Waipapa Taumata Rau | The University of Auckland

The University of Auckland creates globally transformative impacts through our distinctive strengths in world leading research, scholarship, teaching and collaborative partnerships, inspired by our unique position in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific.

Our lecturers and health researchers are regarded as experts in their fields, frequently directing global research projects designed to better the lives of New Zealanders and the world, and in turn passing this knowledge on to our students.

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity

We seek to appoint a Research Fellow for a 2-year fixed term part-time (40%) role. The purpose of the role is to work within a multidisciplinary team on an HRC funded research project, Improving continence management for people with dementia in the community. Dementia is the largest single contributor to disability and need for care among older adults. Dementia is accompanied by a progressive decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with the performance of activities of daily living, including toileting. Caregivers rate the independent use of the toilet as the most important activity that they would like the person living with dementia to retain. However, there is no structured care pathway for continence care for older people living with dementia in the community, and the evidence to guide practice is limited. This project will investigate the extent of the challenge (prevalence of urinary and faecal incontinence for people living with dementia in the community), and the current practices of professionals, people living with dementia, caregivers, and whānau/family. We will identify promising strategies for promoting continence and managing incontinence and co-develop culturally appropriate guidelines and support materials intended to improve outcomes.

Reporting to the Professor Vanessa Burholt, this 0.4 FTE role is to lead the Auckland/Northland element on an HRC funded research project, Improving continence management for people with dementia in the community. The postholder will be part of a multidisciplinary team that is led from the School of Nursing. This role presents an opportunity to play a key role in the success of our research identifying promising strategies for promoting continence and managing incontinence and co-developing culturally appropriate guidelines and support materials intended to improve outcomes for people living with dementia and their supporters and whānau.

We offer a dynamic and friendly working environment. The role will suit a collaborative individual who has excellent communication skills as you will be working with older people living with dementia, their supporters, whānau and external stakeholders.

The role has two main focuses, (i) undertaking interviews with older people living with dementia and facing challenges associate with continence, and their supporters and whānau, and (ii) leading workshops with caregivers.

For more detailed information on the role accountabilities and requirements, please review the Position Description HERE.

The salary range for this role is $86,980 - $103,904 per annum depending on experience and qualifications. This is a 2-year fixed term part-time position (16 hours per week)

He kōrero mōu | About you

Our ideal candidate will hold a PhD with the ability to conduct qualitative research with prior experience in a research-focussed environment (e.g. post-graduate student, researcher, research advisor) in health or education, social sciences, psychology, or health services research. The candidate for this position should be comfortable undertaking research interviews with older people living with dementia and talking about continence issues, and should be able to produce high quality written work. We would like to recruit a strong communicator who has genuine desire to build relationships with people living with dementia and other important collaborators, and who has a proactive approach to problem solving, to lead the Auckland/Northland element of the research.

The following skills and experience will be beneficial, although there will be support provided by other staff to develop skillsets as required:

• Ability to communicate confidently and comfortably with older people (especially older people living with dementia) and families
• Ability to develop relationships with external organisations and charities
• Experience in qualitative research, especially the ability to collect interview and focus group data and undertake thematic analysis within NVivo
• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equity issues faced by Māori
• Proficient with MS Office
• Attention to detail
• Ideally, experience with prior publishing research in peer-reviewed journals

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou | What we offer

The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s leading university and maintains significant computational, laboratory and analytic facilities. Auckland itself is frequently rated as one of the world’s most liveable cities. 

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment through:

• Flexible employment practices (including working from home, flexible hours)
• Up to 6.75% company superannuation scheme
• A competitive salary with five weeks’ annual leave

In addition, we also offer career development programmes, discounted car parking, a generous parental leave allowance, childcare and a number of other discounts on internal and external services. 

For more information, please visit Staff Benefits.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications must be submitted online, by the closing date of 25/08/2022 Please include your cover letter and your CV highlighting how you can meet the skills and experiences detailed above.

Please reach out to Suhayl Mohammed Via [email protected] for more information. Please note, we are happy to answer your questions but we do not accept applications by email.

Equity

The University is committed to meeting its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and achieving equity outcomes for staff and students in a safe, inclusive and equitable environment.  For further information on services for Māori, Pacific, women, LGBTQITakatāpui+, people with disabilities, parenting support, flexible work and other equity issues go to www.equity.auckland.ac.nz