Research Assistant

**Posted**:
23/06/2025

**Closing Date**:
23/07/2025

**Job Type**:
Permanent - Full Time

**Location**:
Bondi/Hybrid

**Job Category**:
Biotech, R&D, Science, Research

Are you passionate about making a difference in water safety and drowning prevention? Are you a detail-oriented individual with excellent research and analytical skills? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our Research team at SLSA as a Research Assistant.

At SLSA, we are dedicated to promoting water safety, preventing drowning, and providing lifesaving services to communities across Australia. We are seeking a research assistant to support our research, reporting, analysis, and evaluation efforts in collaboration with our National Research Manager.

**Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)** is Australia's leading authority in coastal water safety, drowning prevention, and rescue operations. With more than 198,000 members from all backgrounds and demographics across 315 affiliated Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSCs), we represent the largest volunteer movement of its kind in Australia.

Since it establishment in 1907, Surf Life Saving has saved over 700,000 lives. In the 2023/24 season, our active members were involved in 8,857 rescues, provided 49,331 first aid treatments, and carried out nearly 2.5 million preventative actions, contributing over 1.46 million volunteer patrol hours. Our volunteers are the backbone of this remarkable effort, and through their dedication, we continue to lead the charge in coastal safety across Australia.

**Our mission remains clear -**to save lives, create great Australians, and build better communities. Through innovative approaches, strategic partnerships, and continuous education, we are committed to reducing coastal drowning fatalities.

**Our vision is simple** - zero preventable deaths in Australian waters. And with the support of corporate sponsors, government grants, and public donations, we ensure that we can continue delivering vital services and initiatives for beachgoers nationwide.

By joining SLSA, you’ll be a part of something greater. You’ll contribute to saving lives, fostering community connections, and creating lasting impact on Australia’s coastal culture. We are not just a movement; we are a force for good. Be a part of something that matters.

Job Description

The purpose of this role is to assist the National Research Manager with administration, research (including human ethics), reporting, analysis, and evaluation duties to support, guide and assist SLSA’s business priorities in areas related to water safety, drowning prevention, lifesaving, injury prevention, epidemiology, member welfare, and member and public education.

SLSA’s research portfolio is diverse and covers many topics from drowning epidemiology to marine envenomation treatment. Our research projects include quantitative and qualitative analyses, with experimental, observational, and retrospective cohort research design.

**Responsibilities**

The focus of this role is to support the conduct of this research that underpins current and future strategic directions, programs and resource allocation to ensure best practice across all areas of Surf Life Saving.

**Coastal Drowning, Injury Prevention and Surf Life Saving-related Research**
- Collate, organise, vali and import national fatality data for epidemiological and other analyses, and identify gaps in existing data and propose solutions to address them
- Consult with universities and research organisations focusing on identified gaps in the fatality database or that align with SLSA Strategic Plan
- Promote SLSA research through the SLSA website, developing research media articles and publishing research initiatives and findings
- Attend meetings of the SLSA Research Advisory Working Group (RAWG)
- Attend and take minutes for meetings of the SLS Australasian Research Working Group

**Planning and Reporting**
- When requested, produce timely, effective and accurate progress reports in relation to the research program, epidemiological data and causal factor and gap analyses

**Effective administration of SLSA Research Program**
- Coordinate and manage collection of data and analysis, completion of research reports and dissemination of research results
- Support reporting needs relating to research project and ethical agreements

**Stakeholder Relationships**
- Effective communication and relationships with external academic partners, Research Advisory Committee, SLS state and territory entities, database custodians, and research participants
- Contribute to the translation of research to reach operational objectives and promote understanding of research implications
- Support the management of ethical agreements between SLSA and our research partners, including the National Coronial Information System (NCIS)

Desired Skills and Experience

**Who You Are**

1) Qualifications:

- Bachelor Degree in a relevant field (such as Science, Public Health or Epidemiology,