Ethics

Torrens University Australia researchers should refer to the University’s Ethical Conduct of Research Procedure for information about ethics processes and considerations at Torrens. The University procedure is informed by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007), developed jointly by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia. There are also specific national guidelines for the ethical conduct of research in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: Values and Ethics – Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. In addition, University researchers must be aware of and comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018), developed jointly by the NHMRC, ARC and Universities Australia.

Human research is any research conducted with or about people, or their data or bodily tissues. It includes:

• Taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups
• Undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment
• Being observed by researchers
• Researchers having access to their personal documents, information or other materials, including when taken from an existing database.
• The collection and use of bodily tissues or fluids (e.g. skin, blood, urine, saliva, hair, exhaled breath, bones and biopsy specimens).

The Torrens University Ethics Committee operates as the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and monitors the ethical conduct of all human research at Torrens. Researchers must seek ethics clearance from the Ethics Committee before commencing any human research activity.

Human research may be:

• Negligible/low risk (the foreseeable risk to human participants in the research is of inconvenience or discomfort only).
• High risk (there is a foreseeable risk of harm to human participants in the research OR the research involves particular participant groups or methodologies).

TUA HREC uses Ethical Review Manager (ERM) to administer the ethical review process. The ERM can be accessed at https://torrens.forms.ethicalreviewmanager.com/

Researchers are strongly advised to discuss their proposed study with the Research Office before completing an application form.

2020 HREC meeting dates

Application Due	Meeting
17 January 2020	29 January 2020
20 March 2020	1 April 2020
22 May 2020	3 June 2020/td>
24 July 2020	5 August 2020
25 September 2020	7 October 2020
20 November 2020	2 December 2020

All queries about the ethical conduct of human research at Torrens University, including concerns about effects on participants, should be directed to the Research Officer at ethics@laureate.net.au. The Research Officer will refer issues to the Ethics Committee as necessary.