Human Ethics

Researchers are responsible for reporting any adverse events or protocol deviations that occur during a human research project.

The research team must complete the Adverse Event Form and Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) Form in Integrity for the relevant human ethics project.

Members of the public can report an adverse event that they have experienced by either contacting the Chief Investigator of the project – the contact details will be noted in the project information. If this is not available, or you wish to submit a confidential report, please contact the Ethics Secretariat via

• humanethics@westernsydney.edu.au
• Phone: +61 2 4736 2229

Anyone involved in or affected by a human research project – including participants, researchers, supervisors, or members of the public – can lodge a complaint about the conduct of the research or concerns about ethical practice.

Complaints should be reported as soon as possible if they relate to:

• A participant’s welfare, rights, or consent
• The behaviour of a researcher or research team
• A breach of approved protocol or ethical standards

Complaints can be made by contacting the Ethics Secretariat directly by email or phone:

• humanethics@westernsydney.edu.au
• Phone: +61 2 4736 2229

All complaints will be treated confidentially and respectfully.

The Chair of the Human Research Ethics Committee will review the matter and may seek additional information. Depending on the nature of the complaint, the response may include:

• Clarifying or correcting study procedures
• Requiring further action from the research team
• Suspending or modifying ethical approval

The Ethics Secretariat will ensure that all complaints are acknowledged promptly, assessed fairly, and resolved where possible in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2025.

The Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is an accredited HREC under the terms of the NHMRC. It follows the accreditation guidelines and reports annually to the NHMRC. Committees are comprised of mandatory members as per the NHMRC's required composition, and additional members with expertise relevant to Western Sydney University research.

The HREC Chair is Dr Kristy Coxon. Western Sydney academic staff are listed below:

The committee is supported by a lawyer and members from the community including two lay people (one man and one woman), and a pastoral care professional.

All correspondence between researchers and committee members is to be directed through the human ethics secretariat.

The full committee meets once a month, except in January, for the assessment of Moderate and High Risk applications, amendments and responses.

The HREC delegates the assessment of some amendments and responses to its Executive committee which meets approximately weekly.

The HREC delegates the review of projects rated Negligible or Low to the Low and Negligible Risk (LNR) committee which meets approximately weekly. Professor Michele Simons is the Chair of the LNR.

Please note - The submission deadline for any meeting is close of business (5pm) on the specified date. Late applications may be held over until the following meeting.

The November and December HREC meeting dates and submission deadlines are indicative only and may change, subject to university advice on the end‑of‑year shutdown. Please check dates throughout the year.

• The HREC reviews new applications for projects with a risk rating of greater than Low or High. Please refer to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2025 | NHMRC(opens in a new window)
• All submissions are screened by the Ethics Secretariat before being assigned to the committee for review. The Ethics Secretariat may ask you to make changes to the application, so please factor this step into your submission timeline. Furthermore, students must ensure their application/amendment, etc., is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.
• The School of Education has a mandatory pre-review process which involves the Dean reviewing applications before they are submitted to the Ethics Secretariat.

Please note - The submission deadline for any meeting is close of business (5pm) on the specified date. Late applications may be held over until the following meeting.

The November and December LNR Committee Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines are indicative only and may change, subject to university advice on the end‑of‑year shutdown. Please check dates throughout the year.

• The Low & Negligible Risk Committee (LNR) reviews new applications, resubmissions, and amendments for projects with a risk rating of minimal or low. Please refer to the National Statement for information about risk assessments: National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2025 | NHMRC
• All submissions are screened by the Ethics Secretariat before being assigned to the committee for review. The Ethics Secretariat may ask you to make changes to the application, so please factor this step into your submission timeline. Furthermore, students must ensure their application/amendment, etc., is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.
• School of Education applications must be pre-reviewed by the Dean before submission to the Ethics Secretariat.

Please note - The submission deadline for any meeting is close of business (5pm) on the specified date. Late applications may be held over until the following meeting.

The November and December Executive Committee Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines are indicative only and may change, subject to university advice on the end‑of‑year shutdown. Please check dates throughout the year.

• The Executive Committee reviews responses and amendments for projects with a risk rating of "greater than Low" or "High", unless they have been assigned to the HREC. It also reviews ‘Joint Applications’ & "Subprojects".
• All submissions are screened by the Ethics Secretariat before being assigned to the committee for review. The Ethics Secretariat may ask you to make changes to the application, so please factor this step into your submission timeline. Furthermore, students must ensure their responses/amendments, etc., is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.

• Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Terms of Reference(opens in a new window)
• Low and Negligible Risk (LNR) Committee Terms of Reference(opens in a new window)

Participating in a Human Research Ethics Committee offers unique benefits for both academics and community members.

Academic members have the opportunity to contribute to the research culture of our university by upholding ethical standards, supporting their colleagues, and ensuring the integrity of research practices. This involvement not only enhances the quality and impact of their own work but also strengthens the broader academic community.

For community members, joining a committee allows you to learn about research that impacts people and communities and is an opportunity for you to help protect the safety and welfare of research participants. Your contributions will help to make a meaningful difference. Together, we can promote responsible research that benefits society and advances knowledge.

If you are ready to apply, please submit an Expression of Interest form:

• Expression of Interest Form - Academic (Click to Download)
• Expression of Interest Form - Community Member (Click to Download)

Please email your EOI form to humanethics@westernsydney.edu.au