Careers – Research Psychologist

The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health (the Institute) is an incorporated Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 and a registered charity under the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)

Applications remain open until position is filled

RESEARCH PSYCHOLOGIST

Hours: Full time (40 hours per week) OR 0.8 pro-rata

Location: Perth, Western Australia or interstate – working from home is required

Position Type: Permanent part-time

Line Management to: Research Manager

Benefits: Attractive salary, plus superannuation and salary sacrifice options

 

About this position:

The Research Psychologist will work within Jilya’s research arm which is focused on Indigenous mental health, suicide prevention, child removal and justice-based data driven research and evaluation. They will work with the Jilya Research Manager to ensure the advancement of Indigenous specific research and treatment evaluation priorities including the development of funding and partnership opportunities.

The Research Psychologist plays a critical role in implementing Jilya’s Indigenous research priorities, particularly in the areas of unique psychometric validation, cultural competence, and determination of treatments of best practice evaluation in combination with Jilya’s Indigenous psychology treatment arm. This role acts as an emerging research specialist and will also provide guidance to junior researchers and Jilya Indigenous psychology scholarship students across Australia, and directly contribute to addressing the significant gaps in data driven best practice critical to closing the gap.

The Research Psychologist is more senior than the Research Officer, with higher-level responsibilities in statistical modeling and psychometric analysis, but will work under the strategic direction and support of the Research Manager.
This position reports to the Research Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

Research Operations

• Lead complex data analysis projects including psychometric test validation and structural equation modeling (SEM) using Mplus and other statistical software.
• Design, code, and clean large data sets for use in inferential and descriptive analyses.
• Contribute to the design and execution of Indigenous specific research methodologies aligned with Jilya’s strategic goals and existing co-designed research.
• Collaborate with the Research Manager to translate psychometric and prevalence data into culturally appropriate insights, practice recommendations to ensure the advancement of large scale, cultural, systemic change.

Project and Grant Development

• Support the identification and submission of research grants aligned with Jilya’s Indigenous research priorities.
• Provide Indigenous specific methodological guidance to ensure that research remains co-designed; responsive to critical community needs and gaps across suicide prevention, child removals, justice systems and provide relevant statistical input on grant applications and Indigenous specific ethics submissions.
• Assist in the development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Indigenous partner organisations for data sharing and collaborative research.

Supervision and Support

• Provide high-level research support and supervision to the existing pool of Dr Tracy Westerman Indigenous psychology scholarship recipients who range from undergraduate, to PhD).
• Mentor Research Officers and contribute to their skill development in indigenous specific research methodologies, analysis and psychometrics.

Publications and Knowledge Translation

• Contribute to scholarly publications, conference presentations, and technical reports both within the Indigenous and non-Indigenous sectors.
  Collaborate with the Research Manager to communicate findings through appropriate peer reviewed academic and professional channels.

Governance and Compliance

• Assist with ensuring adherence to and in some cases, development of appropriate Indigenous specific research governance, ethics, and cultural safety protocols.
• Maintain appropriate documentation, records, and reporting in alignment with cultural safety of documentation, project and funding requirements.

Other

• Undertake additional duties as requested by the Research Manager, Chief Executive Officer or Jilya Board Chair.
• Engage in continuing professional development as required for AHPRA registration where appropriate.
• Foster strong relationships with ACCHOs and Aboriginal communities in support of research translation and community engagement.

Essential Selection Criteria:

• Psychology Degree at Masters level minimum, ideally a PhD or working towards PhD submission with preference given to those who are focused on Indigenous specific research.
• Research experience at a national level including a track record of data driven peer reviewed publications ideally (but not exclusively) in the Indigenous specific mental health and wellbeing area.
• Quantitative and qualitative research skills. The use of inferential statistics, psychometrics, structural equation modelling, and multivariate statistics are highly valued, hence a candidate must have strong skills in the use of statistical software packages, preferably Mplus, SPSS, and R for managing descriptive and other statistics with a focus on the interpretation of Indigenous specific methodologies
• Familiarity with randomised control trials – high expertise not required
• Demonstrated understanding of the operations of a not-for-profit organisation and Aboriginal community controlled sector.
• Understanding of university systems and ability to identify Indigenous specific research grant partnership opportunities based on the gaps in Indigenous suicide prevention and mental health.
• Solid organisational abilities, including planning, program development and task facilitation.
• Be capable of supervising, supporting and mentoring Indigenous psychology students at undergraduate, masters and PhD level.
• Strong understanding of mental health, suicide prevention and wellbeing research specific to Aboriginal people.
• Values and attributes that align with the vision and strategic goals of the Jilya Institute

Desirable Selection Criteria:

• Registration as a psychologist with AHPRA
• Substantial progress toward a PhD in Psychology or recent PhD completion.
• Demonstrated levels of cultural competence.
• Demonstrated understanding of the operations of a not-for-profit organisation.
• Ability to navigate the complex interfaces with Aboriginal Community Control

 

Essential Eligibility Requirements:

The occupant of this position will require the following prior to appointment:

• Working with Children Check.
• National Police Clearance.
• Be able to travel as required.
• Be available to work outside standard business hours when required.
• A home environment suitable for working at home arrangements

Indigenous applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.

Your application should include a detailed resume and a cover letter no more than two pages long summarising your experience against the selection criteria. Further job-related information can be sourced by contacting us on 08 6244 3399 during business hours. Applications without a cover letter will NOT be processed.

If you are having trouble accessing the form, please email through your CV and a cover letter addressing the selection criteria to admin@thejilyainstitute.com.au

Closing Date: Applications must be submitted online via apply now button below.

Download the JDF here: Research Psychologist