Clinical trial internship program developing next generation of researchers at Grampians Health
Grampians Health continues to play a key role in helping develop the next generation of clinical trial professionals, supporting sought-after internship placements through the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) Alliance. These internships provide emerging researchers access to real-world experience within an active clinical trials unit.
Through its partnership with the VCCC Alliance SKILLED Clinical Trial Internship program, Grampians Health is hosting highly competitive Clinical Trial Study Coordinator and Clinical Trial Administrative Officer (CTAO) interns. This offers early-career science graduates the rare opportunity to step directly into the world of clinical trials.
Each year interns walk through the Grampians Health clinical trial unit doors eager to learn, contribute, and open new pathways for regional research.
Grampians Health has supported the SKILLED internship program since its inception in 2019, resulting in more than 13 clinical trial interns receiving hands-on experience within the Grampians Health Clinical Trials Unit. The Clinical Trial Study Coordinator internship is a 40-week program and the CTAO internship is a 24-week program.
The program provides an opportunity for science graduates to work alongside Grampians Health clinicians, researchers and trial coordinators, gaining practical experience in a clinical trial unit.
Grampians Health Chief Medical Officer Professor Matthew Hadfield said the internship program plays a vital role in expanding clinical trials and regional research capacity while providing valuable industry experience for science graduates.
“The internship program trains the next generation of clinical trial researchers and helps build a sustainable research culture that benefits our patients, and the clinical trials workforce – a key driver of improved treatments and health outcomes for our communities,” said Professor Hadfield.
The VCCC Alliance is proud of its partnership with Grampians Health which helps build clinical trial capacity in regional communities.
"Partnering with Grampians Health as a long standing and essential partner allows the SKILLED clinical trial internship program to tailor training that responds to local workforce priorities and creates careers for science graduates in the clinical trials sector,” said Chris Packer, VCCC Alliance Senior Manager, SKILLED Internship Program and Regional Advisor.
“Their local leadership is vital to growing the clinical trials workforce right here in the Grampians region."
Grampians Health Clinical Research Manager Rebecca Gurnett said she is grateful to the VCCC Alliance for providing much-needed support and pathways for future clinical trial professionals.
“Graduates leave with a strong patient-centred focus and the skills and confidence to contribute to better access, research, and outcomes for regional and rural clinical trial patients,” Ms Gurnett said.
The clinical trial internships are positions that can set the foundation for a career in research and clinical trials. For recent intern Fern, the internship at Grampians Health has done exactly that.
When Fern first arrived in Ballarat in June 2025 to begin her six-month clinical trial administrative officer internship, she already held a Medical Science Honours degree, lab experience from the University of Wollongong, and clinical laboratory work from Canberra. What she didn’t yet have, and desperately wanted, was a way into clinical trials.
“These roles are competitive and hard to step into. This internship was my first real chance to learn in a clinical trial environment,” said Fern.
And Fern exceeded her expectations, taking out the VCCC Alliance Best CTAO Intern Presentation Award for Intake 2, 2025 for her presentation, ‘Optimising Data Capture Process in Clinical Trials at Grampians Health with Investigator Engagement Tool Kit’. The award provided professional recognition and further training support, a launch-pad for Fern’s research future.
“When they announced my name, I nearly cried. I’d worked so hard with a limited amount of time. I was shocked, but so proud,” said Fern.
For Fern, the internship wasn’t just about learning systems and processes. It reshaped the way she sees patient care.
“Working with the Clinical Trials Unit helped me develop a patient-centred mindset. I am very grateful for the incredible support and amazing opportunities I received at Grampians Health,” said Fern.
The success of interns like Fern, and her predecessors of Grampians Health, demonstrates that world-changing research doesn’t just begin in capital cities.
Grampians Health looks forward to continuing the partnership with the VCCC Alliance clinical trial internship program, supporting future interns to build rewarding careers in clinical trials and research advancing clinical trial access and health outcomes for regional and rural patients.
