Human Ethics


Consultation

The Human Ethics Officers are available to researchers for consultation. Researchers should contact the human ethics officers if they require assistance with completing their ethics applications. To make a booking, email the human ethics team or phone 4736 0229 (Ext 2229).

COVID-19 Resources

Human Ethics Review Process

Purpose

Western Sydney University fosters responsible research, protecting the welfare, dignity and safety of research participants while maintaining the reputation of the University and its researchers, and minimising claims for negligence against individual researchers or the University.

Research involving humans includes, but is not restricted to, the use and/or collection of personal, collective or cultural data from participants or from their records, and may include their oral testimony or observed cultural activities and the testing of responses to conditions devised by researchers as set out in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (opens in a new window)

The University protects the welfare and rights of research participants by ensuring research projects undergo ethics review to establish that they meet the requirements of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (opens in a new window) and the Ethical guidelilnes for research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (opens in a new window) when relevant, and conform to any relevant legislative requirements as well as University policies.

For a step-by-step guide on how to commence human ethics review, please see How to Apply for Human Ethics Review below.

Ethics Review Process

The human ethics review process flowchart (JPG, 63.47 KB) (opens in a new window) summarises the steps involved in applying to the human ethics committee(s).

How to Apply

Most research involving human participants carried out by staff or students at Western Sydney University must undergo ethical review, and most researchers will submit their application to the Western Sydney University ethics committees.

Find out more on how to apply for human ethics review.

Resources

Forms

Human ethics – Participant Information Sheets and Consent forms

If you are choosing extended or unspecified consent you must provide participants with a copy of the Explanation of Extended and Unspecified Consent (DOC, 136.5 KB) (opens in a new window) document.

Complaints and Adverse Events

Researchers: If an adverse event occurs during your research you must stop gathering data, secure the existing data, and where appropriate, make the research site safe and advise us immediately.

Participants and researchers: If you have a complaint about the conduct of a research project approved by the University's Human Research Ethics Committee, please contact humanethics@westernsydney.edu.au

For more information on how complaints are reviewed by the University see Guidance on Complaints (PDF, 58.62 KB) (opens in a new window)

Committee, Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

Human Ethics Committee

The Western Sydney University Human Research Ethics Committee 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 Associate Professor Gabrielle Weidemann. Western Sydney academic staff are listed below:

RoleName
Chairperson / Executive member Gabrielle Weidemann
Deputy Chair / Executive member Liam Magee
Deputy Chair / Executive member Kristy Coxon
Deputy Chair/ Executive member Roberto Parada (on sabbatical)
Deputy Chair / Executive member Tamara Watson
Relevant Research Experience Lucy Nicholas
Relevant Research Experience Jane Frost
Relevant Research Experience Mike Armour
Relevant Research Experience Dimitris Vardoulakis
Relevant Research Experience Vacant
Community Member Lawyer
Community Member Pastoral Carer
Community Member Layman
Community Member Laywoman

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 Research Ethics Officers.

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.

HREC Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

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.

2023 meeting dates and submission deadlines
Meeting date Submission deadline
20 Feb 20232 Feb 2023
20 Mar 20232 Mar 2023
17 Apr 2023 30 Mar 2023
15 May 2023 27 Apr 2023
19 Jun 20231 Jun 2023
17 Jul 202329 Jun 2023
21 Aug 20233 Aug 2023
18 Sep 202331 Aug 2023
16 Oct 2023 28 Sep 2023
20 Nov 20232 Nov 2023
11 Dec 202323 Nov 2023
  • The HREC reviews new applications for projects with a risk rating of Moderate or High (greater than Low risk as per the definition in the National Statement and the decision of the WSU HREC).
  • The November and December HREC meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2022. Changes may also be made in relation to University mandatory close periods. Therefore, dates above are indicative only. Please check these dates throughout the year.
  • Some Schools/Institutes have a pre-review process which involves a staff member in that unit reviewing applications before they are submitted to the ethics team. Researchers and students should check whether there is a similar process in their School or Institute before sending the application to the ethics team.
  • All applications undergo initial screening by the Human Ethics Officer and you may be required to make changes to the application form and attachments before submission to the HREC. Please factor this into your submission time.

LNR Committee Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

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.

2023 meeting dates and submission deadlines
Meeting date Submission deadline
31 Jan 2023 25 Jan 2023
7 Feb 20231 Feb 2023
14 Feb 20238 Feb 2023
21 Feb 2023 15 Feb 2023
28 Feb 2023 22 Feb 2023
7 Mar 20231 Mar 2023
14 Mar 20238 Mar 2023
21 Mar 2023 15 Mar 2023
28 Mar 2023 22 Mar 2023
4 Apr 202329 Mar 2023
11 Apr 20235 Apr 2023
18 Apr 2023 12 Apr 2023
(25 Apr 2023)No meeting
2 May 2023 26 Apr 2023
9 May 20233 May 2023
16 May 2023 10 May 2023
23 May 2023 17 May 2023
30 May 2023 24 May 2023
6 Jun 202331 May 2023
13 Jun 20237 Jun 2023
20 Jun 2023 14 Jun 2023
27 Jun 2023 21 Jun 2023
4 Jul 2023 28 Jun 2023
11 Jul 20235 Jul 2023
18 Jul 2023 12 Jul 2023
25 Jul 202319 Jul 2023
1 Aug 2023 26 Jul 2023
8 Aug 20232 Aug 2023
15 Aug 20239 Aug 2023
22 Aug 2023 16 Aug 2023
29 Aug 2023 23 Aug 2023
5 Sep 2023 30 Aug 2023
12 Sep 20236 Sep 2023
19 Sep 2023 13 Sep 2023
26 Sep 2023 20 Sep 2023
3 Oct 2023 27 Sep 2023
10 Oct 20234 Oct 2023
17 Oct 2023 11 Oct 2023
24 Oct 2023 18 Oct 2023
31 Oct 2023 25 Oct 2023
7 Nov 20231 Nov 2023
14 Nov 20238 Nov 2023
21 Nov 2023  15 Nov 2023
28 Nov 2023 22 Nov 2023
5 Dec 202329 Nov 2023
  • New applications involving not greater than minimal risk (Negligible and Low) and their responses and amendments are reviewed by the Low and Negligible Risk (LNR) Committee. Amendments that change the risk level of a project to higher than Low risk may require HREC review and the risk level of the project may be adjusted for all subsequent reviews.
  • The November and December LNR Committee meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2022. Changes may also be made in relation to University mandatory close periods. Therefore, dates above are indicative only. Please check these dates throughout the year.
  • The LNR does not meet in weeks with a public holiday. This has been noted in the submission date column as ‘No meeting’.
  • Researchers should check whether their School or Institute has pre-submission requirements for School/Institute-based approval.
  • All submissions will be screened by the Human Ethics Officer and you may be required to make changes before submission to the LNR. Please factor this into your submission time.

Executive Committee Meeting Dates and Submission Deadlines

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.

2023 meeting dates and submission deadlines
Meeting date Submission deadline
30 Jan 2023 25 Jan 2023
6 Feb 20231 Feb 2023
13 Feb 20238 Feb 2023
20 Feb 2023No meeting
27 Feb 2023 22 Feb 2023
6 Mar 20231 Mar 2023
13 Mar 20238 Mar 2023
20 Mar 2023No meeting
27 Mar 2023 22 Mar 2023
3 Apr 202329 Mar 2023
(10 Apr 2023)No meeting
17 Apr 2023No meeting
24 Apr 202319 Apr 2023
1 May 2023 26 Apr 2023
8 May 20233 May 2023
15 May 2023No meeting
22 May 2023 17 May 2023
29 May 2023 24 May 2023
5 Jun 202331 May 2023
(12 Jun 2023) No meeting
19 Jun 2023No meeting
26 Jun 2023 21 Jun 2023
3 Jul 2023 28 Jun 2023
10 Jul 20235 Jul 2023
17 Jul 2023No meeting
24 Jul 202319 Jul 2023
31 Jul 2023 26 Jul 2023
7 Aug 20232 Aug 2023
14 Aug 20239 Aug 2023
21 Aug 2023 No meeting
28 Aug 2023 23 Aug 2023
4 Sep 2023 30 Aug 2023
11 Sep 20236 Sep 2023
18 Sep 2023No meeting
25 Sep 2023 20 Sep 2023
(2 Oct 2023) No meeting
9 Oct 20234 Oct 2023
16 Oct 2023No meeting
23 Oct 2023 18 Oct 2023
30 Oct 2023 25 Oct 2023
6 Nov 20231 Nov 2023
13 Nov 20238 Nov 2023
20 Nov 2023No meeting
27 Nov 2023 22 Nov 2023
4 Dec 202329 Nov 2023
  • The Executive Committee reviews responses and amendments for projects with a risk rating of Moderate or High, unless they have been assigned to the HREC. It also reviews ‘Joint applications’.
  • The November and December Executive Committee meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2022. Changes may also be made in relation to University mandatory close periods. Therefore, dates above are indicative only. Please check these dates throughout the year.
  • The Executive Committee does not meet the week of the HREC meeting or in weeks with a public holiday. This has been noted in the submission date column as ‘No meeting’.
  • Researchers should check whether their School or Institute has pre-submission requirements for School/Institute-based approval.
  • Responses and amendments will be screened by the Human Ethics Officer and you may be required to make changes before submission to the Executive. Please factor this into your submission time.