Technical Assistant

Location: Bundoora

Salary: $56,271 to $72,262 Plus Superannuation

Position No: 020934

Please note: Due to Machinery of Government changes under Section 30 of the Public Administration Act (PAA), effective 1 January 2023, your employment will be with the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. Corporate Services, including payroll, will be provided by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions while a process for the formal transfer of staff in impacted areas is implemented.

The Veterinary Diagnostic Services and Plant Health Diagnostic Services (known as Crop Health Services) are part of the Microbial Sciences, Pests & Diseases unit within the Agriculture Victoria Research branch. The Diagnostic services are responsible for maintaining the capability to diagnose a range of veterinary and plant diseases, undertaking fee for service diagnostic testing, and responding to increased diagnostic workloads associated with high volume submissions and incursions. This service plays an important role in fulfilling DEECA's biosecurity obligations under the MOU with the Biosecurity and Agricultural Services branch and in support of maintaining market access.

The position of Technical Assistant – specimen reception, is located within the Microbiology team, Microbial Sciences, Pests and Diseases unit of Agriculture Victoria Research at AgriBio Bundoora. The position plays a key role in assisting in the delivery of diagnostic services for both plant diseases and animal diseases.

You will work in the Specimen Reception area located within the diagnostic laboratories at AgriBio, Bundoora. The main responsibilities of the position are to receive specimens and their associated accessions sheets for diagnostic testing (this includes specimens from both animal and plant sources, such as preserved tissues, plant samples and animal blood samples), assist with data entry of information about the diagnostic specimens received by the service into a computer based Laboratory Information Management System, answer phones in the specimen reception area, including answering or passing on queries from diagnostic specimen submitters to the relevant duty pathologists or other scientists working within the diagnostic services, and assist the diagnostic laboratories as required, including management of reagents and maintenance of equipment.

You may also be required to assist the veterinary pathologists during post-mortem examinations of animals, cleaning and maintenance of the post-mortem room.

This is a fixed term position available for a period of 3 years with a work location of Bundoora.

To be considered for this position, applicants should respond to the key selection criteria and submit a resume.

For further information please refer to the attached position description.

Applications close at midnight on Monday, 2 October 2023.

Other relevant information:

Preferred candidates will be required to undertake pre-employment screening, including a Declaration and Consent form and a National Police Check.  

To be eligible for appointment to this role, applicants will possess corresponding work rights for the advertised employment period. Appointment to an ongoing position is only available to an Australian/New Zealand citizen or an Australian Permanent Resident.  

A Diverse, Inclusive and Flexible Workplace

DEECA welcomes applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds and we focus on the essential requirements of the job and being consistent and fair in our treatment of all applicants. We also understand that a balanced life is important to our employees. Talk to us about our flexible options such as working some days from home, starting early or late, working part time, job sharing or accessing paid or unpaid leave.

For further information including the position description, key selection criteria and to apply visit www.careers.vic.gov.au