Policies and procedures
POLICY NO: RES-2.2
DATE OF APPROVAL: 27 August 2004
AMENDMENTS:
Academic Board (AB2000/6/111) July 2000
Academic Board (AB2000/7) August 2000
Academic Board (AB2004/6) August 2004
Deputy Vice Chancellor
and Vice President: Research and Innovation (16 May 2006)
Academic Board (AB2008/2/28) 28 March 2008
REFERENCE AUTHORITY: Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Research & Innovation)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
Animal Experimentation Policy (RES 3.1)
Australian
code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific
purposes (PDF file 469kb)
Ionising Radiation Policy (HR 29.1)
Non-ionising Radiation Safety (HR 30.0)
Guidelines for Responsible Practice in Research (RES 1.0)
Biological Hazards and Genetically Modified Organisms (RES 4.2)
Inevitably the search for new knowledge, innovation and collaboration raises questions of an ethical nature.
The University of South Australia's mission recognises the need for scholarship and innovation in a socially responsible context.
Research within the University involving human subjects must be approved by the University of South Australia Human Research Ethics Committee (UniSA HREC). The UniSA HREC reports to the Vice Chancellor through the Research Integrity, Accountability and Compliance Committee.
1.1 Membership
(i) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in the health sciences
(ii) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in nursing studies
(iii) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in education
(iv) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in social sciences
(v) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in the arts and/or humanities
(vi) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in business and/or management
(vii) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in art, architecture and/or design
(viii) an academic staff member with academic qualifications and research experience in engineering, applied science, and/or technology
(ix) an academic staff member who is Indigenous with research experience in Indigenous studies
(x) an academic staff member from the University's Whyalla Campus
(xi) a lawyer
(xii) a person with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people
(xiii) a minister of religion¹
(xiv) a laywoman not associated with the institution²
(xv) a layman not associated with the institution ²
(xvi) a non-voting secretary who is a general staff member of the University of South Australia.
¹ or a person who performs a similar role in the community such as an Aboriginal elder
² The lay members will have no affiliation with the institution or organisation, are not currently involved in medical, scientific or legal work, and are preferably from the community in which the institution or organisation is located
1.2 Appointment procedures
1.2.1 Nominations for positions (i) to (viii) are to be made by Divisional Pro Vice Chancellors. Nominees will be selected by a method determined by the Divisional Executive. In making nominations, the Division is to specify which of the positions (i) to (viii) it is for.
The Chair of Academic Board will forward these nominations to Academic Board with a recommendation as to appointments. Academic Board will then make the appointment to the position usually on the basis of the Chair of Academic Board's recommendation.
1.2.2 Appointment to the remaining positions (x) to (xiii) will be made by the Academic Board, usually on the recommendation of the Chair of Academic Board (after appropriate consultation).
1.2.3 The Chair of HREC will be nominated by the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Innovation) (after appropriate consultation) and may be either from among or external to the HREC members. Appointment to all positions other than chairperson is for a period of two years. Incumbents may be re-appointed.
1.2.4 The Chairship of the HREC is to be reviewed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Innovation) each year, with the incumbent being eligible for re-appointment.
1.2.5 There should be an alternate for each member of the committee, where the alternate satisfies the same membership criteria as the member. Appointment procedures for alternate members will be the same as for members.
1.2.6 Members are appointed to HREC for their expertise and not in a representational capacity.
1.3 Terms of Reference
(1) To protect the welfare and rights of participants in research
(2) To consider ethical implications of all proposed research projects involving human subjects submitted to it by staff and students of the University of South Australia and to determine whether or not they are acceptable on ethical grounds. These considerations will be based on the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and other advice received from the NHMRC and might involve the delegation of considerations to Divisional Ethics Committees where this is consistent with the National Statement and procedures approved from time to time by Academic Board
(3) To consider ethical implications of all proposed research projects involving human subjects submitted to it by researchers not affiliated with University of South Australia and to determine whether or not they are acceptable on ethical grounds. These considerations will be based on the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and other advice received from the NHMRC. Legal responsibility for research undertaken by researchers not affiliated with the University rests with those researchers and not the University of South Australia
(4) To maintain a record of all proposed research projects in accordance with National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. The protocols of research proposals shall be preserved in the form in which they are approved including information sheets, consent forms or related correspondence
(5) To establish and maintain communication with the NHMRC's Australian Health Ethics Committee and provide information from its records to the NHMRC on request
(6) To report annually to the NHMRC's Australian Health Ethics Committee
(7) To develop and recommend policies and procedures to Academic Board through the Research Integrity, Accountability and Compliance Committee and report to Academic Board concerning ethical issues in research involving human subjects conducted by, or under the supervision of, the staff or students of the University of South Australia
(8) To report to the Research Integrity, Accountability and Compliance Committee from time to time on any relevant matters which may arise or may be referred to it
(9) To consider any other matter relevant to human research ethics referred to it by members of the University.
A subcommittee of the Human Research Ethic Committee will consider applications for approval to use human tissue.
Membership of this subcommittee will comprise
and members filling the categories of
Additional expert advice will be sought from a qualified medical practitioner if the member filling the category of a person with knowledge of, an current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people does not hold this qualification.
The subcommittee will provide advice to HREC on the acceptance of the application and any conditions to be applied.
