Senior Research and Evidence Advisor

Work options:
Hybrid

VACCHO is committed to supporting our staff through a
hybrid work model
that balances flexibility with connection.

All new staff complete a three-month training and onboarding period in the office. This ensures they receive the right support, build relationships, and develop a strong understanding of VACCHO's culture, systems, and ways of working.

Following this period, staff are able to request hybrid arrangements, with the option to work from home for up to two days per week. This hybrid model allows us to stay collaborative and connected while also supporting staff to enjoy the benefits of flexibility and work–life balance.

Job Title:
Senior Research and Evidence Advisor

Location:
Collingwood, VIC (Hybrid Work Model)

Employment Type:
Full-time, Fixed-term (until June 2027)

Salary:
$135,000-$145,000 per annum (plus super)

About VACCHO
VACCHO is the peak representative for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.

We have 34 member Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations providing support to over 78,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the state. We lead and support Aboriginal Community Control and the broader health and social services sector to deliver transformative health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal communities in Victoria. We are a centre of expertise, policy advice, training, innovation and leadership in Aboriginal health and wellbeing. And we'd love you to join us

VACCHO promotes substantive equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This is an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander designated position, classified under Section 12 Special Measures of the Equal Opportunity Act This employment opportunity is only available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
About The Role
This position has a broad role across all work streams and strategic pillars within VACCHO and will work collaboratively with the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), Policy and Advocacy, and Population Health teams, as well as other VACCHO teams to advance a ranged of agreed projects, research and evidenced based activities.

This includes informing strategic and operational planning and supporting funding development activities that optimise access to relevant data and resources from both internal and external sources. The Senior Research and Evidence Advisor will also ensure the secure management of data and resources by upholding the principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Understand the socio-economic-political-cultural factors impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing to support inform critical Aboriginal lead research and evidence, including housing, welfare, economic development.
• Work in partnership with various health sector stakeholders to foster strengths-based partnerships with government/research institutes.
• Access and utilise appropriate tools for data identification and collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander statistics to guide ACCO service system reforms.
• Lead the co-design and project management lifecycle for research system development. This includes:
• Advance Aboriginal led projects and research activities that supports Closing the Gap Priority Reform.
• Adjustments and/or development of internal and external digital health needs and culturally safe virtual care service.
• Support for Aboriginal Digital in Health needs assessment, workforce development, training and education.
• Provide secretarial support for Director of Research and Evidence led cross-sector working groups, forums and network collaboration meetings.
• Support the facilitation and development of Research and Evidence Team annual budgets, workplans, and impact reports that inform VACCHO reporting systems.
• Inform and support the development of mechanisms for receiving, storing and responding to data requests, research, and evidence enquiries, including mapping of internal Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing data assets in partnership with the VACCHO Director, Health Information and Digital Systems.
• Support the Executive Manager Research Team to advocate Aboriginal led research activity in accordance with the VACCHO Research Accord.
• Support VACCHO led case studies and best practice initiatives to advance promotion, preventative and protective health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Coordinate and prepare desktop reviews and analysis of peer-reviewed and grey literature relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes and program design.
• Identify gaps and opportunities in the evidence to better inform strategic planning and advocacy through high quality, professional and strengths based verbal and written communication.
• Work in partnership with VACCHO Member Engagement and Communication Teams to develop culturally safe media and communication resources to engage key stakeholder groups.
• Develop and maintain close working, strengths-based relationships with VACCHO's member organisations and leaders in other Aboriginal-led organisations.
• Developing and maintaining strategic relationships with key external stakeholders including government, research, and mainstream health services relevant to the role and level of delegation.

Essential Skills/experiences

• Demonstrated experience in culturally safe and supportive communication and engagement with a range of key stakeholders (e.g. Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Government, Research Institutes and Universities).
• Demonstrated leadership and management experience in Victorian Aboriginal Communities, including the impacts of colonisation, intergeneration trauma and broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, policy, or advocacy organisation.
• Demonstrated proficiency and experience using Microsoft applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Project Management) combined with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience in organisational and project coordination skills with the ability to apply a strength-based approach when working across multiple teams and priorities.

Desirable

• Knowledge of best practice models in health evidence systems, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and evaluation.

Benefits

• Working for Community in a culturally safe Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, recently accredited as a Great Place to Work for the second consecutive year
• Access to generous employee benefits including Not for Profit salary packaging entitlements (see below), leave loading, additional leave entitlements including cultural leave, and bonus Christmas leave if employed at VACCHO into the following year.
• Organisational early finish Fridays (4pm) and flexible working arrangements considered.
• Distinctive inner-city Collingwood office with wellness spaces and end of trip facilities available.

VACCHO is committed to welcoming and embracing the diversity of cultures, identities, gender, sex, and sexually diverse identities and expressions, experiences, beliefs, and values of all people.

About Salary Packaging
As a Public Benevolent Institute (PBI), we are able to offer generous tax concessions to our staff. For further information, please click here:

Other Employment Related Information
Employment is subject to a satisfactory and ongoing police records check (international where relevant) and Working with Children Check.

Applications close
: COB 30 September 2025. Please note we may begin shortlisting as we receive applications and therefore encourage early applications.

We believe in the right for all people to be treated with the respect and dignity at all times, and that all people who work for, govern or undertake work at or visit us should at all times feel safe and included.

Equal Opportunity & Inclusion Statement
VACCHO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.