MQ The Shepherd Centre Research Fellow in Hearing Health Services Evaluation

About the role

This project is a collaboration between the Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre and The Shepherd Centre-a world-leading not-for-profit providing specialised programs for children with hearing loss and their families. Together, we will conduct an Australian-first life-course study of children who received listening and spoken language (LSL) early intervention, moving the field beyond short-term childhood outcomes to robust, policy-relevant evidence about adult education, psychosocial functioning, workforce participation and lifetime economic returns. The Shepherd Centre is uniquely placed for this study given its fifty-year history in paediatric hearing loss research and practice, its national and international networks providing access to a significant cohort, and its support of over 900 families across eastern Australia. The Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre generates knowledge that reshapes hearing health policy and practice on a national and global scale. The resulting evidence will be translated directly into clinical routines and practice. This collaboration will advance hearing loss research by conducting an Australian-first life course study of children who received listening and spoken language early intervention over a 20-year period. This study will move the field from "short-term/early childhood outcomes" to robust, policy-relevant evidence about adult education, psychosocial functioning, workforce participation and lifetime economic returns. The resulting new evidence will be translated and implemented into clinical routine, practice. Your key responsibilities include: Make independent and original contribution to the research project Report and provide regular updates to the Director, Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre, and the CEO, The Shepherd Centre Conduct research and project management in accordance with relevant Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre and The Shepherd Centre policies, procedures and requirements Ensure efficient collaboration and communication between all project partners Coordinate and draft ethics applications and amendments; ensure compliance with ethics, privacy and data governance requirements. Support data collection and help to inform data analytical approaches for this study Consistently publish findings in high-impact publications and policy briefs and provide strong pilot data to support external funding applications such as to the NHMRC Investigator and/or Partnership Grant schemes, ARC Linkage Projects, and other external competitive schemes. Secure sustained funding beyond the initial investment, ensuring continuity of the Research Fellow and project delivery. Engage with Industry, Governments and Policy Agencies such as the Department of Health, Disability and Aged Care, and state/territory Education Departments. Implement this 3-year project with staged cohorts, to demonstrate feasibility and outcomes before expanding cohort size and contributing organisations. The role takes direction on conducting the study from both Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre and The Shepherd Centre jointly, however the role is solely employed by Macquarie University Hearing Research Centre, who remains responsible for all employment related obligations, processes and matters. About You The ideal candidate is an emerging or mid-career research fellow with strong expertise in longitudinal cohort studies, hearing health, disability, public health, epidemiology, rehabilitation, and/or allied health research, and a demonstrated capacity to lead complex, translational research programs. The successful applicant will have a strong track record in high-impact publications, competitive grant development, and translating research into policy and practice, alongside the ability to work independently, coordinate large-scale partnerships, and contribute strategically to the growth and sustainability of an Australian-first life-course research program. Macquarie University Hearing is a pan-university initiative and community that aims to be a world-leading research centre in hearing health. Using a multidisciplinary and community-engaged approach, the Centre solves major hearing health problems and translates findings into measurable and impactful change on a national and global scale. The Shepherd Centre is a world-leading not-for-profit organisation providing specialised programs for children with hearing loss and their families. Currently supporting over 900 families across eastern Australia, The Shepherd Centre has delivered impactful re