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Indigenous research

You need to be aware of some particular requirements if your research will be undertaken with Indigenous research participants who are selected for inclusion because they are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) requires that research involving significant participation of indigenous people and communities is reviewed by the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research (ICER). This will be arranged for you by the Executive Officer of UniSA HREC. The EO arranges for projects involving Indigenous Australians to be reviewed by those with appropriate expertise and provides their comments to UniSA HREC. UniSA HREC incorporates these comments into its assessment and decision.

The ICER has established processes aimed at ensuring that Indigenous Australians are consulted about, and involved in, any research conducted in relation to them or their communities. These processes ensure appropriate consultation, clarification of research ownership and control, and community involvement. The ICER has developed guidelines for the conduct of research that is culturally appropriate.

UniSA HREC and the ICER seek to:

• promote research which meets the needs and aspirations of Indigenous Australians and communities
• encourage research where Indigenous Australians are involved in determining and defining the research
• develop research procedures which facilitate input from Indigenous Australian individuals, families, groups and communities
• take account of cultural and personal sensitivities and their right to refuse to participate
• promote recognition of Indigenous Australian community and expertise
• ensure that relevant people receive the results of the research in an accessible and acceptable manner
• ensure benefit to the community and promote employment of local people in research activity
• facilitate collaborative research
• respect Indigenous Australian cultural norms in relation to publication, the use of photographs and identification of individuals
• foster debate and criticism of research amongst work colleagues and peers as part of the research process
• provide a mechanism to obtain advice on the conduct of sound and ethical research practice
• provide a mechanism to enable the negotiation of issues of ownership and control of research outcomes
• provide a research framework encouraging the implementation of the policy and guidelines throughout the University.

Further information

For further information please refer to the following documents (also available from the Ethics and Compliance Officer)

• appropriate section in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 (NHMRC)
• Values and ethics: guidelines for ethical conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research (NHMRC) (PDF file, 310kb)

Contact the Executive Officer of UniSA HREC for further assistance regarding Ethics and Indigenous Australian research.

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