Research Assistant - Aged Care Workforce Research Project

About the Role

This fixed-term contract position involves contributing to a multifaceted research project investigating how leadership storytelling, pathways to inclusion, and digital skill development can enhance attraction and retention within Australia's aged care workforce. The project is a collaborative effort between Veri Health Media Pty Ltd and James Cook University, funded by a TAFE Queensland Applied Research Grant.

The role encompasses supporting data collection and translating findings into practical digital education resources used in vocational and workplace aged care training. As the project progresses through several phases — qualitative interviews, Delphi consensus processes with sector leaders, co-design workshops, and pilot evaluations — you will engage with each stage intensively across a compact timeframe from August to September 2026.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage recruitment, consent processes, and scheduling of research participants while maintaining thorough and accurate documentation.
• Assist in conducting qualitative interviews, including transcription, anonymizing data, and coding for analysis.
• Organize and facilitate Delphi consensus rounds; analyze the levels of agreement among participants throughout the rounds.
• Support co-design workshops with industry partners and prepare concise summaries to guide prototype creation.
• Develop and administer pre- and post-pilot surveys employing validated implementation science instruments; perform analytical review of survey data.
• Draft comprehensive pilot evaluation reports alongside accessible summaries intended for aged care providers.
• Adhere rigorously to established ethics protocols with careful documentation at every step of the research.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in qualitative research techniques such as transcription, de-identification, coding, and thematic or content analysis.
• Familiarity with online survey administration.
• Knowledgeable in human research ethics, including informed consent, confidentiality, and voluntary participation standards.
• Strong proficiency in written English with the ability to articulate complex information in clear terms suitable for non-specialist audiences.
• Self-motivated with the discipline to work independently and maintain accurate audit trails, adhering to tight deadlines within a compressed schedule.
• Possession or willingness to obtain a valid Working with Vulnerable People Check is preferred.
• Applicants must have unrestricted legal work rights in Australia; no sponsorship available.

Desirable Attributes

• Experience within aged care, healthcare, or vocational education and training sectors.
• Familiarity with Delphi or other consensus-building methods and co-design processes.
• Knowledge of implementation science measures such as AIM, IAM, or SUS.
• Confidence in performing descriptive quantitative analyses and lucidly presenting results.
• Experience supporting research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Skill in translating academic research into educational or training materials.

Benefits and Working Conditions

• Opportunity to engage comprehensively with a research study from design through translation within a short-term contract.
• Recognition through named contributions to project outputs, including reports submitted to a national funding body.
• Direct collaboration with a Principal Investigator from James Cook University and an experienced industry research team.
• Remote working setup offering flexibility in scheduling, with options for part-time or full-time commitment.
• A chance to produce outcomes that are actively utilized rather than solely published academic work.

Additional Information

This project is undertaken with respect to the Traditional Owners of the lands involved, honoring Elders past and present. The research is supported by the TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, an initiative jointly led by Australian and Queensland Governments.

Diversity and inclusion are highly valued; applicants from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, persons with disabilities, and individuals of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Accommodations for the recruitment process are available upon request.

Applications must include a one-page cover letter addressing qualifications and suitability for the role as well as a current CV, submitted by 1 August 2026 to the Project Lead. For inquiries, potential candidates can contact the project lead via email.