Human Research Ethics Committee
The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) meets monthly to review Greater than Low Risk (HREA) applications and weekly to consider Minimal and Low Risk applications for ethics approval.
Minimal and Low Risk meetings are held every Thursday to assess research projects classified as minimal or low risk.
The submission closing time is 12:00 noon each Tuesday. All applications received by this deadline will be scheduled for review at the meeting held the following week (9 days' time).
The first Minimal and Low Risk meeting for 2025 will be held on Thursday, the 6th of February, with a submission closing date of Tuesday, the 20th of January. The final meeting for 2025 will take place on Thursday, the 11th of December.
The meeting dates for 2025, including the initial and final Minimal & Low Risk meeting dates, is now available for download here.
The 2026 meeting schedule is also available and includes the initial and final Minimal and Low Risk meeting dates.
Weekly Drop-In Sessions
If you would like to discuss any matters related to human ethics with the HREC Chair and/or the Human Research Ethics Officer, you are welcome to attend our weekly Drop-In Session, held every Tuesday at 2:00 pm.
These sessions provide an opportunity to:
- Ask questions about new project proposals;
- Seek clarification on feedback received from the HREC regarding an existing project; or
- Discuss any other matters related to human research ethics.
If you are unable to attend the scheduled session and need to arrange an alternative meeting time, please contact humanethics@une.edu.au.
Committee Membership
| Name | Category |
|---|---|
| Associate Professor Induwara Gunarathne | Category A - Chairperson |
| Mr Gary Ivory | Category B - Lay person |
| Dr Jann Karp | Category B - Lay person |
| Mr Matthew West | Category C - Knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people |
| Dr Benjamin Chant | Category C - Knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people |
| Dr Irene Ikafa | Category C - Knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people |
| Dr David Young | Category C - Knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of people |
| Ms Anne Rix | Category D - Pastoral care |
| Ms Bridie Walsh | Category E - Lawyer |
| Dr Frances Quinn | Category F - Current research experience |
| Dr Nicolette Larder | Category F - Current research experience & Deputy Chair |
| Dr Stuart Robertson | Category F - Current research experience |
| Dr Cat Volpe-Johnston | Category F - Current research experience |
| Ms Elva Eddasdottir | Category F - Current research experience |
| Miss Vanessa Sewell | Category G - Representative of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander interests |
| Dr Piers Kelly | Category G - Representative of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander interests |
| Mrs Jo-Ann Sozou | Human Research Ethics Officer and HREC Secretary |
Expression of Interest in joining the HREC can be submitted any time and will be considered for any vacancies as they become available.
Please complete the Expression of Interest form. Submission details are included on the form.
