You need to treat this Assistant Professor First Nations Health role at Bond University like the targeted opportunity it is.

Bond just opened applications for a continuing full-time position focused on building First Nations health content across its health programs. The salary starts at $165,010.96 plus 17.5 percent superannuation. The role sits in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine and reports into Professor Shane Hearn’s team.

The position requires you to be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. That is a genuine occupational requirement under Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act. If that describes you and you hold a PhD or equivalent in a relevant field, the rest of the criteria become your checklist.

Successful applicants will develop and deliver culturally responsive curriculum, run assessments, support students, and produce research that advances practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. You will also coordinate elements of the faculty-wide First Nations Health Program.

Bond describes itself as Australia’s first private not-for-profit university. Staff benefits include free parking, generous parental leave, salary packaging, study assistance, and access to the on-site medical centre, counselling, gym and pool. Relocation support is available for the right candidate.

Applications close at 11:59 pm on Sunday 30 August 2026. You must submit a current resume plus a cover letter that directly addresses the selection criteria in the position description.

Why this role stands out in the current market

Universities across Australia continue to expand dedicated First Nations health teaching. Bond’s approach integrates the content across medicine, biomedical science and allied health degrees rather than siloing it. That structure gives the successful applicant broad reach with students who will work in clinical and community settings.

The Nyombil Centre and the Indigenous Staff Network provide cultural support and mentoring. New staff also receive guidance on professional development and access to resources that strengthen both teaching and research practice.

Four steps to prepare a strong application

1. Download the position description and selection criteria from the Bond site right now. Map every point to specific examples from your teaching, research or community work.

2. Write the cover letter as a direct response to those criteria. One paragraph per major criterion works better than a narrative that forces the reader to hunt for evidence.

3. Update your resume to lead with recent First Nations health education or research outputs. Include student outcomes or curriculum projects where possible.

4. Contact Professor Shane Hearn early if you have genuine questions about the portfolio. His details appear on the job advertisement.

Skip the habit of sending the same generic documents you used for the last three roles. Committees notice when an application ignores the stated requirements. Strong candidates stand out by showing they read the brief and can deliver on day one.

The role carries a genuine focus on culturally responsive teaching. Demonstrate how your past work has improved student understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health perspectives and you move to the top of the shortlist.

What the first ninety days could look like

You will join an established team and begin reviewing existing curriculum across multiple programs. Expect to map current content against national standards and identify gaps. Early wins often come from small, targeted modules that students and clinical placement supervisors immediately value.

Research time is built in. The position expects you to maintain an active scholarship agenda that feeds back into teaching. Existing networks at Bond, including the Nyombil Centre, can accelerate that work.

Student support forms part of the brief. You will advise on culturally safe learning environments and help coordinate faculty responses to student feedback on First Nations content.

Service commitments include committee work and contribution to the broader Indigenous Staff Network. These elements count toward promotion pathways at Bond.

Practical action for this week

Open the position description PDF, print the selection criteria, and spend two focused hours writing one paragraph for each major point using your strongest evidence. That single document will tell you whether the role fits and give you the core of a competitive application.