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Application process

Step-by-step application process

  1. Applicants logon to online ethics system and navigate their way through the application by answering a number of questions.
  2. Once the application is completed, the applicant submits the application for review.
  3. Upon submission, the Ethics System assesses the risk associated with the project (based on the requirements of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, legislation, relevant codes and guidelines and University compliance requirements).
  4. The Ethics System forwards the completed application to the relevant committee group for review.
  5. The Committee Review Group reviews the application online and enters their decision.
  6. The applicant is notified of the review outcome via email. The research activity must not commence until ethics approval is finalised.

Workflow stages of an online ethics application

Figure 1: Workflow stages of an ethics application


PS = Principal Supervisor
ECO = Ethics and Compliance Officer


Risk assessment and review of an online ethics application

There are five risk assessment outcomes, described below.

Risk Level Risk assessment Committee Review Group
Exempt The system has determined that the research is exempt from further review as the project involves the use of archived data only and the data collected is de-identified (ie does not contain personally identifiable information) and will not be reported beyond the University Further review not required.
Negligible The system has determined that the research does not require further review as the project is either:
  • conducted solely for the purpose of internal quality assurance and will not be published or presented externally
  • conducted solely for the purpose of internal quality assurance but may be published externally however:
  • the data was gathered online or in writing
  • the responses were provided voluntarily
  • the respondents were advised of the possibility that the data could be used for such purposes the anonymity of the respondents is maintained.
 Further review not required.
E1 Research projects in which there is no foreseeable risk of harm or discomfort, and any foreseeable risk is no more than inconvenience The Chair or Deputy Chair of HREC (E1 Review Group)
E2 Research projects in which the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort A panel comprising the Chair or Deputy Chair of HREC and the Applicants Research Ethics Advisor (E2 Review Group)
E3 All other research projects are more than low risk The full HREC committee (E3 Review Group)

 

 

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