The ACT requires all research students who undertake human subject research to submit an application to the Ethics Committee for approval of such research. All students should read the Guide to Ethics Protocol before completing the application form.

Currently applications are made on the prescribed form which can be downloaded here: Ethics Protocol Form

Please note that any submission for this Committee must be sent (preferably by email) to The Secretary, ACT Ethics Committee, gchatfield@actheology.edu.au no later than two weeks prior to the meeting date. Check the calendar of board dates from the tab on the home page of the ACT website.

The Ethics Committee is also looking at an alternative to this form, NEAF (National Ethics Application Form).  We would like your feedback on the suitability of this form and encourage students and supervisors to trial it where possible.

NEAF is a web-based tool that has been developed to assist researchers of all disciplines to complete research ethics proposals for submission to Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), and to assist HRECs to consistently and efficiently assess these proposals.  It has been designed to meet the requirements of relevant guidelines with the aim of increasing the efficiency and quality of the ethical review process for all parties involved.

You will find a guide to the content and structure of NEAF in the NEAF Quick Reference Map on the NEAF website.  Detailed information on how to use NEAF is provided on-line once you have registered.  You can register as a user at anytime by accessing the NEAF website www.neaf.gov.au

Users can be assured that their proposal addresses the ethical considerations required by relevant guidelines, minimising possible delays caused by the ACT Ethics Committee requesting additional information.  NEAF also provides reference material, a Quickstart Guide, FAQs, as well as a comprehensive guidance on questions, and an on-line Help guide.

NEAF is provided in a secure IT environment, and allows you to complete a research ethics proposal over a period of time so that you can start and save a proposal to come back to later.  Because NEAF is dynamic, you only see questions relevant to your research proposal – making the process quicker and more efficient for researchers.  Users may invite other users to edit or read their proposals through NEAF.  For example, you may wish to invite a co-investigator or supervisor to view your proposal.  Researchers using NEAF can submit their proposals to the ACT Ethics Committee in either hard copy or electronically.  Electronic submission will assist the Ethics Committee to maintain efficient record-keeping processes.

FAQs regarding submission of NEAFs to HRECs

Is filling out NEAF all I need to do to complete the research ethics proposal for submission to the ACT’s Ethics Committee?
NEAF has been designed as a tool to assist researchers and HRECs in ensuring they address all requirements of the relevant ethical guidelines and legislation such as the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans.  The ACT Ethics Committee, and the country where your research will be operating, may require additional ethical issues to be addressed.  It is your responsibility to check with your supervisor regarding what requirements they may have other than those already covered in NEAF.

I want to submit my research proposal electronically.  How do I do this?
The ACT Ethics Committee allows electronic submission of research ethics proposals.  You can save your proposal in PDF format on your computer, and then email the PDF document to the ACT using your standard email account.  The address to email submission to is The Secretary, ACT Ethics Committee, gchatfield@actheology.edu.au.

When I print out my proposal, I get a list of attachments.  What are these for? The list of attachments included at the back of your printed research ethics proposal provide you with a checklist of additional documents and issues you may need to add to your research ethics proposal, as attachments, before submitting your proposal to the ACT. Examples of such attachments are copies of advertisements or letters of invitation you may use to recruit participants, and participant consent forms.