Research Assistant - Department of Rural Health

Role type: Part time (0.6 FTE) Fixed term until September 18, 2026
Faculty: Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Department: Rural Health
Salary: Level A - $87,266.00 - $118,416.00 p.a. plus 17% super

• Shape rural health insights through longitudinal student data / collaborate in a close-knit Ballarat team / enjoy part-time flexibility
• Apply now to use your data management skills to power meaningful rural health education and workforce research.
• Investing in you – 17% superannuation, benefits package including salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, discounted services, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Melbourne
We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website.
Your next career opportunity
You will manage and refine a decade of student placement data to underpin impactful rural health research. You will build a master dataset in Excel and SPSS, enabling robust longitudinal analysis and reporting.
What you will deliver:

• Consolidate and clean longitudinal data into a single, accurate master database for analysis.
• Manage data in Excel and SPSS, including imports, exports, validation checks and quality assurance processes.
• Document all data management procedures, ensuring methods are transparent, reproducible and ready for future research use.
• Monitor data integrity through regular audits and reports, identifying and resolving inconsistencies or missing information.
• Support supervisors and colleagues with data requests and basic quantitative analysis, including longitudinal summaries where needed in SPSS.

You may be a great fit if you:

• Bring proven experience in data management and preparing large datasets for quantitative analysis.
• Demonstrate advanced Excel skills, including building, maintaining and documenting complex multi-sheet databases.
• Possess experience with SPSS for data entry, data management, and descriptive data analysis
• Show meticulous attention to detail and a methodical, patient approach to repetitive data tasks.
• Apply sound critical-analysis skills when checking data accuracy, resolving discrepancies and merging multiple sources.
• Value rural health and, ideally, bring experience working with First Nations or rural communities.
• Possess practical experience with REDCap for data entry, exports, validation rules and quality control.

For further information please refer to the attached PD.
What we offer you!
We offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits to support your success and sense of fulfilment, including:

• Build future financial security with 17% superannuation
• Supportive flexible work arrangements underpinned by our commitment to inclusion and well-being
• Career development opportunities, including access to a range of tailored programs, such as Academic Women in Leadership, and learning platforms including LinkedIn Learning
• Progressive, considerate leave provisions to empower your work-life balance and well-being, including leading parental leave, gender affirmation leave and cultural leave
• Salary packaging and access to a range of discounted services including Bupa health insurance, and access to unique cultural and recreational benefits such as discounts for the Melbourne Theatre Company
• Health and well-being services including a leading Employee Assistance Program

For more information check out our benefits page!
Your new team – Department of Rural Health
You will join the Department of Rural Health within the Melbourne Medical School’s University Department of Rural Health. The team supports around 1,200 Nursing and Allied Health students each year on rural placements. Your work will strengthen understanding of student experiences and rural workforce pathways across Victoria. Based at the Ballarat campus, you will collaborate closely with committed academics and professional staff. The team values partnership with rural communities and strongly welcomes First Nations participation and perspectives.
Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a child-safe organisation. The diversity of our community enriches us all, and we are committed to creating an inclusive and fair workplace where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Discover more about Diversity and Inclusion at UniMelb.
We're committed to a barrier-free recruitment process and ongoing workplace support, providing adjustments throughout. We warmly encourage applications from people with disabilities. Learn more about how we support an accessible recruitment process.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians. Visit our Indigenous staff page to learn more about our investment and support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
Indigenous applicants are encouraged to connect with our Indigenous Employment & Development team at oied-hr@unimelb.edu.au.
Application essentials:

• Visit "apply with us" to learn more about the process, including tips and FAQs.
• You must have current valid work rights for Australia. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.
• A Working with Children Check is required for all positions. If successful, we will guide you through the process and reimburse you.
• Please upload your resume and a cover letter outlining your interest and experience as part of the application process.
• Please upload your responses to the Selection Criteria, found in the Position Description.

Want to know more?

• For queries related to this specific position, contact Robyn McNeil at robyn.mcneil@unimelb.edu.au
• For questions related to our recruitment process email Dijana at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au
• For recruitment adjustments contact Kim Groizard on +61 3 9035 3218 or at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au (subject: 'Recruitment Adjustments').

Apply today and join a community that’s shaping the future.
Applications close: 15 April 2026 11:55 PM; Melbourne time zone.
Position Description:
PD-JR-011286 Research Assistant-Department of Rural Health.doc
PD-JR-011286 Research Assistant-Department of Rural Health.pdf