General role description
Laboratory Assistants support scientific and diagnostic teams by preparing and processing biological specimens for analysis.
These roles are commonly found in hospital pathology labs, research institutes, and diagnostic laboratories. Duties include receiving and labelling samples, maintaining lab equipment, and helping ensure accurate data entry and documentation.
Laboratory Assistants play a key role in ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality laboratory operations that underpin health and medical research and diagnostics.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare, label, and process patient or research samples
- Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of lab equipment
- Manage stock levels and organise laboratory supplies
- Enter data and maintain accurate records of specimen handling
- Assist laboratory staff with basic testing procedures and quality checks.
Workplace settings
- Universities and Medical Research Institutes
- Not-for-profit, government, peak body and advocacy organisations involved in research
- Hospitals and healthcare settings
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies
- Contract research organisations (CROs).
Required qualifications
- Certificate III or IV in Laboratory Technology, Pathology Collection, or a related field is commonly preferred but not always required
Other notable requirements
Laboratory Assistants often need:
- Experience handling biological specimens (e.g. blood, tissue, swabs)
- Strong attention to detail and ability to follow safety protocols
- Effective communication and teamwork skills
- Basic data entry and record-keeping experience
- Willingness to work in clinical or regulated laboratory environments.
Common entry points
Pathology Collection Assistant
Laboratory Technician Trainee
Recent Certificate III/IV graduate
Common Next Roles
Medical Laboratory Technician