The VCCC Alliance is once again offering unique and highly sought-after internship opportunities for enthusiastic science/health graduates who are looking to build a career in clinical trials. Running successfully since 2019, this 40-week program provides successful applicants with the opportunity to learn and gain valuable skills and practical experience in cancer clinical trials at various participating regional sites across Victoria, commencing Monday 7 February 2022.
Both regional and metropolitan placements are available through this program and are advertised separately. This opportunity refers to regional placements for scientific honours or master’s graduates, open to applicants living locally or applicants willing to relocate for the duration of the placement.
Regions are likely to include Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Wangaratta. A stipend to cover living expenses will be provided, as detailed below. Support may also be available for relocation for those living outside of the site location, dependent on future grant funding, however, applicants must be prepared to relocate for the opportunity in the event funding is not available.
This internship opportunity is part of the VCCC Alliance’s SKILLED Internship Program, located in Victorian-based cancer clinical trial units. While the metro and regional core Clinical Trials Assistant training curriculum has the same learning objectives, the regional program has the advantage of offering the added learning experience that can be gained when immersed in a smaller, hands-on regional team environment.
Through the internship program, the VCCC Alliance is committed to developing a highly-skilled clinical trial workforce with the aim of expanding clinical trial activity, access and patient participation in cancer clinical trials across Victoria. The program aims to develop successful applicant interns into job-ready Clinical Trial Assistants at the conclusion of the 40-week program.
This opportunity is suitable for science/health graduates interested in gaining the requisite knowledge and skills to become a Clinical Trials Assistant and contribute to the cancer clinical trials workforce, while simultaneously gaining general experience in the health research sector.
As an Intern, you will participate in a structured learning program 5 days per week with onsite supervision at a regional clinical trial unit. You will be provided with comprehensive training and expert mentoring while completing practical, real-world tasks to develop the skills that are designed to competitively position you for an ongoing role in the sector as a Clinical Trials Assistant.
During the internship, you will learn how the Clinical Trial Assistant role assists in providing administrative and clerical support to ensure effective and efficient team operations. In conjunction with team members the Clinical Trial Assistant intern will; assist in maintaining appropriate regulatory documents and ensuring regulatory compliance in the conduct of clinical trials; act as the main conjugate between clinical trial sponsors, and learn the importance of this role during their internship.
Training will include the development of core clinical trial knowledge, skills and experience in the areas of:
Specifically, the role will undertake a process improvement project in consultation with the host site team. The Intern will monitor a clinical trial process, identify areas for improvement and implement and report on the ‘process improvement’ activity.
As a part of the SKILLED Clinical Trial Assistant Internship Program, Interns are provided a stipend to contribute towards the cost of living expenses. For regionally placed interns, costs associated with attendance at the 2-week Melbourne-based training at the start of the program will be reimbursed for additional expenses by the VCCC Alliance.
For those who may wish to relocate for a regional placement, there may also be an opportunity to apply for financial support towards relocation expenses, however, applicants must be prepared to fund themselves if necessary. The expertise of the successful candidate will be aligned to match the requirements of the site and cohort.
Applications to be addressed to Ms. Chris Packer, Manager, SKILLED Internship Program, closing at midnight Sunday 5 September 2021.
Applicants must be available to commit to the placement site for the duration of the internship.
Applications must be made via SEEK and include a resume and cover letter clearly addressing the key selection criteria and indicating the region(s) you are willing to attend for the duration of the placement (Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat, Wangaratta). Applications without these inclusions will not be progressed. Interviews will be scheduled for mid to late September 2021 and will be conducted remotely via Zoom.
Further Information
Please take the time to read more about the internship in this Applicant Information document.
If you have any queries, please email Rachel Barrett, Internship Program Coordinator [email protected] (Please do not send your application to this email. All applications must be made via SEEK)
The VCCC Alliance was established in 2009 and is a powerful alliance of ten successful Victorian organisations committed to cancer control: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne Health (including The Royal Melbourne Hospital), the University of Melbourne, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Western Health, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (including St Vincent's Institute), Austin Health (including the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute and Austin Lifesciences) and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
The SKILLED internship program involves not only members of the alliance but also other metropolitan and regional clinical trial units across Victoria.
Hear directly from a host site, the Royal Children’s Hospital, about the previous SKILLED internship program:
and Lisa Bell, previous intern:
The VCCC Alliance is committed to equal opportunity and the benefits to be gained from an inclusive and diverse environment. We are therefore committed to ensuring our recruitment and selection processes are based on merit and the requirements of the internship, free from all forms of unlawful discrimination.
The SKILLED Clinical Trials Internships program is part of the MTPConnect Researcher Exchange and Development within Industry (REDI) initiative funded through the Australian Government's Medical Research Future Fund.
