The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Limited (AHCSA) is the peak body representing Aboriginal community-controlled health and substance misuse services in South Australia at state and national levels.

Our primary role is to be the ‘health voice’ for all Aboriginal people in South Australia. We achieve this by advocating for the community and supporting workers through our Member Services with appropriate Aboriginal health programs based on a holistic perspective of health.

Broad Purpose of the Role

The AHREC (Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee) Secretariat is responsible for fulfilling the Executive Officer role for the Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC), ensuring the highest standards of scientific rigor, ethical compliance, and cultural safety in research involving Aboriginal communities in South Australia.

This position oversees the day-to-day operations of AHREC, ensuring the committee functions effectively and efficiently. It provides essential support for AHREC’s ethical review process and offers administrative leadership in coordinating research submissions, committee outcomes, reporting, and communications.

The AHREC Secretariat is also responsible for providing general leadership in research and ethics, supporting Member Services and AHCSA staff with research matters, building and maintaining proactive partnerships with key stakeholders, offering expert guidance to ensure adherence to ethical standards in research involving Aboriginal communities, and promoting and supporting rigorous research and knowledge translation that benefits Aboriginal communities.

The position supports the development of AHCSA’s research strategy and its impactful implementation to ensure that studies in South Australia and nationally are implemented in a community-centred, beneficial and feasible manner in line with the requisite Aboriginal control and self-determination.

The AHREC Secretariat is accountable to and reports to the Manager, Research and Evidence. It works in close collaboration with other roles within the Research and Evidence team, all AHCSA staff, Member Services and external stakeholder organisations.

The position operates with a level of autonomy in providing secretariat support for AHREC, applying specialist knowledge and skills and adhering to program requirements and well-established policies, procedures, methods, and guidelines in its day-to-day work. The position uses initiative and professional judgment as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Partnerships: Providing leadership and building partnerships with key stakeholders to strengthen AHCSA’s role in research and ethics

AHREC Operations: Performing the day-to-day requirements of the AHREC Executive Officer function to support the effective functioning of AHREC

Research and Ethics Support and Advice: Assisting Member Services and external stakeholders with research and ethics matters

Promotion, Communication and Knowledge Translation: Promoting AHREC’s role and ensuring effective communication and translation of research findings to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal communities

Essential Experience

Experience in research, ethics review processes and knowledge translation of direct relevance to Aboriginal health and well-being.

Experience in academic, professional and governmental research management and evidence-based policy processes.

Extensive experience in preparing and presenting comprehensive reports, minutes and general correspondence.

Experience in dealing with and negotiating with people at high levels in government and non-government organisations.

Experience in the use of information technology-based systems, including word processing packages, electronic mail, databases and spread sheets.

Desirable Experience

Experience in working with Aboriginal people, organisations and communities.

Experience in conducting research, program evaluation, developmental work, system reviews or other research projects.

Degree in Public Heath, Health Sciences or Primary Health Care.

What we offer

The opportunity to join the peak body representing Aboriginal community-controlled health and substance misuse services in South Australia

A workplace that encourages work/life balance

An inclusive and diverse workplace

Great salary package and benefits

Generous leave provisions

Special Conditions

Out of normal hours work may be required.

Requires the ability to travel intra-state and interstate, including overnight absences.

National Police Certificate is required.

Working with Children Screening may be required.

Conditions of Employment

A valid National Police Certificate will be required before the successful applicant can commence in this position.

Please note that you may be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 vaccinations.

A valid Driver’s License is required

How to apply

Please apply via SEEK.

To be considered for the role you are required to submit a Resume and Suitability Statement of no more than 5 pages.

The Suitability Statement has to address the Statement of Key Responsibilities of the Job and Person Specification. Only applications that have addressed the Statement of Key Responsibilities will be considered.

Visit our webpage to find the Job and Person Specification under the Work With Us tab - https://ahcsa.org.au/work-with-us/current-opportunities/ or you can contact Julian Snook, Human Resources Manager for any other queries via [email protected].

Please note, late applications will not be accepted and no agencies please

Closing Date for applications: 30th May 2025

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply

This position may be filled prior to the closing date of the Advertisement.