Posted: 19 November 2024
To increase awareness of the breadth of career pathways available across the health and medical research sector, BioMelbourne Network is kicking-off a one-year project to develop a central portal containing a suite of workforce resources, thanks to support from the Victorian Government.
Victoria is a leading force in medical research, comprising over 18 medical research institutes and 11 universities, in addition to more than 500 industry companies. The research sector employs over 30,000 people, including scientists, clinicians, and support staff, and is responsible for over 40 per cent of Australia’s research output in medical and health sciences.
However, despite the first-rate graduates emerging from Victorian universities and skills providers, the health and medical research sector faces workforce challenges and skill gaps, and the pathway for talent to transition from academia to industry remains stubborn. This project seeks to address the limited awareness of career pathways and opportunities – a well-known concern across the sector.
BioMelbourne Network will shortly be calling for members’ support to map Victorian medical research careers, including what skills, qualifications and experience are really needed when applying for roles.
Demonstrating the plethora of career opportunities available within the sector, these maps will include direct research roles, supporting roles such as clinical trials or lab technicians, and professional roles such as intellectual property and regulatory affairs specialists.
Career maps will be translated into interactive infographics, with the resources available on publicly-available pages on Wilam, the digital home for Australia’s life sciences sector. The project will also include an online community to support engagement, jobs and opportunities boards, and mentoring between members of the ecosystem.
Quote attributable to the Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll:
“Victoria is a world leader in medical research because of our dedicated and talented workforce.
“The Victorian Government is proud to support the BioMelbourne Network to deliver resources so more young people can think about a career in medical research, and to support the current workforce to understand career opportunities and pathways.
Media enquiries:
Claudia Loeber-Raab, Communications Manager, BioMelbourne Network
E: cloeber-raab@biomelbourne.org, M: +61 425 785 143
