The Australian BioResources Facility, owned and operated by the Garvan, breeds high-quality laboratory mice for Garvan’s medical research programmes. This facility, based in Moss Vale in the Southern Highlands, uses advanced technology to provide an optimal environment for the production of high-quality animals for medical research.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Animal Technician is a support role and the primary function is to provide for the care and maintenance of animals used in medical research and to indirectly support research staff involved in animal research.

The principal responsibilities of this position involve the breeding, maintenance and care of inbred and genetically modified mouse colonies within a cleanroom environment. The animal technician role is a physical role and does require standing for up to 2.5 hours at a time and keeping moving through the whole work day (7.6 hours)

This position adds value to the Garvan Institute by providing animal care services, to allow research staff to focus on scientific research outcomes. Effective and breakthrough scientific outcomes ultimately result in further funding success for Garvan's ultimate goal in prevention and treatment of disease.

Salary: Up to $62,100 + 12% super + salary packaging (depending on experience)

Employment Type: Permanent full-time

SNAPSHOT OF BENEFITS

Generous salary packaging to save you income tax on your wages thereby boosting your monthly take home pay (max. $15,900 general expenses + $2,650 meals/accom)

Ample opportunities for on-going training and development

Stimulating, diverse and highly international research environment

Flexible work arrangements e.g. start / finish times

18 weeks paid parental leave for both parents including paid superannuation

A range of additional leave types to meet your personal needs including cultural leave, conference leave, community service and study leave

Discounted Health Insurance

Lifestyle discounts with our community partners

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Management of animal husbandry within a delegated area, duties include:

Adhere to Garvan’s Animal Ethics Monitoring Standards

Daily assessment and changing of animal cages (up to 350 cages within a day)

Routine cleaning to ensure required hygiene of animal rooms as per instructions and protocol requirements

Monitor and refill water and feed as per instructions and protocol requirements

Monitor animals and diligently report health or behavioural abnormalities to more senior animal care staff

Adhere to strict monitoring, welfare and husbandry procedures, checklists and ethical standards for the care of animals

Administrative responsibilities such as animal dispatch, animal arrivals, data entry regarding breeding, welfare, etc.

Weigh and administer medication to animals when requested by senior ABR staff and/or researchers. Follow instructions for the dilutions of drugs and chemicals.

Carry out basic manipulation techniques under supervision of senior trained staff, such as, injections, bleeding techniques, euthanasia, post mortems, administration of anaesthesia, minor surgery

Routine use and maintenance of equipment, such as anaesthetic machine, tail tattooing machine, balances, animal change station/biosafety cabinet, computer station and associated IT equipment

Actively communicate with and support ABR/BTF team members in a positive and helpful manner in order to maintain the welfare and ethical monitoring standards of the animals in your care

Maintain up to date skills and knowledge of ethical, monitoring policies, protocols and checklists

Strictly maintain confidentially and protection of Garvan’s research and operational procedures

Participate in ongoing professional development and training

Attend and proactively participate in team meetings

Be available to participate in shifts and work rosters covering weekends and public holidays

ABOUT YOU

The key skills and experience include:

Relevant TAFE qualifications in animal technology or equivalent is preferred. For Senior Animal Technicians this is essential, along with successful completion of the ABR Breeding SOP Test.

Possess a strong commitment to animal welfare and care

General experience in handling rodents

Basic knowledge of the husbandry, housing and breeding requirements of lab animals

Possess basic manipulation skills (i.e. injection technique, euthanasia) or ability to learn

Excellent attention to detail and observational skills

Strong customer focus and commitment to quality

Good verbal and written communication skills

Reliability, patience and must be trustworthy

The ability to work individually or as a member of a group

Ability to organise own time - be able to schedule tasks using a work diary

A professional and caring approach

Ability and motivation to develop new skills and learn new procedures

ABOUT GARVAN

Garvan Institute of Medical Research is an independent Medical Research Institute (MRI) in Sydney, delivering scientific and clinical impact on a global basis and in partnership with organisations that share our vision. We are proud to be one of Australia’s largest and most highly regarded MRI’s.

Our vision is global leadership in discoveries to impact and our enduring purpose is to impact human health, by harnessing information encoded in our genome.

We seek to see our world-class discovery research achieve life-changing impacts, not only for individual patients with rare diseases, but for the many thousands affected by complex, common disease.

Garvan promotes a diverse workplace and is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging. We are always looking for culture ‘add’, not culture ‘fit’ and are building diverse teams with great sets of complementary styles and skills to help deliver our important work effectively.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this position, please submit your application with a CV and cover letter as one document, stating why you are interested in this role. We are reviewing applications as they are received. If you think you’re the right person for this role, we’d love to hear how your capabilities, achievements and experience set you apart. Only applicants with full working rights in Australia are eligible to apply for this role.