Integrity in Research

Western Sydney University aims to encourage and ensure integrity in research and scholarship as both an intrinsic value and to meet its obligation to research funding bodies, governments, and the public as set out in the following code and statements:

Research Integrity Advisors

In order to provide researchers (both staff and students) with support and resources to achieve this outcome, the University has appointed Research Integrity Advisors. Research Integrity Advisors are experienced researchers with a good knowledge and understanding of accepted practices in research who actively promote the University's commitment to the responsible conduct of research.

Staff, students and affiliates can contact a Research Integrity Advisor to obtain confidential advice on good research practices, including publication and dissemination of research findings, authorship, conflicts of interests and management of research data and primary materials. If you are unsure about a research conduct issue or need advice about a potentially questionable research practice, please contact a Research Integrity Advisor who can provide confidential advice, explain the Code and the policies and procedures of the University, and discuss the options for taking action.

Advisors can also advise you on the process of making an allegation of a potential breach of the Code. However, please note that advisors are not involved in investigating or assessing any allegation, and will not make contact with the person who is the subject of the allegation, or be involved in any subsequent inquiry.

Our Research Integrity Advisors are available across our campuses and may be approached by staff or students from any area.

Research Integrity Advisors
School/ Institute Name Campus
Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Professor Ian Anderson Hawkesbury
Institute for Culture and Society Associate Professor Juan Francisco Salazar Parramatta
The MARCS Institute Professor Kate StevensBankstown
School of Business Associate Professor Meg Smith Parramatta
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics Associate Professor Vivian Tam Penrith (Kingswood)
School of Education Professor Wayne Sawyer Penrith (Kingswood)
School of Humanities and Communication Arts Professor Brett BowdenBankstown
School of Law Associate Professor Alpana Roy Parramatta
School of Medicine Professor John Morley Campbelltown
School of Nursing and Midwifery Professor Virginia Schmied Parramatta
School of Science and Health Associate Professor Gary Dennis Parramatta
School of Social Sciences and Psychology Professor Adam Possamai Bankstown

Integrity in Research Committee

The University's Integrity in Research Committee has the responsibility of advising on high level issues relating to the ethical and professional conduct of research. The committee's terms of reference are found in Clause 45 of the Research Code of Practice (opens in a new window)

The committee:

  • Provides confidential advice to both staff and students on ethical issues in research matters, including potential conflict of interest in funding and sponsorship.
  • Will receive, in confidence, notification from researchers on any affiliation or financial involvement in, or payments or other assistance in kind from, any organisation with direct interest in the subject matter or materials of their research. A confidential Register of this information is maintained by the committee.
  • Will liaise with external bodies such as research funding bodies and journal editors in the event of actual or alleged conflict of interest in research.
  • Provides advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President on issues of integrity in research.
  • Does not have a role in the administration of ethics protocols at the University. This is the role of the Human Research Ethics, Animal and Biosafety committees, and the Ethics Officers within Research Services.
  • Does not have a role in the management of misconduct in research at the University. See Section 44 of the Academic Staff Agreement 2014-2017 (PDF, 1334.55 KB) (opens in a new window)