HREC Forms & Guidelines
Application Forms
(If any of these links do not work, please refresh your browser by pressing F5 and then try the link again. If the link/s still do not work, please contact Jo-Ann Sozou, ext 3449)
Expedited Review Application Form (Start with this form)
Please download this form each time you submit an application as applications submitted on outdated forms will not be accepted.
NEAF Application Form (Have you checked the Expedited form first?)
Variation Form
Progress or Final Report Form
Sample - Information Sheets for Participants & Consent Form
- Information Sheet for Participants and Consent Form
- Information Sheet for Children and Young People - Medical
- Information Sheet & Assent Form for Children and Young People - Education
Guidelines & Protocol for Conducting Telephone Interviews
Please read before continuing
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These are the only forms to be used to apply for human ethics approval at the University of New England. All staff, students, and external researchers wanting to conduct human research at the University, are required to use these forms. Applications on the old forms will not be accepted. The HREC’s Database of Approved Procedures and Tests is now available for use. If researchers use the procedures and tests from the Database they will not need to provide copies with their application to the HREC for approval. Click on the link above to access the database. |
The above Application and Variation forms are to be used for applications to the University of New England’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
The application forms and guidelines undergo continuous refinement. Please download the appropriate form each time you are required to submit an application as applications submitted on outdated forms will not be accepted.
Feedback on the forms is encouraged and welcomed. Please forward your comments to: ethics@une.edu.au
Application Forms
Application Form |
The Application form is used to apply for Human Ethics approval for a new research project.
The University of New England’s HREC applies a 3 tiered approach when reviewing applications for ethics approval. This reflects the ethical issues and possible risks to research participants associated with the research protocol. Risk is the potential for harm either physical, psychological, social, economic, or legal (Risks - Chapter 2.1 pg 16) - or the potential to cause people to think they have been treated disrespectfully. There are 3 levels - 2 of which are dealt with by expedited review.
|
Level |
Risk to participants: |
Risk Explained: |
Reviewed by: |
|
E1 |
Negligible or no appreciable risks or ethical issues |
Where there is no foreseeable risk of harm or discomfort: and any foreseeable risk is no more than inconvenience |
Chair |
|
E2 |
Low risk and ethical issues addressed by research design |
Where the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort. |
HREC sub-Panel - meets weekly - Thursday morning. (These applications must be at Research Services by 5pm Friday to go to the Thursday meeting.) |
|
E3 |
Potential for significant or unavoidable risk; not eligible for L1 or L2 |
The greater the risks to participants in any research for which ethical approval is given, the more certain it must be both that the risks will be managed as well as possible, and that the participants clearly understand the risks they are assuming. |
Full HREC |
Response Times:
These will vary depending on level of review and the following response times are indications only: E1 – 1-3 working days from submission, E2 – 1-3 working days after the meeting, E3 – 2-4 working days after the meeting.
There are 2 application forms for applying for Human Ethics approval:
The Application for Expedited Review – This is used for E1 and E2 applications
The NEAF (National Ethics Application Form) developed by the governing body for Human Research Ethics Committees in Australia – This is used for E3 applications.
Which form do I use?
Start with the Application for Expedited Review form.
Questions in Part A of this form will determine your eligibility for expedited review and which form you need to complete and submit. However, if you know your research will be ineligible for expedited review you can go directly to the NEAF Form.
** Please note: The first time you access NEAF you will need to register as a new user. If you do not receive an email from NEAF within 24 hours with confirmation of your registration and your password please contact NEAF Assist on 1800 823 993 or neafassist@nhmrc.gov.au
If you continue to encounter problems please contact Mrs Jo-Ann Sozou, Research Ethics Officer on: 6773 3449 or ethics@une.edu.au
Variation |
The Variation form is used for requesting an extension, amendment, variation or the addition of Staff or Students to an existing protocol that has already received ethics approval.
Progress or Final Reports |
The Progress or Final Report form is used to inform the HREC of your researches progress or that the research has been completed. These must be submitted either on completing (ie 1 year after approval is granted) or if you received approval for more than 1 year a progress report must be submitted every 12 months.