Research Fellow

· Part time 0.80 FTE fixed term until 21 May 2027 at Camperdown

· Research Fellow role in Health Literacy -School of Public Health

· Base Salary $127,436 (pro rata for 0.80 FTE) + 17% superannuation

About the opportunity

Founded in 1930 Sydney School of Public Health is Australia’s first and leading school in public health. Each day, our researchers and graduates are tackling global health challenges and striving to improve equity in communities locally and around the world.

The Sydney Health Literacy Lab is located within the University of Sydney School of Public Health. We have enduring partnerships in health literacy implementation and in research including strong collaboration with the NSW Health Statewide Health Literacy Hub, Wiser Healthcare, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute as well as other national and international researchers. This ensures our work is conducted to the highest academic standards yet is firmly embedded within the community engaged with a network of clinical practices and community groups.

We are seeking a Research Fellow with strong expertise in health literacy and best practices for health communication to support Associate Professor Danielle Muscat and the research team at the Sydney Health Literacy Lab.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• lead original, applied research in health literacy, including the design and leadership of a scoping review examining the implementation of organisational health literacy initiatives across health systems
• undertake rigorous qualitative research, including data collection and analysis, to examine organisational health literacy implementation processes and inform evidence‑based improvements to policy and practice
• synthesise research evidence and practice‑based knowledge into high‑quality reports, including translating recommendations into policy‑ and practice‑relevant outputs for health organisations
• maintain an active and emerging research profile through contribution to peer‑reviewed journal articles, collaborative manuscripts and reporting guidelines, including leading the development of a reporting guideline for studies assessing the readability of written health information
• collaborate closely with multidisciplinary researchers across the Health Literacy Hub and with external partners to deliver high‑quality, timely and impactful research outputs
• contribute to translational research and research capacity‑building activities, including delivery of health literacy research and measurement masterclasses for NSW Health staff and facilitation of regular research drop‑in sessions supporting applied health literacy research
• support the development of competitive research funding applications and commissioned research activities aligned with organisational health literacy priorities
• ensure excellence, rigour and ethical standards across all research activities, including evidence synthesis, qualitative analysis, reporting and dissemination
• contribute to administrative, service and engagement activities within the School, Faculty and research lab, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high‑performing research culture
• communicate research findings and expertise through seminars, professional forums, workshops and conferences to academic, policy and health service audiences
• undertake additional research and project responsibilities appropriate to the classification level, as required.

About you

You will bring a strong academic and applied research background in health literacy and health communication, with demonstrated experience translating research into practical outcomes for health systems and workforce capability.

• PhD in public health or a closely related discipline, with a research focus on health literacy, readability and best practices for written health communication
• demonstrated expertise in health literacy research methods, including evidence synthesis, qualitative research and applied implementation studies within health systems
• a developing research profile with contributions to peer‑reviewed publications, collaborative manuscripts and research outputs, including leadership of a reporting guideline for studies assessing the readability of written health information
• experience providing evidence‑based advice and research input to large‑scale health initiatives, supporting the development and delivery of health literacy training, tools and resources for healthcare staff across multiple local health districts
• demonstrated ability to translate research into policy‑ and practice‑relevant outputs, including preparation of reports, publications and communications to support the impact and profile of health literacy research within NSW Health or similar organisations
• experience delivering research capacity‑building and workforce development activities, including training, masterclasses and facilitation of communities of practice to support applied health literacy research
• strong collaborative skills, with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and with academic, government and health service partners
• excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex research findings to academic, policy, professional and community audiences
• a commitment to research excellence, ethical standards and contributing positively to an inclusive, collaborative and high‑performing research culture.

Sponsorship / work rights for Australia

You must have unrestricted work rights in Australia for the duration of this employment to be eligible to apply. Visa sponsorship is not available for this appointment.

Pre-employment checks and declarations

Your employment is conditional upon the successful completion of all pre-employment or background checks required for the role in terms satisfactory to the University. Also, to meet the University’s obligations under the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Eliminate Gender-Based Violence you will be asked to declare if you have been investigated for, or found to engaged in, sexual harm or gender-based violence in the course of previous employment or in a legal process. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values are trust, accountability and excellence and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community that thrives through diversity and reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this through our commitment to diversity and inclusion, evidenced by our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTQIA+. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.

We are proud to be recognised as an Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) Platinum Employer. Find out more about our work on diversity and inclusion.

How to apply

Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact Cecilia Blamey, Recruitment Operations by email to cecilia.blamey@sydney.edu.au.

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

Click to view the Position Description for this role.

Applications Close

Thursday 11 June 2026 11:59 PM