeks to influence professional practice through high quality educational experiences for our students, the conduct of practice-based research and engagement.

What We Offer You!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits  page!

About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website  and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn .   

Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact Kim Groizard at [email protected] , with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.

For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring

Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents: 

• Resume
• Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
• The responses against the Selection Criteria^ (found in the Position Description)

^For information to help you with compiling short statements to answer the selection criteria and competencies, please go to http://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/selection-criteria

If you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Nick Petersen via email at [email protected] , ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.

If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.

Position Description