Our Purpose and Ambition
NextSense is a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with vision or hearing loss across Australia. We work with children, adults, and their families, providing a holistic approach to hearing services for newborns through to people over 90 years old, and helping children who are blind or have low vision to develop the right skills, mobility, and independence to confidently explore their world.
NextSense has been breaking boundaries since 1860, and we’ve been expanding our services ever since. Today, we deliver world-class education (both to children with sensory loss and to professionals in the field), cochlear implants, allied health services, therapy, research, and clinical services to children and adults. We’re a registered NDIS provider, working with our clients to achieve their own goals and potential.
We’re committed to research and innovation; harnessing the latest technologies and new ways of thinking and educating the next generation to lead the way in hearing and vision services.
We are currently creating a world-leading centre for innovation on-site at Macquarie University that represents a new era for hearing and vision loss. This nationally significant social infrastructure project will be a place to nurture, trial and share new ideas and form new partnerships that will drive better outcomes for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or have low vision.
About the role
NextSense Institute is looking to appoint an academic in the area education/early intervention/auditory verbal therapy for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
We are seeking a scholar with broad expertise in one or more of the fields of education of the deaf, early intervention, speech pathology, or closely allied field including experience in delivering and designing postgraduate and continuing professional educational and a successful track record of research in their specialist field. The successful applicant will need the capacity to bridge across domains in early intervention and education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing as well as having the capacity to teach postgraduate courses in several of the following areas:
- Normal language acquisition and language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Speech development and interventions for children who are deaf or hard of hearing—particularly interventions in the development of auditory-oral language and communication skills
- Language and literary development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and the assessment of and intervention in that development in infants and school age children
- Family-centred early intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Research methods in education/social sciences
- Inclusive education for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The successful candidate will undertake research in areas related to education and/or early intervention for deaf and hard of hearing children and, in particular, will provide leadership in the development of new pre-service postgraduate coursework in the area of early intervention for allied health and other professionals. It is our goal that the successful applicant will contribute to building capacity within the staff of NextSense and work to place NextSense Institute’s professional education and research at the forefront of education nationally and internationally.
About you
You will have a doctoral level qualification in a relevant discipline (or evidence of either equivalent research recognition or current progression toward the attainment of a doctoral level qualification). You will have evidence of having delivered high quality learning and teaching in one or more of the fields of education of the deaf, early intervention, speech pathology or related area.
You will have excellent skills as a practitioner in your relevant discipline and be able to supervise the practical experience of teachers and/or early intervention professionals working with children who are deaf or hard of hearing. You will be an excellent communicator who is proactive, flexible, and able to work well in teams with strong interpersonal, organisational and time management skills. You will have a record of engagement and fostering relationships with relevant external stakeholders
For appointment at the level of senior lecturer you will have a sustained record of research and quality publications, with a growing national and/or international reputation and experience with research student supervision.
About us
NextSense Institute is operated as a centre for research and professional education operated by NextSense in affiliation with Macquarie University (CRICOS Provider No. 00002J).
At NextSense Institute, we’re committed to delivering high-quality continuing professional education—in-person and remotely—to meet the professional learning needs of educators, therapists, and health professionals. Our range of programs are delivered by leading national and international experts who lead their fields, helping us to drive the entire sector forward. Many of these events are accredited by Audiology Australia, the AG Bell Academy of Listening and Spoken Language, Orientation and Mobility Association of Australia and the NSW Education Standards Authority.
Macquarie School of Education is one of the largest providers of initial and postgraduate teacher education in Australia. Currently ranked in the top 100 universities in the world according to QS Rankings, the School delivers teacher education courses in early childhood, primary and secondary education, as well as programs in inclusion, special education and disability studies. With an emphasis on teamwork and excellence, the School of Education aims to be a global leader in education and an institution of service and engagement which delivers a transformative learning experience and impactful research.
Macquarie is a university engaged with the real and often complex problems and opportunities that define our lives. Since its foundation in 1964, it has aspired to be a different type of university. Over the years, it’s grown to become the centre of a vibrant local and global community.
To Apply
To be considered for this position, please apply by submitting your CV and a separate cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the descriptions outlined in “About the Role” and “About you,” above.
The position requires qualification checks, a Criminal Record Check, and a Working with Children Check.
Specific Role Enquiries: Professor Greg Leigh, Director, NextSense Institute, greg.leigh@nextsense.org.au
Or
Dr Sue Silveira, Course Director, Master of Disability Studies, NextSense institute, sue.slivera@nextsense.org,au
Please note that NextSense has a Christmas break between 27th December 2023 - 10th January 2024, therefore any applications received during this time will be reviewed and responded to in mid-late January 2024.
