The Role

This role is dedicated to supporting the National Emergency Worker Support Service (NEWSS) through the provision of expert lived experience insights, engagement strategies, and cultural competence training. It aims to strengthen the development, research and evaluation, implementation, and uptake of mental health initiatives tailored to emergency service personnel across Australia. Working within the Work and Mental Health research team, the role will build and nurture strategic relationships with Emergency Service Organisations (ESOs) and other relevant stakeholders, enhance workplace mental health research and translational practice, and contribute to innovative solutions for mental health, wellbeing and suicide within active and retired Emergency Service Worker and volunteer populations.

Duties & Responsibilities
Lived Experience and Cultural Competency

• Provide expert lived experience-informed input to researchers, clinicians, and support staff to ensure services and resources are culturally competent and person-centred.
• Lead cultural competency training initiatives that reflect the realities and values of emergency service communities.
• Coordinate and chair Lived Experience Collaborative Working Group.
• Collaborate with the BDI-wide Lived Experience Engagement Program as appropriate, ensuring best practice delivery of the BDI Lived Experience Engagement Framework.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building

• Identify and initiate strategic engagement opportunities across ESOs nationally.
• Coordinate ongoing external stakeholder relationships and engagement with strategic partners.
• Leverage professional networks and leadership roles within the sector (e.g., first responder agencies, Frontline Mental Health Conference) to foster partnerships and cross-sector collaboration. 3. Resource Development and Review
• Review, refine, and co-design public-facing materials to ensure they are inclusive, accessible, and reflective of diverse emergency worker experiences.

Research

• Lead and support research projects within first responder populations (and their families)
• Undertake duties involved in successful completion of research including idea generation, ethics applications, manuscript, grant, and report writing, qualitative/quantitative analyses, recruitment, data collection, conducting of focus groups/interviews/workshops, presentation and dissemination of findings.

Collaborative Program Design and Feedback Loops

• Co-develop program content in collaboration with emergency workers, mental health professionals, and researchers.
• Design and facilitate structured feedback and engagement sessions (e.g. consultation workshops or roundtables) with key stakeholders to build trust, surface insights, and shape services that address real-world barriers to access and engagement.

Knowledge Translation and Implementation

• Ensure evidence-based mental health programs are embedded within ESO systems and practices through active implementation support, monitoring, and feedback.
• Drive the application of research findings into practical, scalable initiatives.
• Collaborate with Research Translation and Commercial Services directorate in improving digital and clinical care, service offerings, and new referral/care options.

Practice-Based and Participatory Research

• Lead or contribute to practice-based research initiatives using co-creation principles (co-ideation, co-design, co-implementation, co-evaluation).
• Champion early intervention, treatment, and help-seeking strategies grounded in lived experience and empirical evidence.

Work, Health and Safety

• Ensure self-compliance with all WHS legislation and BDI WHS Policy and Procedures.
• Report any WHS hazards and significant issues to Director, People & Culture, or delegate.
• Work In a safe manner, applying duty of care.

Note: the list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, and the Institute may change or request additional activities to meet the operational needs of the business.

Selection Criteria

Essential Criteria

1. Lived Experience Expertise – Demonstrated ability to integrate personal lived experience within first responder settings with research and clinical perspectives to drive empathetic and informed program design.
2. Research Expertise - A PhD in a related discipline, and/or relevant work experience
3. Applied Qualitative Research – Experience in research related to emergency services mental health, suicide prevention and postvention, resilience, and post-traumatic growth.
4. Innovative Leadership – Proven capacity to embed lived experience into research and service design processes, shifting systems towards co-designed, end-user-informed approaches.
5. Experience coordinating stakeholder groups and workshops
6. Sector Engagement – Strong existing networks and partnerships with ESOs and related organisations, researchers, clinicians, policy makers, and workplace mental health leaders. • Strategic Thinking – Ability to identify emerging opportunities and develop high-impact collaborations across research, clinical practice, and service delivery.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience in research grant and/or tender writing process
2. Valid driver’s licence
3. Capacity to travel
4. Experience in mental health intervention content design or development

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
We actively welcome applications from candidates of underrepresented backgrounds and recognise that not all candidates will have had equal opportunity to gain experience in the past. If you’re excited about this opportunity but feel you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply as your unique perspective and experiences matter.

How to Apply
To become a part of the Black Dog Institute team, follow the link to our careers site on ELMO and submit your most up to date resume and a detailed cover letter addressing the selection criteria for the role. f you are shortlisted for the role, we will call you and let you know you are successful. Please do not respond to any suspicious emails requesting you to upload your ID or personal details.  We are a 2022 Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every applicant.

Please note: All offers of employment are subject to background checks, which may include police checks, reference checks, and verification of qualifications, as relevant to the role’s requirements.