Applying & Forms

Which Committee?

CSU applies a two tiered system of review to all applications for research involving human participants. These guidelines have been developed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the National Health and Medical Research Council’s publication The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The sections most relevant to the guidelines are Section 2 “Themes in Research Ethics: Risk and Benefit, Consent” and Section 5 “Process of Research Governance and Ethical. Review”, refer to the following subsections:

Section 5.1 specifically allows for review at the School level for research that is deemed ‘low risk’ research.

The two tiered structure provides an approval process for ‘low risk’ research at the School level monitored by the Human Research Ethics Committee, known as the second tier of review. Or approval for research that is considered more that ‘low risk’ by the Human Research Ethics Committee, known as the first tier of review.

This process reflects the possible risks to research participants and researchers. Risk can be defined as ‘the chance of something happening that will have an impact on the achievement of desired outcomes or objectives’ (Dr R Pope, CSU 2007) or as cited in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans Chapter 2.1: Risk and Benefit ‘a potential for harm, discomfort or inconvenience that involves; the likelihood that harm, or discomfort or inconvenience will occur; and the severity of the harm, including its consequences’.

Note The one form entitled Human Research Ethics Committee Application for Approval for Use of Human Participants or Materials in Research form (Form 1) is to be submitted to either the School Ethics Committee or the Human Research Ethics Committee for review. DO NOT submit ONLY the Minimal Risk Review Form (Form 2) for review.

Determine if your project is Low Risk

To determine if your research is low risk, complete the Minimal Risk Review Form (Form 2).

For further information refer to the NHMRC website for low risk guidelines

This form is to be used by researchers to determine the level of review. All questions are to be answered.

If after completing the form you determine your research is low risk; complete the Human Research Ethics Committee Application for Approval for Use of Human Participants or Materials in Research form (Form 1) and submit together with the Minimal Risk Review Form (Form 2) to your School Ethics Committee or the School Ethics Committee of your supervisor for review.

If after completing the form you determine your research is not low risk you should complete an Human Research Ethics Committee Application for Approval for Use of Human Participants or Materials in Research form (Form 1) and submit for review by the Human Research Ethics Committee ethics@csu.edu.au

The Human Research Ethics Committee Application for Approval for Use of Human Participants or Materials in Research (Form 1) must be completed by all researchers applying for ethics clearance regardless of the level of review. Applications are to be submitted electronically to the appropriate School or Human Research Ethics Committee. Signed signatory pages are also required these can be faxed to appropriate Committee.

CSU Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has agreed to trial the National Ethics Application Form (NEAF).

NEAF is a web-based tool that has been developed to assist researchers of all disciplines to complete research ethics proposals for submission to Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), and to assist HRECs to consistently and efficiently assess these proposals. It has been designed to meet the requirements of relevant guidelines with the aim of increasing the efficiency and quality of the ethical review process for all parties involved.

Please note researchers are encouraged to trial the NEAF but the HREC will accept either the current Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee Application for Approval for Use of Human Participants or Materials in Research

To assist in the trial process any comments regarding the NEAF should be forwarded to the Executive Officer of the HREC: email ethics@csu.edu.au or phone (02) 6338 4628.

The University's Human Research Ethics Committee and all CSU School Committees, grant approval for a 12 month period from the original date of approval. It is a condition of approval that researchers complete a report annually to comply with monitoring requirements of the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The University's Human Research Ethics Committee and all CSU School Committees, grant approval for a 12 month period from the original date of approval. It is a condition of approval that researchers complete a report at the conclusion of their research to comply with monitoring requirements of the National Health and Medical Research Council.

If after an ethics application that has been approved necessitates an alteration to the research project you must submit a Report on Research Project detailing the changes made and any supporting documentation to the appropriate ethics Committee.

If a researcher requires their approval to conduct research to remain active after the set expiry date a request for an extension is to be submitted with the appropriate documentation detailing the reason to the appropriate ethics Committee.