Human ethics
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Researchers, including students, who wish to undertake research involving human subjects, must obtain final ethics approval from the relevant committee before commencing the studies.
Flinders University reviews human ethics applications in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 (Updated 2018).
All non-clinical applications are to be submitted to the Human Research Ethics Committee (the Committee) or the Low Risk Panel with the following exceptions:
If non-clinical research will involve (a) any sites under the control of SA Health; or (b) participants or data accessed through a site controlled by SA Health, an application will need to be submitted to one of the SA Health Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) listed on the SA Health Human Research Ethics Committee List webpage.
All clinical research applications are to be submitted to the Southern Adelaide Clinical Health Research Ethics Committee (SAC HREC), or other SA Health HREC where relevant. While Flinders University does not have oversight over the SAC HREC, located at Flinders Medical Centre, an agreement exists whereby SAC HREC ethics approval is automatically accepted by the University.
Note - Researchers planning to undertake non-clinical or clinical research involving an interstate Public Health Organisation (PHO) should obtain advice from the PHO regarding requirements that need to be met in that jurisdiction.
Research Ethics Advisors (REAs) will provide advice and guidance to researchers in preparing applications and in particular on the following:
- Human research ethics and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research;
- The Committee application process, including low/negligible risk review;
- REAs will not work though the Committee applications in detail, but can provide targeted advice regarding specific questions in the application form;
- The Committee resubmission request;
- Reports: annual progress and final.
While supervisors must take primary responsibility for training, advising and supporting their own HDR, masters and honours students in the appropriate handling of human research ethics and the Committee applications, REAs can also be consulted by students together with their supervisors.
Contact the RDS Ethics Officers or your College Research Support staff for your REA details.
Researchers who intend to conduct research involving certain sites (e.g., child safe environments) or access to the identifiable information of children (under 18 years of age) or vulnerable adults* require a current clearance to work with children, such as a South Australian Department of Human Services working with children check.
The screening requirements apply in addition to requiring research ethics approval from the relevant committee (e.g., the Committee or SAC HREC) and for clinical research, obtaining research governance authorisation (e.g., from SA Health sites).
Students should enquire within their College or discipline, or with the relevant research office, regarding procedures that may already be established for this purpose. If there are no such procedures in place, please contact your Director of College Services.
Research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities has additional review requirements. Please read the guidelines and contact the RDS Ethics Officers to discuss further.
Health-related research involving Aboriginal people or communities
Proposals to conduct health-related research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or communities in South Australia must be submitted to the Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC).
Please refer to the SAC HREC website related to clinical and health research.
Further information on the scope and nature of AHREC, and the application submission process, can be found on the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia website.
Useful links
Researchers who intend to conduct research involving the veteran community must obtain ethics approval from the Australian Government - The Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs Human Research Ethics Committee (DDVA HREC) prior to commencing their studies.
Once you have received ethics approval from the DVA HREC, you should follow the instructions provided for researchers with previous approval from another Human Research Ethics Committee.
Anyone can lodge a complaint about any aspect of a research project. Please contact the RDS Ethics Officers if you have any concerns or queries.
Training
The Chief Investigator of a project is responsible for ensuring that provisions are made for the education, training and supervision of all staff and students listed on their project.
Social Sciences Ethics Training Module (Online)
Developed and hosted by Macquarie University, the Social Sciences Ethics training module is a free, publicly available educational resource that examines the particular ethical issues raised by social science and humanities research.
The training module is divided into 6 basic parts. You can start and stop reading at any point in the module, and you can close it and return to it later. After you have reviewed the entire module, there is a quiz that tests your comprehension of the material.
Further information
Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) review research proposals for projects which involve human subjects. HRECs are established by organisations, which certify their HREC with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The Ethics CORE (National Ethics Centre) is an online ethics resource developed by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It contains 5,400 full text articles, 45 professional society codes of ethics and other resources.
Contacts
For general advice regarding the submission of applications for human ethics approval, please contact the Human Research Ethics Officers for the Committee.
The names and contact information for staff involved in the operation of Flinders’ Human Research Ethics Committee (the Committee) are detailed below.
For general advice regarding the submission of applications for human ethics approval, please contact the Executive Officer for the Committee.
The composition of the Committee is as follows:
- Chairperson
- Lay members who have no affiliation with the institution
- Member(s) with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people.
- Minister of religion
- Lawyer
- Members with current research experience.
Chair
Professor Amanda Kearney
College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Deputy Chair
Dr Deb Agnew
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Manager, Research Ethics and Compliance
Office for Research at SALHN
Ward 6C, Room 6A219
Flinders Medical Centre
Flinders Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042 - see FMC Map, Level 6
P: +61 (0) 8 8204 6453
E: Health.salhnofficeforresearch@sa.gov.au
W: Southern Adelaide Clinical Human Research Ethics Committee
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
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