Details - Research Fellow - Optimise +

• Part time - 0.8FTE
• Fixed term – 2 years
• Campus Independent
• Salary- Level B starting at $114,855 (pro-rated) plus 17% superannuation

About the position

The Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) is a leading research and knowledge translation centre housed in the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University. Founded in 1993, we have expertise in the areas of sex and sexual health, gender and sexuality, family violence, and alcohol and other drug consumption, as well as numerous other aligned topics. We also have extensive experience developing the capability of health and human services to integrate evidence into practice.

The position of Research Fellow will support the Medical Research Future Fund project ‘Optimise+: Strengthening LGBTQ+ Community-Controlled Mental Health and AOD Services’ (https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/work/optimise-plus). The Optimise+ project is a research study designed to build on the best parts of LGBTQ+ community-controlled mental health and AOD services across Australia, with the aim of further enhancing service options. The role will coordinate and implement workstream 4, a Systems-level analysis of LGBTQ+ community-controlled organisations’ strengths and potential to inform change, as well as support the overall Optimise+ project under the supervision of Workstream 4 lead Professor Graham Brown. The position will be responsible for drafting data collection tools, coordinating feedback with study partners, co-facilitating the system mapping workshops, descriptive model development and testing with sector stakeholders. It will handle all day-to-day logistical tasks and craft drafts of outputs and participate in all knowledge translation activities relevant to this Workstream.

Duties at this level will include:

• Play a significant coordination role in the management, data collection and analysis of Workstream 4 of Optimise+ and support the overall Optimise+ research project.
• Actively engage and build partnerships with industry and government on major research issues.
• Draft, submit and monitor ethics applications and approvals.
• Co-facilitate participatory workshops with stakeholders in up to four jurisdictions across Australia and play a leading role in: analysis of qualitative data from workshops and interviews, model/theory development, and testing with sector stakeholders.
• Lead and collaborate on journal publications, conference and seminar papers, sector/policy reports and other knowledge translation resources resulting from Stream 4 of the Optimise+ research project.
• Contribute to overall Optimise+ study knowledge translation publication and strategies.

Skills and Experience

To be considered for this position, you will have:

• Completion of a PhD or equivalent research and professional experience and standing.
• A record of contribution to publications, conference papers and/or reports, or professional or technical contributions which provide evidence of research potential.
• Sound analytical skills with an ability to communicate complex information clearly both orally and in writing.
• Experience in qualitative research methods and analysis, in particular interviews, focus groups and facilitating large workshops (25+ people) with stakeholders.
• Familiarity with and/or willingness to undertake training in systems thinking approaches such as system mapping and causal loop diagrams.

Please refer to the Position Description for other duties, skills and experience required for this position.

Welcome Video - Victorian Regional campuses – See link below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-NZBy693Go

Benefits:

• 17% employer contributed superannuation
• Flexible work arrangements
• Discounts for staff and their family members to study a range of La Trobe courses

How to apply

Closing date:  By 11:55pm, Sunday 4^th January 2026

Position Enquiries: Graham Brown, Professorial Research Fellow ARCSHS

via email: Graham.Brown@latrobe.edu.au

Recruitment Enquiries: Recruitment@latrobe.edu.au

Position Description below:

 PD - Research Fellow OPTIMISE-Plus.pdf

Only candidates with Full Working Rights in Australia may apply for this position.

Please submit an online application ONLY and include the following documents:

• Cover letter,
• An up-to-date resume and;
• A separate document addressing each bullet point under the Essential Criteria ‘Skills and knowledge required for the position’, which is located in the position description.

Please scroll down to apply.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants 
We welcome and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

La Trobe University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. We take an intersectional approach by actively supporting and encouraging people of all backgrounds and abilities to submit an application and aim to ensure that the recruitment and employee experience is as accessible and inclusive as possible. Flexibility in interview format will be offered to shortlisted candidates.

All La Trobe University employees are bound by the Working with Children Act 2005.  If you are successful, you will be required to hold a valid Victorian Employee Working with Children Check prior to commencement.