The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance (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 24-week program provides successful applicants with the opportunity to learn and gain valuable skills and practical experience in clinical trials at various participating regional sites across Victoria, commencing Monday 13 February 2023.
Both regional and metropolitan placements are available through this program and are advertised separately. This opportunity refers to regional placements for scientific honours graduates and above, open to applicants living locally or applicants willing to relocate for the duration of the placement. (Please note: Masters graduates are also eligible to apply for the study coordinator internship). Applicants currently living outside metropolitan Melbourne must be prepared to relocate or travel at your own expense for this opportunity. Regions are likely to include Ballarat, Geelong, Shepparton, Traralgon and Wangaratta. A stipend to contribute towards living expenses will be provided and financial 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 clinical trial units. While the metro and regional core Clinical Trial 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 clinical trials across Victoria. The program aims to develop successful applicant interns into job-ready Clinical Trial Assistants at the conclusion of the 24-week program.
This opportunity is suitable for honours & above science/health graduates interested in gaining the requisite knowledge and skills to become a Clinical Trial Assistant and contribute to the clinical trial workforce.
As an Intern, you will participate in a structured learning program including onsite supervision at a regional clinical trial unit and required to attend placement 5 days per week. 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 a Clinical Trial Assistant.
During the internship, you will learn how the CTA role assists in providing administrative and clerical support to ensure effective and efficient team operations. In conjunction with team members and under supervision, the CTA intern will gain experience in, but not limited to the following tasks: assist in maintaining appropriate regulatory documents and ensuring regulatory compliance in the conduct of clinical trials; act as the main conduit 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 intern will undertake a process / quality improvement project in consultation with the host site. The Intern will monitor a clinical trial process, identify areas for improvement, and in cooperation with the host site, implement, report and present on the ‘improvement’ activity.
As a part of the SKILLED Clinical Trial Assistant Internship Program, interns are provided a stipend to contribute toward cost-of-living expenses. CTA Interns will be disbursed a stipend at scheduled time points over the 24-week program. For regionally placed interns, preapproved costs associated with attendance at Melbourne-based training will be reimbursed by the VCCC Alliance.
For those who relocate for a regional placement, there may also an opportunity to apply for financial support towards relocation expenses, however applicants must be prepared to fund themselves.
The successful candidates 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 9am Tuesday 4 October 2022.
Applicants must be available to commit to the placement site for the duration of the internship (24-weeks).
Applications must be made via SEEK and include a resume and cover letter clearly addressing the key selection criteria and indicating the region(s) they are willing to attend for the duration of the placement (e.g., Ballarat, Geelong, Shepparton, Traralgon and Wangaratta). Applications without these inclusions will not be progressed. Interviews will be scheduled for mid-late October 2022 and will be conducted either remotely via Zoom or in person depending on COVID-19 restrictions at the time. VCCC Alliance endeavour to review all applications submitted in a timely manner and communicate the outcome within a week of the closing date, or as soon after as possible. The SKILLED internship program receives a high volume of applications and appreciate your patience with scheduling interviews. Candidates recommended for interview will be provided a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to interview.
Further Applicant Information is available on the VCCC Alliance website:
FAQ document (available from Monday 19th September).
Virtual Q&A session. Attendance is not compulsory. We invite you to join via the below link if you have questions requiring clarification about the SKILLED Internship.
Hear directly from a host site here, the Royal Children’s Hospital, about the previous SKILLED internship program. and Lisa Bell, previous SC intern here.
Please review this information prior to contacting VCCC Alliance directly. If your question is not covered in the available information, please email Rachel Barrett, Internship Program Coordinator [email protected] (Please do not submit your application via this email. All applications must be made via SEEK).
Please note that due to internship funding requirements, only candidates who hold Australian Permanent Residency or Citizenship can be considered.
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre 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.
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.
The VCCC Alliance SKILLED internship program would like to acknowledge the program funding partners:
