Clinical trials provide a vital link between scientific discovery and effective new therapies. With better funding, awareness, and access, the clinical trials sector in Australia is growing and provides exciting career opportunities for recent graduates.
In 2019, the VCCC, with the Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit (PCCTU) introduced a clinical trials pipeline to train motivated and talented scientists to immediately step into key roles as Clinical Trial Assistants and Study Coordinators. Graduates of the internship program are highly sought-after in the clinical trial sector in Victoria.
Applications are open now for the program to commence in February 2021.
Post-doctoral researcher Deevina Arasaratnam and PhD student Jasmine Mikovic undertook the program during 2020 and have secured fulltime roles in clinical trial units as a result.
Deevina is at Parkville Cancer Clinical Trial Unit (PCCTU). Before joining the program, she had completed a post-doctoral fellowship at McGill University in Quebec, Canada, and was at a crossroads of continuing a career in academia or making a move to industry. She was drawn to the SKILLED program because it offered the option of combining scientific research and clinical involvement.
“The SKILLED program has helped me to apply my scientific knowledge and skills to bridge the gap between basic laboratory research and translational medicine. While we are constantly evolving our knowledge about the biology of health and illness, it is equally important that we learn how to harness these scientific advances in clinical settings.”
"It is equally important that we learn how to harness these scientific advances in clinical settings."
The program places interns into a clinical trials environment but ensures additional training over and above their day-to-day learning.
“All the extra training gave me the confidence to perform tasks independently and know that I was completing the job well, says Jasmine Mikovic. “The access to educational resources ensured that I was continually upskilling at an advanced rate, making me competitive for jobs by the end of the internship. I have a much better appreciation of, and competency in managing essential documents, appropriately recording and storing source information, protecting patient privacy and dignity, and conducting research with integrity.
“My placement at Ballarat Health Services (BHS) has resulted in friendships and alliances with people from multidisciplinary backgrounds. I have been welcomed with open arms at my site and gained practical skills in line with the competency framework of the program.”
"I have been welcomed with open arms at my site and gained practical skills in line with the competency framework of the program.”
The 40-week internships are suitable for candidates interested in gaining the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute to the clinical trials workforce. Interns will be provided with a comprehensive training program and expert mentoring to competitively position them for an ongoing role in the field.
Don’t miss out. Applications for internships close Wednesday 14 October 2020 at 5.00pm. Full details can be found on our Opportunities page.
Image: SKILLED Study Coordinator Interns 2020
