Research Officer

Documentary Australia and Screenrights Research Project, “The Value of Documentary in Australian Educational Settings: A Pilot Study”.

Reports to: Head of Impact and Evaluation at Documentary Australia.

Location: Sydney, however will consider remote/online working options.

Internal Relationships: Documentary Australia CEO, Head of Impact and Evaluation, Partnerships and Evaluation Coordinator.

External Relationships: Screenrights, project Reference Group, selected film teams, key education stakeholders.

Days and duration: 1-2 days a week from October 2025 (45 days in total)

Renumeration: $494 a day ($65/hour for 7.6 hour day) plus super

Role Purpose: Coordinate the implementation of the research project with support from the Head of Impact and Evaluation at Documentary Australia and the Project Advisory Group. This role will be responsible for filmmaker and educational sector engagement, managing data collection, and contributing to data analysis and reporting.

Position summary:

Filmmaker and education sector engagement (~8 days): Documentary Australia will conduct the initial documentary project invitations and provide an outline of what will be involved in the research project. The Researcher will be responsible for coordinating participating documentary project contributions, including collecting project data. They will engage with teachers and schools as a first point of contact and manage the invitations and data collection from key stakeholders in educational settings.

Data collection (~22 days): The methodology will be finalised following a literature review and consultation with film teams and educators. The Researcher will contribute to the research design and be responsible for collecting data from the film teams, educators and students via targeted interviews and other methods to be determined.  The Researcher will also contribute to data collection to inform a series of deep dive case studies.

Data analysis and reporting (~15 days): While the focus of the Researcher role will be to collect project data, this role will also be responsible for transcribing all interviews, conducting aspects of data analysis and supporting early reporting in collaboration with the Head of Impact and Evaluation.

Ad hoc support: This role may undertake other research activities in support of this research project and Documentary Australia as required.

Essential selection criteria:

• Demonstrated capacity to build and maintain strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders to support the delivery of quality research
• Experience implementing research or evaluation projects in real world settings
• High level qualitative data collection and analysis skills, especially conducting interviews and running focus groups
• Project coordination experience, including ability to simultaneously manage multiple responsibilities and deliver quality results in a timely manner.

Desired:

• An undergraduate and/or further degree in relevant social sciences discipline with a substantial research methods component
• Solid quantitative data collection and analysis skills
• Experience or understanding of conducting research with educators and/or students in educational settings
• A passion for or interest in the power of documentary films in education and their impact on teacher, student and community outcomes
• Flexible days.

Applications: CLOSE DATE: 7 October 2025
Please send your application with covering letter and CV via email to:
Attention: BARBARA COOPER
Email: [email protected]
Please include “RESEARCHER POSITION OCT2025” in the subject line.