For ANU 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.

• 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).
• Submission & Meeting Dates
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Post-Approval
• Ethics Office