Position Number: 0064533
Location: Parkville
Role type: Full-time; Continuing (Research Contingent)
Faculty: Business & Economics
Department/School: The Mabo Centre
Salary: Level B – $119,231 - $141,581 p.a. plus 17% super
- Work at the forefront of Indigenous rights and socio-economic development, with a focus on impactful, community-driven research.
- Be part of a pioneering centre driving impactful agreement-making and Indigenous empowerment.
- Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!
About the Role
The Research Fellow will play a pivotal role within the Mabo Centre, contributing to the advancement of Indigenous self-determination through research, training, and communication. A primary responsibility will be the management and enhancement of the Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements (ATNS) database, ensuring its ongoing development and expansion. The position involves conducting independent and collaborative research, supporting the Centre’s various initiatives, and engaging with stakeholders across multiple sectors. The Research Fellow will also contribute to high-quality publications, grant applications, and reports, while supervising legal interns and coordinating key research activities.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Managing and enhancing the ATNS database, coordinating junior research staff, and ensuring the technical functionality of the ATNS website.
- Conducting and coordinating research projects, including desktop research, literature reviews, data analysis, and survey/interview design, while preparing high-quality publications, funding applications, and progress reports.
- Contributing to and coordinating the Centre’s research, training, and communication activities, including the design and implementation of new projects and presentations at conferences and seminars.
- Supervising and mentoring legal interns, collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders, and managing confidential information to support successful research outcomes.
Who We Are Looking For
You are a proactive and collaborative team player, capable of working independently while supporting colleagues to achieve collective goals. With strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, you will demonstrate exceptional attention to detail and adaptability in a dynamic environment. Your excellent communication abilities allow you to engage with diverse stakeholders, translating complex research into accessible findings. You will bring a high level of integrity, managing confidential information with discretion, and a deep commitment to contributing meaningfully to the advancement of Indigenous self-determination and socio-economic development.
You also have:
- Relevant research qualifications in disciplines such as anthropology, legal studies, or law, or possessing equivalent professional experience.
- Demonstrated experience in conducting innovative research projects, ideally related to Indigenous communities, with skills in desktop research, data synthesis, and analysis.
- Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple researchers and stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes.
- A high level of competence in research publications, report writing, and website content, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly to various audiences.
For further information regarding responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the attached PD.
This role requires that the successful candidate must undergo and maintain an up-to-date Working with Children Check. This is essential to guarantee a secure environment for all individuals at the University. In the case the selected candidate doesn't have a valid Working with Children Check, they will be able to apply for the WWCC as part of the initial onboarding procedures.
Please note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This role requires current valid work rights for Australia.
Your New Team – The Mabo Centre
The Mabo Centre has been developed in partnership between the National Native Title Council and The University of Melbourne. The primary purpose of the Centre is to translate Native Title agreements, focussing on agreement-making on native title lands and waters, into vehicles of self-determination and enduring socio-economic benefits for First Nations landowners.
The Centre supports First Nations groups and corporations in proper and effective negotiation and execution of agreements that adhere to principles of self-determination and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and enable long-lasting socio-economic opportunities in local communities.
The Centre focuses on:
- Research: theoretical foundations of negotiated Indigenous agreements and reform
- Training: strengthening negotiating and agreement making skills for Traditional Owners
- Networked learning and knowledge exchange: socialising effective agreement making
- Acceleration: socio-economic development and Indigenous entrepreneurship
What We Offer You!
In addition, we offer the opportunity to be part of a vibrant community and enjoy a range of benefits, including generous leave provisions, salary packaging, health and well-being services and discounts on graduate courses. For more information, check out our benefits page!
About the University of Melbourne
We’re tightly connected with the community, both at home and abroad. We take pride in our people, who all contribute to our mission to benefit society through the transformative impact of education and research. Discover more via our website and stay connected with our stories and people on LinkedIn.
Be Yourself
The University of Melbourne values the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community and welcomes and celebrates diversity. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, parents, carers, people of all ages, abilities and genders, and people of diverse ethnicity, nationality and faith are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live. For more information please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.
We are dedicated to ensuring barrier free and inclusive practices to recruit the most talented candidates. If you require reasonable adjustments, please contact the employee listed on the first page of the Position Description found below, with an email containing your name and contact details for a confidential discussion. Please ensure your email is titled "Reasonable Adjustments Request".
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Applicants
We aspire to be the University of choice for Indigenous Australians, with unprecedented investment to attract, nurture and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff. Tangible support through a range of programs and initiatives will ensure that you personally succeed and flourish while at the University of Melbourne.
For further information, including our 2023-2027 Indigenous strategy please visit -https://about.unimelb.edu.au/reconciliation/murmuk-djerring
Join Us!
If you feel this role is right for you, please apply with the following documents:
- Resume
- Cover Letter outlining your interest and experience
Please note that you are not required to respond to the selection criteria in the Position Description.
Please ensure that you apply through the Apply Now button at the bottom of this advertisement. However, if you have any questions regarding the recruitment process, please feel free to contact Petra Newton-Rohoman via email at hr-careers@unimelb.edu.au, ensuring that you include the Position Number and the Job Title as the subject. Please do not share your application to this email address.
If you have any particular questions regarding the job please follow the details listed on the Position Description.
Position Description
