Aboriginal Research Assistant

The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service based in Bunbury which provides a variety of health services to Aboriginal people in the South West of Western Australia. SWAMS delivers a wide range of primary health and community programs and has a strong growth strategy through partnership opportunities and future community development.

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated Aboriginal Research Assistant to join our team. The successful candidate will be focused on improving culturally appropriate alcohol and other drug (AOD) service delivery models in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled primary health care services. This role involves supporting, developing, and managing a research program as part of an Aboriginal-led interdisciplinary team of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers. The successful applicant will benefit from collaborating with a large network of investigators, partners, and stakeholders who have co-designed this program.

The Research Assistant will work on the project titled “Reducing alcohol and other drug harms in Aboriginal primary care,” in partnership with SWAMS. This study aims to enhance existing AOD care approaches at SWAMS by applying a continuous quality improvement (CQI) approach, co-designed with the local Aboriginal community, primary health care workers, and other stakeholders. The project will implement CQI processes to improve primary health care systems for best practice AOD care, utilising an all-teach-all-learn approach that draws on the expertise of local Aboriginal people, primary care staff, and researchers.

Primary Objectives:

• Co-design a culturally safe, community-informed AOD model of care in an Aboriginal community-controlled primary care setting.
• Implement two iterative cycles of CQI to achieve sustained improvements in best practice AOD care.
• Evaluate the acceptability of the CQI program for SWAMS in delivering quality AOD care.

About you:

We are looking for someone of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island descent under section 50(d) of the Equal Opportunity Act. You will also need the following:

• Demonstrated experience assisting in the development of community projects
• Knowledge of existing approaches to alcohol and other drug care at SWAMS and/or other primary health care services
• Substantial knowledge of, or genuine interest in, Continuous Quality Improvement approaches
• Experience in the collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data
• Experience working in collaborative environments with a wide range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous stakeholders including researchers, health professionals and senior management
• Willingness to travel both intrastate and interstate
• Reside in the South West and have local knowledge about the community.
• Formal qualifications as a health professional with experience in primary health care

Although not essential, the below criteria would be beneficial:

• Experience in CQI management, organisational change and/or coordination of health service reporting and/or accreditation
• Experience in facilitating group training and/or staff professional development
• Experience and/or qualifications in adult education / professional training
• Degree in primary health care/health services or related discipline
• A postgraduate degree or working towards

All candidates must have a current WA Driver’s License, WWCC and will be required to undertake a National Police Check prior to beginning employment.

The preferred candidate will also be required to provide a clear drug and alcohol screen prior to offer of employment.

What SWAMS can offer:

• Salary packaging up to $18,550 on a range of benefits such as mortgage, rent, meal and entertainment, holiday accommodation
• A family friendly and welcoming and supportive culture
• 17.5% leave loading on every annual leave taken
• Employee discount at Drive in Chemist
• Uniforms provided
• Development opportunities

For Information

For further information about this position, please telephone Human Resources on (08) 9797 8111 during normal business hours.

To Apply

To apply for this role please forward your current CV to HR@SWAMS.com.au or click "apply now: