The VCCC Alliance is once again offering a unique and highly sought-after internship opportunity at Northeast Health Wangaratta (NEHW) for an enthusiastic science graduate looking to build a career in clinical trials. This placement would be to work either as a Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA) requiring an Honours or Masters in a science degree, or for PhD applicants to work as a Study Coordinator (SC).
The internship orientation commences Monday 7 February, 2022 for Clinical Trial Assistants and Monday 28 February, 2022 for Study Coordinators. Both Clinical Trial Assistants and Study Coordinators complete a 38 week placement at NEHW following the two week orientation program at the VCCC Alliance in Melbourne or virtually at NEHW (pending COVID restrictions).
This opportunity refers to one remaining regional placement located at Northeast Health Wangaratta for EITHER a graduate with Honours or Master's degree in science, health care or other relevant discipline; OR a scientific PhD and post-doctoral graduate, open to applicants living locally or applicants willing to relocate to Wangaratta for the duration of the placement.
This opportunity is suitable for graduates interested in gaining the requisite knowledge and skills to contribute to the cancer clinical trials workforce, while simultaneously gaining general experience in the health research sector, as well as gaining valuable and in-demand regional health experience.
Regions are likely to include Geelong, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat and Wangaratta. A stipend to cover living expenses will be provided. 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 that funding is not available.
As part of the SKILLED Internship Program, Interns are provided a stipend to contribute towards cost of living expenses. For regionally placed interns, costs associated with attending the two-week Melbourne-based orientation will be reimbursed by the VCCC Alliance. For those who may need to relocate to NEHW there is an opportunity to apply for financial support towards relocation expenses.
Wangaratta is located less than three hours (254 km) from Melbourne and is surrounded by spectacular National Parks and picturesque surrounding towns including Glenrowan and the King Valley. Annual festivals such as the Jazz and Blues and La Dolce Vita Festivals feature in a growing tourist calendar.
This internship opportunity is part of the VCCC Alliance’ SKILLED Internship Program, located in Victorian-based cancer clinical trial units. While the metro and regional core intern training curriculum for both Clinical Trial Assistants and Study Coordinators 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 Practitioners (either as Clinical Trial Assistants or Study Coordinators) at the conclusion of the 40-week program. To date over 95% of graduates have successfully secured employment in the sector across metro and regional Victoria.
As an Intern, for both the CTA and SC programs you will participate in a structured learning program five days per week with onsite supervision at NEHW. You will be provided with comprehensive training and expert mentoring while completing practical, real-world tasks to develop your skills that are designed to competitively position you for an ongoing role in the sector as either a Clinical Trial Assistant or as a Clinical Trial Study Coordinator depending upon your qualifications.
As a Clinical Trial Assistant Intern your role will be to assist in providing administrative and clerical support. It is a key role in providing appropriate regulatory documents and ensuring regulatory compliance in clinical trials and acting as a liaison point, coordinating clinical trial sponsors.
As a Clinical Trial Study Coordinator Intern, you will assist with the coordination of clinical trials as part of the regional host site team to ensure that all clinical trials are managed according to the International Conference for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to ensure the safety and protection of trial participants and the integrity of trial data subsequently collected.
Training will include the development of core clinical trial knowledge, skills and experience in the areas of:
Activities are to be performed with the ongoing objective of supporting the regional host site’s strategic plan of achieving continued excellence in service provision by ensuring that evidence-based evaluation is the basis for clinical practice.
Specifically, during the second half of the internship, the Intern will implement a process improvement project in consultation with the host site unit. The intern will monitor a clinical trial process and identify areas for improvement and work with the host site to implement and report on a ‘process improvement’ activity.
For applicants seeking an internship as a Clinical Trial Assistant:
For applicants seeking an internship as a Study Coordinator:
And for both roles:
Clinical Trial Assistant applicants must be available to commence orientation at the VCCC Alliance, Melbourne CBD, on 7 February 2022 and complete the 38 week program.
Study Coordinator applicants must be available to commence two weeks orientation at the VCCC Alliance, Melbourne CBD, on 28 February 2022 and complete the 38 week onsite training at Northeast Health Wangaratta.
Applications to be addressed to Ms. Chris Packer, Manager, SKILLED Internship Program, closing at midnight Sunday 16 January 2022.
Applicants must be able to commit to being available for a placement with Northeast Health Wangaratta, following the two week orientation program for the duration of the internship.
Full vaccination (first and second dose) and permanent residency is required for this opportunity.
Applications must be made via SEEK and include a resume and cover letter clearly addressing the key selection criteria and confirming (1) Whether you are applying for a placement as a Clinical Trial Assistant or a Study Coordinator and (2) Confirming your commitment to relocate if recommended for a placement at Northeast Health Wangaratta.
Applications without this information will not be progressed. Interviews will be scheduled the week commencing 17 January 2022 and will be conducted remotely via Zoom.
Further Information
Please take the time to read more about the internships:
Study Coordinator Internship
Clinical Trial Assistant Internship
Please review this information prior to applying for the role and/or contacting us directly. If your question is not covered in the available information, please email Chris Packer, Manager, SKILLED Internship Program [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.
