Human Ethics

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).

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.

• Human Research Ethics Application (HREA)
• Guidance documents
• External resources
• HREA Support (opens in a new window)
• Ethics Process Quick FAQ (PDF, 45.54 KB) (opens in a new window)
• A Conversation About Research Ethics (opens in a new window) produced by the Graduate Research School

Recommended Readings

• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) (opens in a new window)
• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (opens in a new window)
• Research Ethics Policy (opens in a new window)
• Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Terms of Reference (DOCX, 69.7 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Low & Negligible Risk (LNR) Committee Terms of Reference (PDF, 291.17 KB) (opens in a new window)

• Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) (opens in a new window)
• Project Description template (DOCX, 69.88 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Amendment Request form (DOCX, 76.82 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Clinical Trial form (DOCX, 52.7 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Exemption from Human Ethics Review form (DOCX, 64.92 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Progress and Final Report form (DOCX, 64.2 KB) (opens in a new window)
• External Ethics Recognition Cover Sheet (DOCX, 49.41 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Joint Ethics Application Cover Sheet (DOCX, 56.05 KB) (opens in a new window)
• Transfer of Ethics Approval Cover Sheet (DOCX, 49.07 KB) (opens in a new window)

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.

• Participant Information Sheet – General (Extended) (DOC, 152.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – General (Extended) (DOC, 143.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When the participant gives consent for him/herself and data will be used for this project and possibly other similar projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – General (Specific) (DOC, 146 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – General (Specific) (DOC, 142.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When the participant gives consent for him/herself and data will ONLY be used for this project.
• Participant Information Sheet – General (Unspecified) (DOC, 150.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – General (Unspecified) (DOC, 145 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When the participant gives consent for him/herself and data will be used for this project and possibly other projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Parent or Carer (Extended) (DOC, 153 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Parent or Carer (Extended) (DOC, 144 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a parent or carer for a child and data will be used for this project and possibly other similar projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Parent or Carer (Specific) (DOC, 148 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Parent or Carer (Specific) (DOC, 145 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a parent or carer for a child and data will ONLY be used for this project.
• Participant Information Sheet – Parent or Carer (Unspecified) (DOC, 156 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Parent or Carer (Unspecified) (DOC, 145 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a parent or carer for a child and data will be used for this project and possibly other projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Guardian (Extended) (DOC, 154 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Guardian (Extended) (DOC, 144 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a guardian of the participant and data will be used for this project and possibly other similar projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Guardian (Specific) (DOC, 148 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Guardian (Specific) (DOC, 145 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a guardian of the participant and data will ONLY be used for this project.
• Participant Information Sheet – Guardian (Unspecified) (DOC, 152 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Guardian (Unspecified) (DOC, 145.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When consent is being given via a guardian of the participant and data will be used for this project and possibly other projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Medical/Health (Extended) (DOC, 152.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Medical/ Health (Extended) (DOC, 143.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When medical information is being collected and data will be used for this project and possibly other similar projects.
• Participant Information Sheet – Medical/Health (Specific) (DOC, 147 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Medical/Health (Specific) (DOC, 143 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When medical information is being collected and data will ONLY be used for this project.
• Participant Information Sheet – Medical/Health (Unspecified) (DOC, 150.5 KB) (opens in a new window)
  Consent form – Medical/Health (Unspecified) (DOC, 144 KB) (opens in a new window)
  When medical information is being collected and data will be used for this project and possibly other projects.

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)

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:

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.

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 HREC reviews new applications for projects with a risk rating of greater than Low or High. Please refer to the National Statement (opens in a new window) for information about risk assessments.
• The November and December HREC meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2024. 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 School of Education has a mandatory pre-review process which involves the Dean reviewing applications before they are submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from the School of Education should ensure their application is reviewed by Professor Michele Simons before it is submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from other Schools and Institutes should check whether there is a similar process in their academic unit before submitting the application.
• All students must ensure their application is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.
• All applications 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.

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 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 (opens in a new window) for information about risk assessments. Amendments that change the risk level of a project to greater than Low risk may require HREC review and the risk level of the project may be adjusted for all subsequent reviews. For example, the addition of a participant group targeting people with a cognitive disorder will automatically increase the risks level, and change how the project is reviewed.
• The November and December LNR Committee meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2024. 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 School of Education has a mandatory pre-review process which involves the Dean reviewing applications before they are submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from the School of Education should ensure their application is reviewed by Professor Michele Simons before it is submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from other Schools and Institutes should check whether there is a similar process in their academic unit before submitting the application.
• All students must ensure their application is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.
• 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.

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 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’.
• The November and December Executive Committee meeting and submission dates are subject to University advice regarding the close down period at the end of 2024. 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’.
• The School of Education has a mandatory pre-review process which involves the Dean reviewing applications before they are submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from the School of Education should ensure their application is reviewed by Professor Michele Simons before it is submitted to the Ethics Secretariat. Researchers and students from other Schools and Institutes should check whether there is a similar process in their academic unit before submitting the application.
• All students must ensure their application/amendment etc is reviewed by their supervisor prior to submission.
• 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.