Senior Researcher / Aboriginal Lead Researcher

About The Organisation

AMSANT is the peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Northern Territory and advocates for equity in health, focusing on supporting the provision of high quality comprehensive primary health care services for Aboriginal communities.

 

Benefits

• Salary packaging up to $15,899.94 p.a
• Employer Superannuation contribution
• 6 weeks annual leave plus 17.5% leave loading
• Personal/carers leave up to 10 days per year
• 10 days per year Study leave can be negotiated
• Professional Development opportunities
• 10 days Ceremonial leave
• Access to a free Employee Assistance Program for work and non-work related

 

Contract Duration: Fixed Term to 1 March 2027

Work hours: Full-Time/Part-Time (negotiable), Monday-Friday 08:00am - 04:30pm

Location: Alice Springs

Applications close: COB Friday 15 November 2024

 

We are currently looking for up to 3 full-time Researchers (part-time negotiable) to work across one or more of the following projects:

 

Non-Clinical Indicators (NCI) Research Project

Aboriginal Health Services in the NT have advocated for the need to define and implement non-clinical indicators in quality performance monitoring since the 1990’s. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services have long recognised and advocated for the importance of more holistic aspects of health care that can be valued through non-clinical indicators. The NCI project commenced in 2019 with funding from CAAHSN (MRFF-RART2) and is led by AMSANT to embed NCIs in ongoing CQI systems for Aboriginal primary health care.

 

This project will enable the ability to; measure and value performance in areas like Aboriginal workforce, government services, policy and advocacy on issues impacting Aboriginal communities including social and cultural determinants of health; assess how services are provided (e.g., culturally safe and trauma informed service provision, staff retention and trust-building) rather than just what services were provided; and are supported by organizations responsible for implementing KPIs in the NT and nationally, including the NT Aboriginal Health Forum and the NTKPIs Steering Committee.

 

The NCI project will deliver the following outcomes:

• A comprehensive and validated CQI framework & indicator system for NT Aboriginal health services, with clinical and non-clinical data.
• Non-clinical indicators will form the basis of CQI strategies aimed at improving these indicators.
• Robust data to inform services (including boards of ACCHS), communities and governments
• A common language and evidence base led by the Community Controlled sector.
• Streamline reporting of non-clinical indicators.
• Aboriginal Data Sovereignty - services use data for advocacy & self-determination.
• Promotion of data and strategies to achieve security of long-term funding for reporting and analysing NCI data.

 

Utnenge Rlterrke Culturally Responsive Trauma Informed Care (CRTIC) in service provision in Aboriginal Primary Health Care (PHC): Implementation Study

This research will involve deepening both-ways understanding and application of Aboriginal and Western knowledges through the collaborative exploration of Western definitions associated with wellness, trauma, healing and how they take on meaning in Arrernte ways of ‘knowing’, ‘being’ and ‘doing’.  

 

This translational research builds on previous CA AHSN-funded work undertaken from 2017-2021.  Named Utnenge Rlterrke (meaning ‘Strong Spirit’ in Arrernte) by Sabella Kngwarraye Turner, this project included deep exploration of Western definitions associated with wellness, trauma, healing and how they take on meaning in Arrernte ways of ‘knowing’, ‘being’ and ‘doing’.  Arrernte ways of describing these concepts have been translated (with cultural permissions) into training materials in AMSANT’s Damulgurra – Culturally Responsive Trauma Informed Care workshops, providing a foundation for cross-cultural communication and knowledge-sharing that promotes culturally responsive trauma informed practice.

 

In this phase of the research, the research team will continue to work with community to deepen and grow the shared knowledge-base emerging from, with and through Utnenge Rlterrke (Strong Spirit).  The project will work with community members, inclusive of those with relevant cultural authorities, to co-design a suitable approach to undertaking the next phase of translational work, with the goal of moving from shared knowledge and understanding to how we can move further toward ‘transformative change’ to address the compounding impacts of complex intergenerational trauma stemming from colonisation.

Through the integration of Aboriginal knowledge into a range of training and professional supports offered by AMSANT, the research will then investigate the impact of integrating Aboriginal and Western knowledges on training participants’ personal knowledge and practice and capacity to effect change in the workplace.

 

Aboriginal Workforce Development (AWD) Research Project

AMSANT aims to improve Aboriginal health by promoting local community control over primary health care and increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander professionals in the NT. This involves strengthening health leadership, facilitating career development, and ensuring workforce quality and capacity.

The project's focus is building the Aboriginal workforce, a priority for NT health services. Increasing participation in this workforce will enhance service quality and delivery and boost overall employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as health is a major employer in Australia.

The AWD project will deliver the following outcomes:

• An Aboriginal health workforce position classification system for non-defined (emerging) roles including in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB), health promotion, public health, cultural and community support and those requiring cultural knowledge and Aboriginal language skills.
• Career pathway plan for all workforce roles and levels in the above system.
• An evidence-based Aboriginal workforce strategy with defined roles, responsibilities, training options and pathways.
• A workforce system that can be exported and shared nationally and one that can enable mapping of experiential knowledge to qualifications.

The project is designed to further deliver the following longer-term outcomes; aspirational career progression opportunities for Aboriginal staff; increased stability and confidence of Aboriginal and other staff; Aboriginal staff working in the full scope of their qualifications; Culturally safe, competent and cost-effective health service delivery; increased community trust in the health service; more effective service delivery; and better health outcomes for patients.

 

 

Position one: Aboriginal Lead Researcher

Base Salary: $81,640.40 - $91,456.26 pro-rata p.a

Project: Non-Clinical Indicators (NCI)

Please note: The filling of the Aboriginal Lead Researcher position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and s 57 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1996 (NT). The Aboriginal Lead Researcher position is therefore only open to Aboriginal applicants.

 

Position two: Senior Researcher

Base Salary: $96,817.26 - $108,537.40 pro-rata p.a

Project: Utnenge Rlterrke Culturally Responsive Trauma Informed Care

 

Position three: Senior Researcher

Base Salary: $96,817.26 - $108,537.40 pro-rata p.a

Project: 0.5 FTE Non-Clinical Indicators (NCI) / 0.5 FTE Aboriginal Workforce Development (AWD)

 

Additional information:

• Original qualifications must be available for viewing and copies to be kept on personnel file.
• Applications must have an Ochre Card and a Current Police Check and/or ability to obtain these prior to commencement.
• The COVID-19 Safety Management Plan and other COVID – 19 related information Policy and Procedure require all AMSANT employees to have had a third COVID-19 Vaccination. Temporary or permanent exemptions apply in certain circumstances.
• Applicants must be able and willing to undertake travel throughout the NT and Interstate (sometimes as a light aircraft passenger) and possess a C class Driver’s Licence.

 

For full position descriptions including responsibilities and selection criteria, please email hr@amsant.org.au and specify which project/position you are interested in.

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply