Careers at UniSC

UniSC’s Thompson Institute addresses society’s most pressing mental health issues. We integrate world-class research, clinical programs and education under one roof, to translate the latest science into programs that benefit society. Everything we do is underpinned by neuroscience. This uncovers promising new insights into mental health and how it is linked to our brain structure and function, leveraging our in house research platforms.  Our National PTSD Research Centre is the first of its kind in Australia, bringing together advanced neuroscience and psychotherapies to unveil crucial insights into how PTSD and traumatic stress are linked to brain structure and function. This talent pool offers you the chance to contribute to our vibrant research and teaching community and play a key role in the translation of research, nationally and internationally.  As a casual staff member working in a UniSC Research Institute, you’ll join a team committed to impact-led education, meaningful collaboration, and continuous improvement.

We welcome applications to our casual pool for the positions stated below, from individuals with experience, research interest and/or clinical experience in Mental Health and Neuroscience.

• Research Assistant
• Casual Academic
• Allied Health Professionals for our clinical programs including:
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Dietician
  • Occupational Therapist (with Mental Health (MH) credentialed)
  • Social Worker (with MH credentialed)
• Clinical Nurse

Research Assistant

Primary Objectives:

• Assist with the coordination and delivery of research and/or clinical trial activities under the direction of project leads
• Provide research support including participant recruitment, assessments, data collection and analysis
• Perform data entry, coding, transcription, and management of research records
• Conduct background research and literature reviews
• Assist in preparing research documentation such as ethics applications, reports and journal articles, or presentation materials
• Liaise with research participants, stakeholders, and community partners in accordance with ethical standards

Qualifications and Skills:

• A relevant undergraduate or postgraduate qualification with a sound understanding of research methodologies
• An understanding of research processes, research ethics, consent and confidentiality requirements
• Familiarity with basic data management or analysis tools

Casual Academic

Primary Objectives:

• Deliver and facilitate engaging, interactive, high quality teaching and tutoring sessions online for the Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHN) postgraduate program
• Assess and mark student assignments and exams
• Engage with students and provide constructive feedback and support to students
• Develop and update course materials as required

Qualifications and Skills:

• Masters or PhD, or currently enrolled in a PhD in a field relevant to Mental Health and Neuroscience
• An understanding of one or more of the following topics in relation to brain health/neuroscience, would be an advantage: mental health (including youth mental health), healthy ageing, lifestyle factors, suicide prevention, neurocognition, neuroimaging, stress related disorders/trauma
• Experience in teaching, tutoring and/or academic assessment/marking at a tertiary level would be advantageous
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to engage and inspire students
• Ability to assess and provide constructive feedback on student work

Allied Health Professional 

Primary Objectives:

• Contribute subject matter expertise to clinical research projects in the PTSD clinic in close collaboration with the study team, ensuring a trauma informed care approach to care
• Provide individual or group treatment interventions for clinical trials or clinical services
• Conduct of clinical research to ensure consistency and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), participant safety and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
• Report writing, clinical notes, referral and administration of information gathered during clinical activities

Qualifications and Skills:

• A postgraduate qualification in a relevant field
• Significant experience working within in a mental health setting
• Experience working within a clinical trials or research setting preferred
• Mental Health credentials
• Experience in providing trauma informed care

Clinical Nurse 

Primary Objectives:

• Implementation and day to day management of clinical research projects in the PTSD clinic in collaboration with the study team, ensuring a trauma informed approach to care
• Provide treatment interventions for clinical trials and clinical services 
• Conduct of clinical research to ensure consistency and adherence to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), participant safety and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements
• Assist in participant data collection
• Handling and administration of study medications and/or administration of other mental health investigations and treatments as per study protocols
• Manage the participant journey from pre-screen to study completion, to ensure the appropriate care and continued safe participation of participants with a range of trauma related mental health concerns

Qualifications and Skills:

• Completion of a degree in nursing
• Current unrestricted nursing registration with AHPRA
• Significant experience working within a mental health or research setting
• Experience in providing trauma informed care

What we're looking for across all positions:

• Well developed organisational and trouble shooting skills as well as the demonstrated ability to prioritise conflicting demands and meet deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement, use initiative and adapt to a dynamic environment.
• Exceptional interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.

Working towards a better tomorrow

We're all about doing work that matters, connecting with great people, and being part of an incredible journey. We’re not the biggest university. But we’re growing every day and doing big things. Like ground-breaking research, championing sustainability, producing gold-winning athletes and award-winning alumni.

We're one of the fastest growing universities in Australia, growing to over 2,000 people across 5 campuses in South East Queensland.

Teaching excellence is at the heart of what we do, and our commitment to sustainability is integrated into our teaching, research, and daily operations. According to the 2023-24 Good Universities Guide we are Australia's highest rated public university for postgraduate teaching quality, skills development and student support and Australia's number one public university for overall postgraduate student experience. Our research tackles the most pressing challenges of our time, with 26 research fields ranked at or above world standard according to the Excellence in Research for Australia Rankings. In 2023 we recorded the biggest improvement in Australia for research quality, moving up more than 331 places in the world rank.

At UniSC you will have the opportunity to shape the educational landscape and inspire the minds of future generations. We foster a collaborative and supportive environment, encouraging continuous professional development and providing resources to enhance your teaching and research endeavours.

We recognise and value the contributions of each team member to our culture and success. We're not afraid to be different, and we're looking for people who share our values and want to be part of a team that is working together to improve our local and global challenges.

Culture & Benefits:

• Our collaborative, passionate and welcoming culture is what really sets us apart.
• Modern teaching & research facilities.
• Professional development and career pathway opportunities.
• We are a proud recipient of the prestigious Athena SWAN Bronze Award, granted as part of the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) initiative.
• EAP & discounted private health.

UniSC is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those with disabilities, women in STEM, First Nations Peoples, and individuals of diverse cultures, genders, abilities, and experiences. We value achievement relative to opportunity and encourage your commentary on your achievements in this context. For additional support during the application process, please contact us at unisc-careers@usc.edu.au or call +61 7 5430 2830.

We would love the opportunity to get to know you better, but we know it works both ways. To get to know a little more about us, visit us at https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-the-sunshine-coast/life

Please note: To maintain currency of this register, applicants will be notified via email when the pool will be re-advertised, with a link to re-apply if you wish to be considered for future opportunities.