Graduate School of Research

Ethics

“All human interaction, including the interaction involved in human research, has ethical dimensions. However, ‘ethical conduct’ is more than simply doing the right thing. It involves acting in the right spirit, out of an abiding respect and concern for one’s fellow creatures.”

Preamble, National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (National Statement)

The Australian College of Theology believes that people, our ‘fellow creatures,’ are created in the image of God and, therefore, that any research involving human participants will uphold the values of respect, research merit and integrity, justice, and beneficence.

As an institution we have established procedures for the ethical review of human research. Research with more than a low level of risk, as well as all human research carried out by Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, is directly reviewed by the Australian College of Theology’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Research involving no more than low risk is usually reviewed by Low-Risk Ethics Committees (LRECs) of affiliated colleges and reported to HREC. Research proposals must meet the requirements of the National Statement and be ethically acceptable before research can begin and full funding for the proposal (if any) is released.

The ACT’s HREC submits annual reports to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) which assesses its compliance with the National Statement.

For more information, see the National Statement: National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) – Updated 2018 | NHMRC

Membership

Current Members of the Australian College of Theology Ethics Committee (EC00327):

Concerns

If you have concerns about any human participant research undertaken by an ACT-affiliated researcher (student, HDR candidate or faculty member), please contact the HREC via the Director of Research using the contact form below.