Research Psychologist / Research Fellow

Location: Perth or WA preferred, but remote work available for candidates across Australia.

About Us:

The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We focus on delivering culturally safe mental health services, advancing Indigenous-specific research, and providing critical treatment and evaluation across areas such as suicide prevention, child removal, and justice.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Research Psychologist/Research Fellow to join our dynamic research team. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing Indigenous mental health research by leading complex data analysis projects, contributing to the development of culturally competent research methodologies, and supporting the translation of findings into practice. The ideal candidate will have experience in psychometric validation, statistical modeling, and a strong background in Indigenous mental health research.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and conduct complex data analysis projects, including psychometric test validation and structural equation modeling (SEM) using software such as Mplus, SPSS, and R.

Contribute to the design and execution of Indigenous-specific research methodologies aligned with Jilya’s goals.

Assist with grant development and submissions, providing statistical input and ensuring Indigenous-specific ethics protocols are adhered to.

Mentor and supervise Indigenous psychology scholarship recipients and junior researchers.

Contribute to scholarly publications, conference presentations, and technical reports.

Maintain strong relationships with ACCHOs and Aboriginal communities for research translation and community engagement.

Essential Skills and Experience:

Minimum Master’s degree in Psychology, with preference for PhD-level qualifications or those working towards PhD submission, particularly focused on Indigenous-specific research.

Strong track record of research experience, with peer-reviewed publications in the Indigenous mental health sector.

Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including psychometrics and advanced statistical modeling (SEM, multivariate statistics).

Experience in mentoring and supervising Indigenous psychology students at various academic levels.

A solid understanding of the mental health challenges and solutions for Aboriginal communities, particularly in suicide prevention and wellbeing.

Desirable Skills:

Registration with AHPRA as a psychologist.

Familiarity with the operations of a not-for-profit organization and the Aboriginal community-controlled sector.

Cultural competence and experience working within Aboriginal communities.

For full JDF or confidential discussion, contact Dr Jonathon Little, Research Manager through [email protected] or call (08) 62443399