AGSPS Minimal Risk Human Research Ethics Committee

In conducting research that involves human participants, all students and staff of Charles Sturt University (CSU) must comply with the National Statement on the Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement). The current Statement was tabled in Parliament in 2007.

The purpose of the National Statement is to promote ethically sound human research. This requires that participants be accorded the respect and protection that is due to them. It also involves the fostering of research that is of benefit to the community (2007, p.7).

The careful and respectful treatment of research participants is the key focus of the reviews of applications undertaken by Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs). HRECs also take account of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. This document directs attention to institutional responsibilities (as distinct from the responsibilities of individual researchers), and to this extent may be less helpful for informing your research than the National Statement.

The role of HRECs is to foster research although researchers sometimes feel as though HRECs act as some sort of obstacle to their research, "finding" or "making" problems where none "really" exist. Requests to rewrite an application or clarify aspects of an application are made in the interests of the research project and, therefore, of the researcher.

HREC Approval Processes at CSU

Low-risk or minimal risk applications are considered by the School HREC. Applications that are NOT low risk must be considered by the University HREC. This applies to applications from staff and students.

The AGSPS Minimal Risk Human Research Ethics Committee meets once a month. Applications for review must be submitted by the closing date in advance of the monthly meeting.

Meeting Dates for 2013:

Closing date for AGSPS Minimal Risk Human Research Ethics Applications 5:00pm on Wednesday: 2013 Meeting Dates
2nd Tuesday of each month
by teleconf 11am
12  February
 19 February
12  March
 19 March
23 April
 30 April
14  May
 23 May
11  June
 18 June
16  July
 23 July
13  August
 20 August
10  September
 17 September
10  October
 17 October

7  November

10  December

14 November

17 December

These dates apply to new applications, revised or resubmitted applications. Committee decisions will be issued via email by the Committee Secretary. Requests for further information from the Committee may be submitted without regard for these deadlines.

The Committee will consider applications only at its regular monthly meetings. Exceptional circumstances may justify reviews of applications between meetings.

The AGSPS Minimal Risk HREC has 6 members:

  1. Presiding Officer: Dr Stephen Loftus  sloftus@csu.edu.au
     
  2. Dr Garth den Heyer
  3. Dr Hugh McDermott
  4. Dr Hank Prunckun
  5. Mr Levi West
  6. Secretary: Ms Anne Simpson, phone: 02 4824 2529, email: agsphrec@csu.edu.au

ESSENTIAL STEPS BEFORE SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

  • Ensure all applications have been approved and SIGNED by both student and Supervisor. (incomplete applications will be returned)
  • Research Supervisors are Co-Investigators for the purposes of HREC review and are responsible for the content of the applications
  • Allow ample time for ethics approval when filling in dates for data collection
  • Create a Working Title for the application that will be used consistently on all forms submitted  This title   
  • is a brief version of the  scholarly thesis title
  • does not disclose the research question or hypotheses
  • is for the purpose of ethics approval and data collection
  • The application needs to be thoroughly reviewed by your Research Supervisor prior to submission to HREC

Example of thesis versus working title:
Research thesis proposal: A qualitative comparison of the effectiveness of obtaining honest observations from a witness by a police investigator with blue or brown eyes.
Working Title: Effective witness interviews.


All research involving human participants requires ethics approval. To apply, follow these steps:

  1. Complete CSU Form 1 Application for approval for use of human participants or materials in research or the NEAF application Form

    Form 1 instructions include the Participant Information Sheet and the Participant Consent Form. Please refer to the checklists for these forms.

    A Sample Minimal Risk Application
    The National Ethics Application Form

  2. Complete Form 2: Minimal Risk Review Checklist

    This checklist helps determine whether your research project is eligible for review by the AGSP HREC Minimal Risk Research Committee.

    Minimal Risk Review Checklist
    If you answer "YES" to any items in the checklist your project must be submitted to the University HREC for review (unless you can make a special case in Section 6).

  3. Applications must include:
  • CSU Form 1 Application or the NEAF Application Form
  • CSU Form 2 Minimal Risk Review checklist
  • Participant Information Sheet on CSU letterhead
  • Participant Consent Form on CSU letterhead
  • Letters of solicitation of participants where relevant
  • Letters of authorisation from participating organisations where applicable
  • Copies of proposed surveys (if non-standard) and/or interview questions.
    • Ensure different surveys are labelled or titled clearly to indicate with participants will be completing which survey (eg survey participant group A, survey participant group B OR survey for interviewer, survey for witnesses)

  1. Submit the completed application to the AGSP Minimal Risk HREC Secretary.
    Ms Anne Simpson
    Australian Graduate School of Policing and Security
    Charles Sturt University
    Correspondence Locked Bag 2005
    Goulburn NSW 2580
    Telephone: 02 4824 2529; Facsimile: 02 4824 2599
    Email: agsphrec@csu.edu.au


For additional information about the Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Review procedures.