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) or a Faculty Human Ethics Advisory Group (HEAG) before proceeding.
Research involving humans includes, but is not limited to; surveys, interviews, exercises, experiments (both psychological and physical), close observation, depiction (including photographs and videos), use of identifiable personal records, etc.
The ORI 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 ethics process 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 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.
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. 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. The Low Risk form incorporates a two page checklist of questions at the front which will help determine risk and suitability for Faculty review. You can access the Low Risk application form, PLS/Consent templates and examples of previously approved Plain Language Statements (suitable for Low Risk surveys and interviews) via the ORI Human Ethics forms website.
Low Risk forms can be sent as email attachments to Katrina Fleming. It is imperative that the application form is signed by all parties and the Head of School or Associate Head of School (Research). Electronic signatures or scanned signed forms will be accepted. It should be noted that the Faculty HEAG or DUHREC may need to audit a project as part of the requirements for monitoring set out in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research (2007).
Notification of Outcomes - Low Risk applications
The Faculty HEAG recommendations and details of the review will be emailed to the researcher/s normally within 15 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 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 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 website.
Faculty Ethics contact
If you have any questions regarding human research ethics, including Low Risk review, meeting dates, submission and reporting, please contact
Katrina Fleming
Ethics Secretariat
Business and Law
Ph: +61 3 5227 3362, Fax +61 3 5227 1251
Email: katrina.fleming@deakin.edu.au
