Expression of Interest - Patient Advocate and Research Collaborator

Job no: 0056888
Location: Parkville
Role type: Part time; Casual
Faculty: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department/School: Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School
Hourly rate: UOM 5 – $49.96 p/h plus 10.5% super

The University of Melbourne would like to acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands upon which our campuses are situated, the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Peoples, the Yorta Yorta Nation, the Dja Dja Wurrung People. We acknowledge that the land on which we meet and learn was the place of age-old ceremonies, of celebration, initiation and renewal, and that the local Aboriginal Peoples have had and continue to have a unique role in the life of these lands.

About the Department of Clinical Pathology, Melbourne Medical School
The Department of Clinical Pathology focuses on graduate learning and teaching, research and engagement in the clinical discipline of pathology. The Department is located at the Parkville campus with offices in the state of the art Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) building.

The Department of Clinical Pathology collaborates broadly with other Departments, Centres, Schools and Faculties of the University of Melbourne, health services and medical research institutes to generate new knowledge in cancer research to improve the outcomes of patients. Initial programs of research will specifically focus on the molecular defects of tumours and the utility of applying the knowledge of these defects to prognostication and treatment of patients with cancer. The Department of Clinical Pathology also provides specialist laboratories for cancer cell biology, DNA bio-banking, rapid large scale, next generation sequencing and organoid generation and testing.

About the Role
The Department of Clinical Pathology is dedicated to supporting the development of insightful and empathic scientists who will lead research with meaningful impact, from the lab bench to the patient experience of healthcare. In addition to conducting a 9-month research project in one of the university’s affiliated research laboratories, students will benefit from coursework (classroom-based) subjects that complement their development as researchers. This Patient Advocate and Research Collaborator role contributes to an exciting coursework subject that we are designing for 2023.

Patient Advocate and Research Collaborators will provide the patient voice on healthcare and biomedical research to help our students develop awareness, motivation and skills in partnering with patients for impactful research, and to promote research with meaningful outcomes. The patient voice will be provided through attendance and participation in select tutorials, sharing views and experiences, and offering advice, direction and feedback to a small number of students working on a hypothetical group research project.

Responsibilities include:

• Attend a briefing and induction session before the Semester commences
• Attend and participate in three face-to-face tutorials with your group on fortnightly dates in March and April 2023 (2-3 hours duration each, at prescribed times during office hours, according to the student timetable).
• Share your personal story and experience of healthcare (only that which you are comfortable sharing)
• Provide constructive feedback to students on their practice oral presentations, in which students explain the rationale for their research idea for a public audience

About You
You will have personal experience of illness and healthcare as a patient, carer or family/friend, and be willing to share your healthcare story (only what you are comfortable sharing). You are motivated to support the development, and willingness to engage with, young researchers-in-training. Able to work as part of a team, you positively influence others and build consensus.

You will also have:

• Personal experience of engagement in biomedical (or other healthcare-related) research as a patient advocate/representative or related role
• Clear communication skills
• Willingness to provide feedback and share knowledge
• No specific qualifications are required for this role

To ensure the University continues to provide a safe environment for everyone, this position requires the incumbent to hold a current and valid Working with Children Check.

Please note: To be considered for this role you must have current valid work rights for Australia.

About the University
The University of Melbourne is consistently ranked amongst the leading universities in the world. We are proud of our people, our commitment to research and teaching excellence, and our global engagement.

Benefits of Working with Us
In addition to having the opportunity to grow and be challenged, and to be part of a vibrant campus life, our people enjoy a range of rewarding benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements, generous personal, parental and cultural leave
• Competitive remuneration, 17% super, salary packaging and leave loading
• Free and subsidised health and wellbeing services, and access to fitness and cultural clubs
• Discounts on a wide range of products and services including Myki cards and Qantas Club
• Career development opportunities and 25% off graduate courses for staff and their immediate families

To find out more, visit https://about.unimelb.edu.au/careers/staff-benefits .

Be Yourself
We value the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity.  First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, females, people of all ages, with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

HOW TO APPLY:
If you feel this role is right for you, please send a one-page expression of interest explaining why you are interested in the role and any relevant experience to Jo Russell:[email protected] . 

Please note that you are not required to provide responses against the selection criteria in the Position Description.

We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require any reasonable adjustments with the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected] .

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Position Description