Research Associate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Position Details 

• Fixed Term until 31-01-2028 | Full time

• Academic Level A I $90930- $110197 pa| 17% Superannuation

• Location: Bedford Park / Kaurna Country

• View Position Description  

About the position

Flinders University is seeking a Research Associate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health to contribute to innovative, high-impact research aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of children, adolescents and their families.

Working under the direction of the Little Heroes Professor of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, this role will support the design, delivery and translation of several research projects within the child and adolescent mental health research program. The successful candidate will join a collaborative and multidisciplinary team committed to generating evidence that informs policy, practice and improved outcomes for young people.

In this position, you will:

• Contribute to innovative qualitative and quantitative research projects in child and adolescent mental health.

• Support research delivery including grant development, ethics, data collection, analysis and dissemination.

• Collaborate with young people, families, health services and community partners to co-design impactful research.

• Contribute to research outputs, presentations and the supervision and mentoring of students.

About You

You are an emerging researcher with a passion for improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. You thrive in collaborative environments and have demonstrated experience contributing to high-quality research programs.

You will bring:

• A PhD (or equivalent) in child and adolescent mental health, psychology, education, public health or a related field.

• Demonstrated research experience, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations in child and/or adolescent mental health.

• Experience in quantitative research design and methodologies involving children and/or adolescents.

• Emerging research interests in digital technologies, including smartphone applications, artificial intelligence or other innovative approaches to supporting mental health.

• Experience supervising or supporting research students (desirable).

• Experience working with young people, families or health service partners in research settings (desirable).

About the Child and Adolescence Mental Health Research Team:

Established through a partnership between Little Heroes Foundation, Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation and Flinders University, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Research Team within the Flinders University Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing delivers impactful research focused on improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. The team works collaboratively with researchers, clinicians and service providers to advance evidence-based approaches across prevention, early intervention and treatment, translating research into meaningful outcomes for young people and their families.

Life at Flinders 

They say know your place.  We say you've found it right here.

Flinders University was founded on the belief that learning should open minds, celebrate individuality and give people the freedom to pursue their own point of view. That spirit lives on in our community of thinkers, doers and changemakers who challenge convention, and each other, to shape what comes next.

Reaching beyond the limits of buildings, borders, and backgrounds, ours is an inclusive culture that believes absolutely in equality and opportunity for all. We don't just accommodate differences; we embrace and celebrate them. So, why work at Flinders?

• Generous 17% Superannuation + salary packaging options

• Wide range of professional development activities and services, including exclusive staff study offers 

• Ranked in the top 2% of universities worldwide for research, where ninety per cent of Flinders research has been ranked at ‘world standard or above’ by Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

• We embrace diversity and promote equity and inclusion for all students and staff, as shown through our three SAGE Cygnet Awards

• Awarded the AHEIA Higher Education Award for Workplace Culture Excellence due to our commitment to wellbeing through our Thriving@Flinders staff wellbeing program

• Vibrant campus life and amenities including on campus health care services, gym and childcare centre(Bedford Park, South Australia)

Our Commitment to Reconciliation and Indigenous Employment 

Flinders University is proud to be an organisation that is committed to our Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Workforce Strategy. Our vision is to be a preferred employer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  We are committed to progressing Indigenous advancement in education, research, employment, and wellbeing, and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for all Flinders vacancies. 

• Please see here for our Reconciliation Action Plan  

• Please see here for our Indigenous Workforce Strategy 

Prescribed Conditions for Employment

• A current Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check which is satisfactory to the University will be required by Flinders University before the successful applicant can commence in this position. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. Each case will be assessed on its individual merits and relevance to the inherent requirements of the role.

•  In addition, it is a requirement of this position that the incumbent maintain a current Working With Children Check which is satisfactory to the University in accordance with the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA).

How to Apply and Information 

• You are required to submit a CV, along with a Suitability Statement of no more than 3 pages, addressing the below Key Position Capabilities of the position description

• For more information regarding this position, please contact Professor Bridianne O'Dea

Certification

Applications to be submitted before 10.00pm:

02 Aug 2026

At Flinders we embrace and celebrate diversity and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

Flinders. Fearless.