The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of Australia’s leading public healthcare providers.

Join the team. Build a career. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join The Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Academic Lead – Integrated Open Dialogue

The Royal Melbourne Hospital Mental Health Services (RMH MHS)

• Lead translational research in a flagship mental health reform initiative
• Work in partnership with the University of Melbourne and the Collaborative Centre
• Be part of a progressive, recovery-oriented mental health service

About RMH MHS and the team:

The Royal Melbourne Hospital Mental Health Services provides person-centred, recovery-oriented care across community and hospital settings.

We support adults and older adults experiencing, or at risk of, serious mental illness through

• Trauma-informed, holistic and evidence-based care

• Strong inclusion of families, carers and kin
• A highly skilled multidisciplinary workforce, including LLE expertise

This role will play a key leadership function in the evaluation of the Integrated Open Dialogue pilot, a key initiative under the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW).

You will lead translational research activities including study design, mixed-methods data collection and analysis, and knowledge translation. Working closely with senior academic partners, particularly the University of Melbourne, you will contribute to research that drives meaningful reform across the mental health sector.

This position works collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, including strong partnerships with Lived and Living Experience (LLE) consumers and carers, ensuring research is grounded, inclusive and impactful.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead research designand evaluation of the Integrated Open Dialogue pilot
• Undertake advanced mixed-methods data collection and statistical analysis, with support from a dedicated research assistant
• Drive knowledge translation, including reports and peer-reviewed publications
• Provide project leadership, including timelines, deliverables and research quality oversight
• Collaborate across RMH, the Collaborative Centre and academic partners
• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, including LLE workforce and external partners
• Contribute to ethics and governance submissions in line with national standards

About You

You are an experienced and collaborative researcher with a passion for translating evidence into real-world impact.

Essential:

• PhD in a relevant field
• Post-doctoral experience in mental health, population health or implementation science
• Strong expertise in research design and statistical analysis
• Experience with ethics and governance processes and knowledge of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023)
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and deliver high-quality outputs to deadline
• Excellent written communication skills, including peer reviewed and social science publications
• Strong stakeholder engagement and interpersonal skills
• High level proficiency in Microsoft Office and research tools
• Commitment to The Melbourne Way – putting people first, leading with kindness and achieving excellence together

Desirable:

• Experience in co-design methods with consumer and carer Lived Experience Disciplines
• Understanding of the public mental health system

Why Join RMH?

• Contribute to cutting-edge mental health reform and innovation
• Generous leave entitlements including 17.5% leave loading!
• Discounted fitness facility access with Fitness Passport!
• Earn up to $12,000 in tax free earnings with our salary packaging options!
• Access strong partnerships with leading organisations including the University of Melbourne
• Be part of a service that values research, lived experience and recovery-oriented care
• Ongoing opportunities for professional development and learning!

To view the full position description, click here.

Please note we will be shortlisting and arranging interviews as soon as possible and this advert may close early as a result - don't delay!

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Record Check and satisfactory Working With Children Check.

The RMH is committed to creating a culturally safe environment as a collective responsibility. We draw on our principles of self-determination, equity, accountability, and shared learning to create a culturally responsive health system that challenges how we strive for continuous quality improvement to meet the expectations of the communities and patients we serve.

RMH is a child safe organisation, committed to upholding the rights, safety, and wellbeing of children and young people in line with the Child Safe Standards.

As a leader in healthcare, we recognise the need to foster a culture of equity, inclusion, and belonging. We encourage people of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply, and will provide adjustments to support equitable participation.