Human Research Ethics Committee:
Guide to Research Proposal Applications
The Role of the Committee
The Committee was established in 1991 and reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Its functions are to:
- consider ethical implications of all proposed human research projects that are considered more that low risk conducted by University staff or students and to determine whether or not they are acceptable on ethical grounds;
- provide for surveillance of human research projects until compilation so that the Committee may be satisfied that they continue to conform with approved ethical standards;
- maintain a record of all proposed human research projects, so that the following items of information are readily available:
- project identification number
- chief investigator(s)
- short title of project
- ethical approval or non-approval with date
- date(s) designated for review
- the protocols of research approvals shall be preserved in the form in which they are approved.
- establish and maintain communication with the National Health and Medical Research Council's Medical Research Ethics Committee and provide access, upon request, to information in the University Committee's records.
The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) has a two tiered system of review for all applications for research involving human participants.
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 than ‘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’.
In carrying out these functions, the Committee shall:
- conform with the National Health and Medical Research Council Statement on Human Experimentation and Supplementary notes on research in particular fields that may be published from time to time;
- take account of local culture and social attitudes in making decisions;
- ensure that procedures relating to obtaining consent are observed;
- ensure that no members of the committee adjudicate on proposals in which they may be personally involved; and
- ensure that while accepting that there is a duty to advance knowledge by research, the rights of individual patients, or subjects of research, take precedence over the expected benefits to human knowledge of to the community.
Membership of the Committee
The Committee has 12 members which includes representatives from a cross-section of the community and from the four faculties.
Meeting Dates
The Committee meets on the first Monday of every month (except when this coincides with a public holiday) from February to December inclusive.
Obtaining Application Forms
Application forms can be obtained from the University's Human Research in Ethics Committee http://www.csu.edu.au/research/committees/human/Homepage.
Completing the Application Form
In order to assist the Committee to effectively consider applications, applicants should follow closely the guidelines in the Supplementary Notes for Applicants (which are provided with the application form). The Supplementary Notes provide information for applicants in order to draft the consent protocol and the consent form. Applications must be lodged with the Executive Officer seventeen days prior to each Committee meeting.
Consideration of Applications
The Committee will make one of the following decisions with respect to an application:
- it will approve the application; or
- it will approve the application subject to the clarification of information or the provision of further information to the Committee; or
- it will determine that the application should lie on the table until the clarification of information or the provision of further information to the Committee; or
- reject the proposal.
An applicant should not proceed with his or her research proposal until it is approved by the Committee. When preparing a proposal for approval by the Committee, applicants should note the closing date.
Once an Application is Approved
Once an application is approved by the Committee, the application will receive a protocol number. The applicant can then proceed with his or her proposal. An applicant is required to complete a review form at the conclusion of each project, or annually if it is a long term project. Link to Progress Report.
Changes to the Research Project once it has been Approved
If an applicant proposes to change any aspect of the research project once it has been approved by the Committee, he or she must seek approval from the Committee. Link to Progress Report
For more information contact the Secretary to the Committee:
| Executive Officer
Email: ethics@csu.edu.au Phone: 02 6338 4628 Fax: 02 6338 4194 |
Location Office of Academic Governance Level 3, Building S1 CSU Bathurst Campus |
Postal Address Office of Academic Governance Charles Sturt University Panorama Avenue Bathurst NSW 2795 |