As a key player in this ground-breaking project, you will facilitate the integration of a coordinated team of Lived Experience Advisors into Growing Mind Australia’s research studies, ensuring that their perspectives shape and enhance research outcomes. GMA-LERN is committed to embedding lived experience at the core of child and youth mental health research and governance, drawing on best practices and leveraging both established and emerging networks.

About your new team

The Growing Minds Australia (GMA) network is dedicated to this approach of encompassing consumers and carers in its mission. Funded by Australia’s Medical Research Future Fund and led by the University of Sydney, GMA is poised to transform child and youth mental health research nationwide. This initiative builds upon the expertise of MCRI and Melbourne Children’s in Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) in Research, aiming to revolutionise mental health research for children and youth across Australia.

Your responsibilities include:

• Support the development and coordination of consumer involvement strategies and initiatives within GMA, including the GMA-LERN, in alignment with best practice approaches to lived experience and consumer involvement
• Work in alignment with the Melbourne Children’s/MCRI Consumer Involvement portfolio, including the development and delivery of policies and procedures, and the implementation and evaluation of the Voice of the Child program
• Develop and produce content for internal and external communication channels in response to GMA and GMA-LERN needs (e.g., training) and impact efforts (e.g., communications).
• Provide assistance to researchers, consumer/lived experience representatives and partners across the GMA network to ensure a culture of involvement is supported across the GMA Network

What we need from you (Selection Criteria)

• Identify as a person with lived experience of a childhood onset mental health condition
• Degree qualification in health or social sciences, or related field (or equivalent work experience)
• Experience engaging and involving consumers (family members, children, adolescents and/or community) in research, healthcare and/or advocacy
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and presentation skills with the ability to apply these skills with a variety of stakeholders, including community members with lived and living mental health experience and their parents, carers or kin

Special Measures

In alignment with the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, we are invoking Special Measures for this position. We are prioritising candidates who have experienced a childhood onset mental health condition. This approach is designed to address systemic inequality, enhance authentic representation, and ensure that our team embodies the lived experiences central to our mission.

We invoke special measures in order to:

1. Address Inequality: By specifying that the Lived Experience Project Coordinator role be filled by a person who has experienced childhood onset mental illness, we are taking proactive steps to address known discrimination and ensure that those with lived and living experience of mental health conditions have equal opportunities.
2. Leverage lived experience and authentic representation: We know that individuals with lived experience are uniquely positioned to understand and address the needs of their communities. By prioritising the recruitment of a Lived Experience Project Coordinator with lived experience themselves, we strive to ensure safe, authentic representation and culturally competent advocacy within GMA and MCRI.
3. Enhance safety and engagement: We know that employees who share lived experiences with the communities they serve demonstrate higher levels of empathy and engagement. A Project Coordinator who can relate to the specific experiences of the GMA community will bring necessary safety and a unique perspective, empathy and effectiveness to the role. This will enable them to foster positive impact, compassion, and an intersectional approach while facilitating GMA-LERN.

For full viewing of responsibilities and requirements please refer to the to the position description.

Any specific questions related to this position should be directed to Amanda Wood at [email protected] and or Ken Knight at [email protected] using the subject line: Lived Experience Project Coordinator enquiry via EthicalJobs.

What’s in it for you?

• Impactful Work: The satisfaction of contributing to ground-breaking approaches to research that aims to enhance the research and improve child mental health outcomes and make a real difference in people’s lives
• Inclusive Environment: A commitment to an inclusive and supportive workplace that values diverse perspectives and experiences
• Maximise Your Pay: Benefit from salary packaging, including entertainment and novated leases
• Professional Development: Access to ongoing training and development opportunities, including workshops, conferences, and courses related to mental health research and lived experience involvement.
• Networking Opportunities: Access to a wide network of professionals, researchers, and lived experience experts across Australia, facilitating valuable connections and collaborations.

Who we are

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute envisions a transformative future for child health. Our institute is a hub of impactful scientific breakthroughs, particularly in early interventions, enhanced diagnosis, prevention, and potential cures. We thrive on collaborative, multidisciplinary problem-solving to address challenging queries in child health. Committed to inclusivity and respect, we foster a positive working environment that values diverse backgrounds and experiences. As a proud member of the Australian Network on Disability and a dedicated supporter of Science Australia Gender Equity (SAGE), we uphold principles of equal opportunity and diverse representation.

We are committed to the safety of children and young people and takes a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of child abuse, exploitation and harm. Child safety is prioritised in our decision-making at all levels of the Institute.

Join Us!

If you believe this role is a good fit for you, please apply by clicking "Apply Now" and submitting:

• Your resume
• A cover letter addressing the selection criteria

Ensure these documents are combined into a single PDF file.

We welcome individuals of diverse genders, ages, ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, abilities, religions, and sexual orientations in our workplace. We actively encourage talented individuals from all walks of life to apply for our job openings. Our commitment lies in fostering a workplace that is barrier-free and inclusive, aiming to attract the most skilled candidates.

For any questions related to the recruitment process, feel free to reach out to our Recruitment team at [email protected]. Ensure that you include the position number and job title in the subject line. Please refrain from sharing your application to this email address.

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

No recruitment agencies please.

Position Description