Research Assistant in Agriculture (Identified Role – Indigenous)

• Do you want to learn while you earn?
• Gain a national certificate qualification and on the job experience.
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

Child safety

CSIRO is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our activities and programs. View our Child Safe Policy.

The opportunity

• Do you want to learn while you earn?
• Gain a national certificate qualification and on the job experience.
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation! 

CSIRO is looking for motivated and driven Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who want to gain a Nationally Accredited Qualification whilst undertaking on-the-job training.

The successful candidate will join the Cotton Breeding Group based in Myall Vale (Narrabri) and will assist the team with general field and greenhouse operations & maintenance, sampling experiments, processing samples, and sowing & harvesting cotton experiments. You will receive hands-on training under the supervision of an experienced and supportive team and be supported to undertake a Certificate III in Agriculture at Tocal College Paterson NSW, providing you with a great platform to gain both hands-on work experience and a nationally-recognised qualification. You will be required to attend six 1-week intensive school periods as part of the Certificate III in Agriculture program, with CSIRO funding the direct costs (enrolment, wage, travel, accommodation, etc). CSIRO’s cotton research is improving the sustainability, productivity, fibre quality and distinctiveness of the Australian cotton crop, from seed to shirt, through development of high-performing varieties, matching crop management strategies, improved post-harvest fibre processing technologies, and development of value-added co-products. Currently with 100 percent of Australian cotton grown from CSIRO varieties, we’re adding value at all levels of the Australian cotton industry, including molecular biology, plant breeding, crop management and post-harvest processing.If you are passionate about pushing your career in agriculture to new heights, and would enjoy working in a practical setting with a collaborative team, this would be a great role for you – so apply now!Please note that the successful candidate would be expected to commence by mid-to-late January 2025.

Your duties will include:

• Undertaking a Certificate III in Agriculture, which includes attending six 1-week intensive schools at Tocal College, Paterson NSW.
• Assisting with establishment and maintenance of field experiments.
• Ginning and processing machine and hand harvested cotton samples, and undertaking cotton fibre quality testing.
• Preparing seed for planting, including delinting, packaging and arranging according to plans.
• Operating machinery such as tractors to assist with planting, cultivation, fertiliser, spraying and harvesting.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary research team, to carry out tasks under limited direction in support of scientific research.

Location: Myall Vale and Narrabri, NSW (Gomeroi and Narrabri Country)Salary:  AU$59K + up to 15.4% superannuationTenure: Specified Term of 15 months; Full-timeReference: 96415

To be considered you will need:

• The ability to lift, bend, walk and undertake repetitive motions and the ability to undertake manual handling and operate equipment safely in accordance with Health and Safety Procedures.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary, regionally dispersed research team, and carry out tasks under the direction of Scientific Researchers.
• Willingness and ability to travel to remote sites at short notice during cotton planting and harvest.
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and an understanding of data collection.
• A current Australian driver’s licence.

For full details about this role please review the Position Description.

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship. The successful candidate will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.Due to the nature of the position, the successful candidate will also be required to undertake a pre-employment medical examination prior to commencement.

Flexible working arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work.

Diversity and inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish.

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia’s national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact.
CSIRO is committed to values-based leadership to inspire performance and unlock the potential of our people.
Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to apply

Please apply online, and provide a detailed cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role. Please note that we strongly encourage you to respond to each of the selection criteria in detail, and attach it to your cover letter as one document.

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