News and Events

26 February 2008

The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is seeking Expressions of Interest from the local community and academic staff of the University for membership. More information. Expressions of Interest close 7 March 2008.

7 February 2008

New policy on Reimbursing Research Participants released.

15 October 2007

Updated policies on Interview Recording and Transcribing and Telephone Interviewing released.

22 May 2007

The HREC Register of Approved Tests and Procedures launched.

For tests and procedures listed in the Register it is not necessary for researchers to provide copies with an application to the HREC for ethics approval.

15 May 2007

Release of revised National Statement

The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2007, co-issued by the NHMRC, ARC and AVCC, was released in April and replaces the 1999 National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. The 2007National Statement is now the principal point of reference for both researchers and human research ethics committees.

19 March 2007

Peer review of research proposals submitted for ethics approval

The University's Academic Senate has introduced a Procedure for the peer review of research proposals submitted for human and animal ethics approval. Effective from 22 February 2007.

6 March 2007

Appointment of Research Ethics Advisors

Research Ethics Advisors (REAs) have been appointed in Faculties to assist researchers, both staff and students, to design ethically acceptable human research and assist them through the ethics approval process. Details.

23 January 2007

New application forms

As part of NUHREP new ethics application forms are now in place. These are the only forms to be used to apply for human research ethics approval from the University of Newcastle.

All staff, students, and external researchers wishing to conduct human research at the University, apply through this site. - there are no longer different forms or processes for applications from students.

Applications on the old form will not be accepted after 31 January 2007.

18 January 2007

Research Ethics Advisors

A key feature of NUHREP is the introduction of Research Ethics Advisors (REAs) at the Faculty / School level to provide local support to researchers. Expressions of interest for these positions close on 31 January. More details.

December 2006

NUHREP Evaluation Workshop

On 14 December 2006, a workshop was held for researchers and research support staff to evaluate progress with the development and introduction of new human research ethics processes at the University of Newcastle - the NUHREP project. Human research conducted at the University is to comply with the provisions of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans. A review of the National Statement was conducted in 2006 by a working group from the NHMRC, ARC and AVCC with the revised version expected for release in February 2007. As part of the NUHREP workshop, comment was invited on the Draft Expedited Review Application form which was based on the 2nd Consultation Draft of the revised National Statement.

September 2006

Human Ethics Survey - Outcomes

The results of a user-satisfaction survey conducted in July 2006 as part of an administrative review of Human Research Ethics in The University of Newcastle are now available. Full Report…

Thank you to all who contributed to the user-survey. This was sent to all principal investigators (staff) who made an initial submission between 1 May 2005 and 30 April 2006. We had an excellent return rate, 61.8%. Thanks also to Corporate Information who set up the survey, analysed it and wrote the report. We very much appreciate their help. It was independent and thorough.