Allied Health Innovation Fellow (Research)

About the Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health (VCAAH) 

The Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health (VCAAH) was established between the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) and the then-Department of Health and Human Services alongside the under the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Enterprise Agreement (2021-2026). Commencing operations in 2026, VCAAH is a first-of-its-kind initiative, funded by the Victorian Government and proudly hosted by Monash Health. 

At VCAAH, we believe allied health makes lives well lived possible. Every day, allied health professionals help people learn, recover, participate, adapt and thrive through some of life's most important moments. 

Our purpose is to strengthen Victoria's allied health workforce by bringing together people, ideas, evidence and partnerships to tackle shared challenges and create opportunities for the future. Working across all 27 allied health professions recognised by the Victorian Department of Health, we help the sector understand itself more clearly, innovate collectively and build the conditions for allied health professionals to thrive throughout their careers.

Working at VCAAH is a little different.

Join the Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health (VCAAH) as an Allied Health Innovation Fellow (Research) on a 0.6 EFT, on a 12 month fixed-term basis.

This is not a traditional academic research role.

We're seeking an experienced researcher who can independently undertake complex health services and workforce research that helps Victoria's allied health sector understand itself more clearly, learn together and create practical solutions to shared challenges.

This role requires strong quantitative research capability. You'll be comfortable designing studies, developing surveys, analysing complex datasets, applying statistical methods and translating evidence into practical recommendations that influence decision-making beyond a single organisation or profession. Candidates with mixed-methods expertise are strongly encouraged to apply. Experience in workforce research, health services research, epidemiology, health economics or related disciplines will be highly regarded.

Based at Monash Health's Kingston Centre in Heatherton, with hybrid working arrangements available within Victoria, you'll work across health services, universities, government and professional bodies to generate evidence and drive meaningful sector-wide impact.

We're a small team with a big remit.

The Victorian Centre for Advancement in Allied Health was established to strengthen Victoria's allied health workforce by bringing together people, ideas, evidence and partnerships to tackle shared challenges and create opportunities for the future.

At VCAAH, we believe meaningful change happens when evidence, diverse perspectives and strong partnerships come together. We ask big questions, challenge assumptions respectfully and are comfortable working in complexity when the work matters.

We are interested in research that informs action.

Success is not measured solely by what we produce, but by the value we create, the capability we build and the impact we leave behind.

The work we do matters. So does how we do it.

Our work is guided by four ways of working:

Listen Deeply to See Clearly

We seek diverse perspectives, use evidence to inform our thinking and help turn insight into action.

Operate at the System Level

We recognise workforce challenges are interconnected and work across boundaries to create meaningful impact.

Embedded in the Sector

We stay connected to the experiences, strengths and realities of allied health professionals and services.

Act for the Future

We balance responding to today's challenges with building capability and creating opportunities for tomorrow.

A rare opportunity

Few research positions provide the opportunity to influence an entire workforce. This role sits beyond the boundaries of a single profession, service, university or research program. You'll collaborate with clinicians, executives, researchers, policy makers, educators and sector partners from across Victoria to explore workforce challenges, generate evidence and contribute to practical solutions.

For researchers looking to apply their expertise at a statewide level and create tangible impact through evidence-informed change, opportunities like this are rare.

The role

As an Allied Health Innovation Fellow (Research), you will independently lead complex research, evaluation and workforce improvement initiatives that strengthen the allied health workforce across Victoria.

You will:

• Lead quantitative and mixed-methods workforce and health services research.

• Design research studies, surveys, evaluations and evidence-generation activities.

• Analyse and interpret complex workforce, service and health system datasets.

• Apply statistical methods and quantitative analytical approaches to generate actionable insights.

• Synthesize and critically appraise evidence from diverse sources.

• Translate findings into recommendations, frameworks, tools, resources and practical action.

• Publish, present and communicate findings to diverse audiences.

• Build strategic partnerships across health services, universities, government and professional organisations.

• Provide specialist methodological expertise and contribute to statewide workforce, research and innovation initiatives.

• Support capability building through mentoring, coaching and knowledge sharing.

About You

You are an experienced researcher who is comfortable working autonomously and leading projects from conception through to dissemination.

You bring:

Essential

• A PhD (completed or soon to complete), or equivalent higher research qualification.

• Demonstrated experience independently leading quantitative or mixed-methods research projects.

• Advanced capability in research design, survey development, statistical analysis, evaluation and evidence synthesis.

• Experience using statistical software and quantitative analytical methods to analyse and interpret complex workforce, service or health system datasets.

• Strong health services, workforce, implementation, evaluation or system-level research expertise.

• Ability to translate evidence into practical recommendations, resources and actions that influence policy, practice or system improvement.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including reports, presentations and publications.

• Ability to build productive partnerships across research, clinical, leadership and policy environments.

• Curiosity, creativity and the ability to approach complex challenges with intellectual rigour.

Highly desirable

• Allied health or health workforce analytics research experience.

• Health economics expertise.

• Epidemiology training or experience.

• Experience with large administrative, workforce or population-level datasets.

• Peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations or competitive research activity.

• Innovative approaches to knowledge mobilisation and science communication.

• Experience mentoring or supporting others in research and evaluation activities.

The ideal candidate

The strongest applicants are likely to be:

• clinician-researchers seeking broader system influence;

• health services researchers interested in workforce innovation;

• workforce researchers and analysts;

• epidemiologists or health economists with a workforce interest; or

• researchers wanting to apply their expertise to practical sector-wide challenges rather than a single research program or organisation.

If you've read this and can see yourself contributing to VCAAH, but you're not sure where your experience fits, we welcome you to reach out for confidential discussion to Caitlin Barr, on 0475 785 617 or Caitlin.Barr@vcaah.org 

Position Description can be found here: Grade 4 PD

Monash Health Culture and Values 

At Monash Health, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our culture is inclusive, supportive and future-focused, underpinned by clear values and a commitment to continuous improvement. 

Our teams play a critical role in bringing our new strategy to life, challenging traditional approaches, embracing innovation, and ensuring every appointment reflects our commitment to equity, transparency and excellence. 

You’ll be encouraged to share ideas, contribute to improvement initiatives, and grow alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about what they do. 

We are Full Hearted, Open Minded and All In, enabling excellent service delivery and a positive candidate and employee experience every time. 

We recognise the value of equal employment opportunity. We are committed to patient safety, promoting fairness, equity and diversity in the workplace and to Child Safe Standards.  

How to Apply

Applications are accepted via the Monash Health online EHub system. For information including how to apply and probity check requirements, please click here for the ‘Application Guide’

Applications will be screened upon receipt and selection activity may commence prior to the closing date. 

Applications close: 12 October 2026