Project Officer

Part-Time (0.8)FTE, 12-Month Contract

• Are you interested in doing research with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population with a focus on health equity?
• Do you want to contribute to building and strengthening SAHMRI's Indigenous Collective?

The Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme (AHE), located on the lands of the Kaurna people at SAHMRI, is a leading national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led unit dedicated to wellbeing and achieving health equity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia through quality and safe health and medical research.

• Our research is rigorous, dynamic and community responsive. It is governed and done in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Our program of research responds to community priority areas; chronic disease, social and emotional determinants of health, aged care and healthy ageing.
• Our methodological strengths lie in population health, implementation science and health services research.

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated and proactive Project Officer to join the Wardliparingga team, to provide project support  with a focus on student development, enhancing our business operations and building and promoting the internal and external profile of Wardliparingga.   This includes assisting with the coordination of scholarship programs, contributing to the development and coordination of knowledge and capability building initiatives and the Wardliparingga Induction Program. The role will also assist in developing tools and communication resources and coordinating support for SAHMRI's Indigenous Collective.

If you share our values and principles of research conduct, we want you to join our research team

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide high level project and secretarial support to the Indigenous Collective at SAHMRI, in consultation with the Co-Theme Leaders.
• Coordinate the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student Scholarship opportunities each year, including compiling applications, advertising, and providing support for the review, selection and award of scholarships.
• Contribute to the development, coordination and delivery of an annual program of continual development in Indigenous Health Research that is delivered by Wardliparingga Theme.
• Monitor the SAHMRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent register and review periodically with the Co-Theme Leaders and Research Manager
• Develop an annual media and communications calendar for the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme in consultation with the Co-Theme Leaders, Research Manager and research team and work closely with the SAHMRI Media and communications team to deliver associated activities throughout the year. This includes; social media posts, a quarterly newsletter and other communications activities.
• Assist with the development of the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Heath Equity intranet pages.
• Coordinate updating Wardliparingga's website content with project staff to ensure our website content is up to date.
• Ensure research activities and other outputs are compliant and aligned with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research and working to the principles of the South Australian Aboriginal Health Research Accord.
• Support the mentorship, training, professional development and/or supervision of trainees, undergraduate, post graduate research students, peers and senior program leads as applicable.

About You

The successful candidate will possess the following key attributes:

• No formal qualifications required for this role, however experience in project management and co-designing research with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities is desirable.
• Experience working with the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community or organisations is highly desirable.
• Experience in the facilitation of Scholarship programs and opportunities.
• Understanding of academic pathways and university systems, including Higher Degree by Research programs.
• Understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and principles of strengths-based development.
• Knowledge of Indigenous culture and health issues.
• Knowledge of the Health research sector and academic workforce is desirable.

Special Requirements

• Some out of hours work may be required.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• DCSI Employment screening may be required.

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values and our institute is dedicated to grow a culture that pursues, enables and demands research excellence. We are proud of the work we do and work hard as a team to make a positive difference to the community.  Our values of excellence, innovation, courage, integrity and teamwork are what help us achieve our goals. If these are also your values and goals, apply today.

As a not-for-profit organisation, SAHMRI employees can access salary packaging options up to $15,900. Salary packaging lets you pay for things like the everyday costs of living with money from your salary before tax. This reduces your taxable income, meaning you could pay less tax and take home more of what you earn. For more information on salary packaging please see the Maxxia website.

For a copy of the position description, please click here.

For more information, please contact Odette Pearson at

Applications close: Sunday 26th October 2025

Applications may close earlier than advertised if a suitable candidate is found prior to the close date.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.