Staff Notice No. 2003/16

Research or Teaching Using Human Participants

The University of Canberra requires that staff and students observe a high standard of ethics with regard to all teaching and research involving the use of human participants.

While acknowledging all research has benefits and risks the University policy complies with that of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (Commonwealth of Australia 1999). The policy also implements the requirements of the Commonwealth Privacy Act, 1988.

Research activities that require the approval of the Committee for Ethics in Human Research include not only medical or physiological projects, but psychological, behavioural and sociological research (including surveys). Key matters to consider are whether the participants are to be identified and whether there is any potential for detriment which may arise from the project. Privacy and confidentiality must be maintained.

Teaching activities that involve research with human participants must have approval of the Human Ethics committee. If participation by students is compulsory these requirements must be indicated in the subject outline handed out at the beginning of semester. Students who have valid reasons for not wishing to participate in such projects should discuss these reasons with the Subject Convenor.

All researchers who wish to access the University community as subjects, and with a view to publication of results (as opposed to use purely within teaching and learning processes) must:

obtain permission of the Vice Chancellor or his Deputy
seek approval from the UC Human Ethics Committee in the normal way : and
indicate how the resultant data will be published, if at all.

If the research is purely within teaching and learning, the Vice Chancellor or his Deputy do not need to be involved.

Please note no retrospective approval can be given to applications.

The closing dates for receipt of applications and meetings dates for 2004 are:

*Meeting No.*	*Closing date for papers*	*Meeting Date*
2004/01	12 February	23 February
2004/02	18 March	29 March
2004/03	22 April	3 May
2004/04	27 May	7 June
2004/05	24 June	5 July
2004/06	5 August	16 August
2004/07	2 September	13 September
2004/08	7 October	18 October
2004/09	11 November	22 November

Staff are requested to inform students of the above requirements and dates. The Ethics Manual and application forms be accessed on the University website at http://www.canberra.edu.au/secretariat/ethics/human_ethics/manual.html

For further information contact the Secretary of the Committee for Ethics in Human Research, Ms Alison Langley, Room 1D89, extension 2148.

Professor Roger Dean
Vice Chancellor

5 November 2003

Distribution: All Academic Staff