Concussion Projects Researcher

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Date: 6 Jul 2026

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, AU

Company: Australian Football League

Join the team shaping the future of Australia’s game.
This is your chance to do work that has real impact, in an organisation that moves fast, aims high and plays a meaningful role in the lives of millions across the country through football. Every role at the AFL helps progress the game, so more people can love it, connect with it and see what is possible through it.
 
 
The opportunity - Part-time 2 days per week fixed term role, approximately 1 year 
The health and safety of players at every level of the game is a critical priority for the AFL, and this exciting opportunity will help shape how concussion is understood, monitored and responded to across the industry.
 
As our Concussion Projects Researcher, you’ll join the AFL Health Team in a 0.4 FTE role based at AFL House in Docklands. You’ll lead important concussion research and data monitoring projects, drive innovation and research translation, and help strengthen the AFL Industry’s approach to preventing and responding to concussion and repetitive head impacts across AFL, AFLW, Talent Pathways and State and community football.
 
 
What you’ll own
In this role, you’ll lead research and innovation work that supports safer outcomes for players and helps translate evidence into meaningful industry practice. You’ll work closely with internal teams, clubs, healthcare leaders, research partners and other key stakeholders to deliver high-quality projects with impact.
 
You’ll add value through:
  • Leading the successful delivery of current concussion research projects
  • Driving innovation and research translation to support the continuous improvement of concussion prevention and response across the game
  • Monitoring and evaluating concussion research and data projects across AFL, AFLW, Talent Pathways and State and community football
  • Identifying and leading collaboration with appropriate research partners
  • Building strong engagement with industry stakeholders across healthcare, research and football settings
  • Co-designing and managing data platforms that support research, monitoring and evaluation activities
  • Supporting player and industry education connected to research programs
  • Coordinating player appointments for research data collection
  • Developing business cases and grant applications for new research opportunities
  • Upholding the integrity and ethical conduct of research and contributing to strong research governance

 

What you’ll bring
  • Experience in traumatic brain injury or concussion research
  • At least 10 years post-PhD, or equivalent experience, in a relevant medical or allied health field
  • An academic track record in a medical or allied health field at Senior Researcher level
  • Demonstrated excellence in research design, statistical analysis and publication
  • Current GCP Accreditation

 

Desirable:

  • Strong knowledge of sport-related concussion, ideally within high performance sport
  • Demonstrated research impact through publication, policy and translation activities
  • Proven ability to build trusted partnerships and lead collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups
  • Experience engaging effectively with clinical, academic, sporting and industry audiences
  • Sound judgement and a strong commitment to ethical research practice and governance
  • A clinical background in allied health would be highly regarded, ideally in physiotherapy or neuropsychology
  • A concurrent or adjunct appointment at a university or research institute, and accreditation to supervise research students, would be highly regarded

 

Why you’ll love being on our team
At the AFL, you will be part of a values-led team that aims high, backs each other and brings energy, care and integrity to work that matters. This is a place where people play to win, play as one team and play with passion, while always staying grounded in fairness, inclusion and respect. We work hard, support each other and create the conditions for our people to grow, perform and thrive.
 
What you can look forward to:
  • Play The Day Your Way, our flexible approach to working life, built to support you on game day and every day
  • My Development, with coaching, mentoring, on-the-job learning and formal development to help you keep building your game
  • Play Well, our health and wellbeing programme designed to support a healthy body, healthy mind and healthy workplace
  • My Benefits, giving you access to a range of partner offers and discounts through our AFL Corporate Partners
  • AFL Silver Memberships for permanent team members, so you can enjoy the action at Marvel Stadium and the MCG with family and friends
  • 6 months paid primary parental leave with no qualification period for permanent team members

 

Everyone has a place here
Our game brings people together, and we want our workplace to do the same.
 
We are committed to building a culture of belonging and an environment where people feel respected, included and able to thrive, and where diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.
 
Whether you’re a footy fan or new to our game, we welcome everyone to apply. We know great candidates don’t always tick every box – if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t perfectly match the job description.
 
The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care. Please note, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld, this includes ensuring the successful candidate to this position holds a valid employee Working with Children/ Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check.
 
Ready to play your part?
 
Applications Close: 24 July 2026