You will need to obtain ethics approval from the ACU HREC where the research involves interactions with humans or their data. This applies to
- funded and unfunded research;
- research activities undertaken as a major requirement towards your degree.
You should not commence your research until you have obtained ethics clearance from the ACU HREC. If you have approval from another (external) ethics committee, then you will need to have that approval ratified by the ACU HREC.
Why do I need human research ethics approval?
Ethics approval is an important part of research integrity, both individually and institutionally. The process of ethics review helps to balance the interests of research participants, researchers and the University.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the necessary ethics approval in order to:
- access your funding;
- publish your results;
- submit your thesis;
- undertake a research project as a major part of your course requirements.
When is human research ethics approval not required?
You do not need to apply for ethics approval if:
- You are conducting quality assurance (QA) activities, such as a satisfaction survey, and you do not intend to publish the results;
- You are using research methods such as surveys or interviews on classmates as part of your class activity or assessment. Refer to Taught Unit Guidelines and some Frequently Asked Questions which include a short video.
Note that the HREC cannot grant retrospective approval.