Human Ethics at the ANU

In 1999 the NHMRC, in conjunction with the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, issued a set of national guidelines on ethics in human research. These guidelines, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, were tabled in federal Parliament in July 1999 and are intended to cover all disciplines. The primary purpose of the National Statement is the protection of the welfare and rights of participants in research. The National Statement has since been reviewed and was released as the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).

Before applying for Human Ethics review researchers should familiarise themselves with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007). They should then complete the application process in ARIES Online Management System. See below for assistance in the application process.

Ethical Review - Comittees, Deadlines Training and Contacts

• Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
• Humanities & Social Science Delegated Ethics Review Committee (DERC)
• Science & Medical (DERC)
• Training, Submission & Meeting Dates
• Human Ethics Contacts

For Researchers

The National Statement attempts a definition of research. It makes clear that quality assurance or audit activities do not fall within the definition of research and do not need to be reviewed by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). A useful way of clarifying what constitutes quality assurance as opposed to research is to ask what the outcome is likely to be. If publication (in a thesis or other form) is envisaged, then the project is almost certainly research. If the project is in-house, for the purposes of refining procedures, then it is quality assurance or audit activity.

Research projects being undertaken by staff, visiting fellows, postgraduate and graduate student and Honours level undergraduate students are reviewed by the HREC. Undergraduate projects below Honours level are deemed to be training, and are not reviewed by the HREC. Only the thesis component of Honours level work is reviewed by the HREC.

If in doubt, inquiries can be sent to the HREC via the Secretary of the Human Research Ethics Committee.

PLEASE NOTE: Research approvals at other institutions

Even if you are an ANU researcher who has ethics approval through another institution, you are required to submit a Human Ethics application at the ANU.

If your research project has been approved by a NHMRC registered Human Research Ethics Committee, then you will only need to submit a low risk application form.This application will be expedited because of your prior approval at the other institution.

You should be able to copy and paste much of the information from the original approved application from the other institution into the ANU application and then upload under the Documents Tab, your copy of the original research approval from the other HREC. If you have any queries about research approvals at other institutions, please contact the Office of Research Integrity on human.ethics.officer@anu.edu.au or 6125 3427.

• Policy & Guidelines
• ARIES for Human Ethics
• Key Ethical Concerns for the HREC
  (Informed Consent & Web-based Surveys, Confidentiality, Privacy & the Internet, Recruitment and Research in Schools).

• Resources for Applying
  (Useful Guides, ARIES Human Ethics Documentation and Tips for new users of ARIES).
• Training, Submission & Meeting Dates
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Post-Approval
• Human Ethics Contacts

INTRODUCTION TO ARIES

First time users commencing a new application in ARIES will need to attend one of the 1 hour training sessions held weekly on Tuesdays. Click here for more information...