Human Research Ethics

All Deakin staff members and students who plan to carry out research involving human participants, require ethical clearance from the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (DUHREC) before proceeding.

Research involving humans includes, but is not limited to, surveys, interviews, focus groups, exercises, experiments (both psychological and physical), close observation, depiction (including photographs and videos), use of identifiable personal records, etc.

The University Human Ethics website is updated regularly to reflect changes in policy and procedure and should be the principal reference for staff and students. It includes the one-stop Human Research Ethics Manual.

In addition, the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) provides ongoing training sessions regarding the NEAF (online application form) and runs pre-submission clinics for staff and students new to Ethics or for research supervisors wishing to refresh their knowledge of the guidelines and procedures. Enrolment for these events can be made by registering.

Low Risk Research applications

The Faculty Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG) will assess and review applications deemed low risk research throughout the year. If you are uncertain whether your project is low risk and suitable for review at Faculty level, you can check by answering a few simple questions via the Human Ethics Quick Start Tool. Research which is not low risk must apply for ethics approval through the full DUHREC process University Human Ethics website.

Once you are confident the project is Low Risk, you can access the Low Risk research application form and Low Risk Plain Language Statement (PLS)/Consent templates for completion and submission to the Faculty HEAG via the ORI Human Ethics forms website. The Low Risk form incorporates a two page checklist of questions at the front which will help determine risk and suitability for Faculty review. Students should work through parts A & B with their supervisor.

Please note that the Low Risk form replaces the online National Ethics Application Form (NEAF) and should only be used for Low Risk research projects being reviewed by the Faculty HEAG.

Application submissions can be sent in hard copy or as email attachements to Kylie Koulkoudinas. It is imperative that the low risk application form is signed by all parties and the Head of School. Electronic signatures or scanned signed forms will be accepted. It should be noted that the Faculty HEAG and/or DUHREC may need to audit a project as part of the requirements for the monitoring set out in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research (2007).

Low Risk research applications comprise of the following documents:

1. The Low Risk Application form
2. Plain Language Statement and Consent Form (must use templates provided)
3. Other documents related to your project including advertisements, flyers, questionnaires, interview schedules, etc.

Notification of Outcomes

The Faculty HEAG recommendations and details of the review will be emailed to the researcher/s, normally within 30 working days after submission. Once any amendments (if applicable) have been made to the satisfaction of the Faculty reviewers, the researcher/s will receive a formal letter of approval. This letter will outline the conditions of approval and any further requirements to be completed before the project can commence.

Notification of referral to DUHREC

If your application is submitted for Faculty HEAG review but it assessed as not Low Risk, the researcher/s will be notified immediately and requested to submit a completed NEAF with supporting documentation to DUHREC for full review. Checking the Human Ethics Quick Start Tool and the two page checklist on the Low Risk form before making an application should help determine the level of risk and the correct form to use and where to submit.

Higher than Low Risk

After checking the Human Ethics Quick Start Tool and/or the Low Risk application checklist, if you consider your project is Higher than Low Risk you should prepare the online NEAF and supplementary documents and submit directly to DUHREC in time for the next scheduled meeting. The researcher/s will be notified by the ORI by email of the outcome of the full review within 3 - 4 weeks of the meeting. It is possible that in urgent cases executive approval can be sought between meetings. DUHREC meetings and submission details are available at the ORI Human Ethics website. Links to the NEAF and Higher than Low Risk templates are also available via the ORI Human Ethics forms website.

Final Reports and Modifications

Information regarding final reports and modification requests of previously approved projects is available via the ORI Human Ethics forms website.

Faculty Ethics contact
If you have any questions regarding human research ethics, including Low Risk Applications, submission and reporting, please contact

Kylie Koulkoudinas
Ethics Secretariat
Faculty of Arts and Education
Ph: +61 3 5227 2368, Fax +61 3 5227 2260
Email:kylie.koulkoudinas@deakin.edu.au

Please note the Faculty HEAG office will be closed 12th December 2011 until 6th January 2012. Any applications received during this time will be dealt with after 6th January 2012.