More clinical trialists will be entering the Victorian workforce, building capacity and capability of the sector, with a further two years’ funding received from the Department of Health, on behalf of the Victorian Government. This will enable more patients across Victoria to access clinical trials.
The VCCC Alliance SKILLED Clinical Trial Internship Program (SKILLED) is the first of its kind in Australia. The program is a competency-based training and supervised industry placement specifically designed to build role-specific clinical trial knowledge, experience, drive skills development and workforce training for the future. SKILLED significantly contributes to an industry-ready workforce, equipping interns with the skills necessary to keep pace with the rapidly changing sector.
Established in 2019, in collaboration with Parkville Cancer Clinical Trials Unit and other partners in the sector, the program addresses a critical shortage in clinical trial staff, particularly in regional areas, and creates effective pathways for scientists to enter the clinical trials sector.
“We’re extremely grateful that SKILLED has received this new funding,” said VCCC Alliance Chief Executive Officer, Prof Grant McArthur AO. “This will enable the program to build on the impact achieved over the past five years.”
Over 100 interns have graduated from SKILLED since it started. More importantly, almost 90 per cent were retained in the program and offered employment in the sector at the completion of their internship. Of these, 40 per cent were trained in regional Victoria, and 67 per cent employed in the regions upon completion of the program.
“Host sites gained a significant return on their time and financial investment, welcoming highly trained, competent clinical trial professionals into their workforce. It is important particularly for regional cancer patients to have access to clinical trials closer to home,” said SKILLED Senior Manager Chris Packer.
Nicole Humphreys, an intern supervisor at Northeast Health Wangaratta (NEHW) said, “The impacts to our unit since becoming involved in the program in 2020 have been significant and have formed a critical component of our operational planning. SKILLED has definitely contributed to our growth – both in quantity of trials and the acceleration of our progress as a new clinical trial unit.”
“My success in gaining employment was 100 per cent because of the internship, and all the support I received from the SKILLED program and my host site,” said Juliana Muller Barks, 2023 Study Coordinator intern.
In February this year, SKILLED enrolled 22 interns as Clinical Trial Administration Officers and Study Coordinators into the program. Eight of these placements were in regional Victoria. Clinical Trial Administrative Officers will give their final project presentations on Friday (July 12) at a graduation ceremony.
Read more about the SKILLED internship program and the different pathways it has to offer.
