Ethical Approval

All students must be familiar with the relevant legislative and compliance requirements of the University and also of regulatory and advisory bodies in relation to their research or experimentation.

As research projects and practices must conform to the accepted ethical standards and statutory requirements, you will not be permitted to commence research involving human or animal subjects, or genetically modified organisms until you have completed appropriate ethics training and obtained the required approvals. Accordingly, any required ethics approvals must be arranged by the time you lodge the ‘Core Component of the Structured Program’ form with the Adelaide Graduate Centre.

Where ethics approval will not be required until later in your degree, you must submit your application at least three months prior to the date when you expect to commence this aspect of your research to allow sufficient time for the application to be considered and processed.  A copy of the letter(s) confirming ethics approval from the relevant ethics committee(s) must be provided to the Graduate Centre immediately (a copy of the ethics application itself is not required).

Failure to obtain the necessary ethics approval(s) can have serious consequences. For example:

• major funding bodies will only release funds to successful grant holders once all relevant approvals have been obtained. Ongoing funding is also dependent on ongoing compliance with your ethics approvals;
• indemnity and insurance are becoming more and more of an issue. It is a condition of the University’s insurance policies that you have the necessary approvals in place.
• You as a researcher can be held personally liable in relation to non-compliance.  Not only could your candidature be jeopardised, penalties can include criminal prosecution, fines or imprisonment. A major non-compliance could possibly cause a shut down in a particular area if a statutory body withdrew its accreditation licence.

Whilst it is ultimately your principal supervisor’s responsibility to obtain the required ethical approval(s) for your higher degree project, you will be involved in preparing applications for approval which may involve interaction with the appropriate ethics officer.

The ethics officers can be found in the University’s Office of Research Ethics, Compliance and Integrity (ORECI).  ORECI provides resources, advice and assistance to University researchers regarding their ethics and compliance obligations: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/   The work of the office covers: human research ethics, animal ethics, gene technology, quarantine and security sensitive biological agents (biohazards). 

Human Research

Human research is research conducted with or about people, or their data or tissue. It can be broadly understood to include: taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups; undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment; being observed by researchers; the collection and use of participants' body organs, tissues or fluids and access to their personal documents or other materials.

If your research involves human subjects, you must obtain ethics approval in advance in accordance with requirements explained at the University of Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee's (HREC) web site: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/research/ethics/human/
Contact HREC for advice and further information where required.

Animal Ethics

The use of animals is regulated by State legislation and must comply with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 7th Edition, 2004 (available at the animal ethics website).  All student projects which intend to use animals for teaching, research or experimentation must obtain ethical approval from the University of Adelaide Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) prior to any use or involvement with animals, irrespective of where they are located, where animals may be housed or used, or of the source of funding.

A training course is conducted by the Animal Ethics Committee in early March each year to expose new animal users to the ethical questions they are obliged to consider and to provide advice regarding the responsibilities involved. If your research will involve the use of animals, completion of this course (or alternative on-line program), together with the online assessment in animal ethics, is mandatory. Further information is available at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/red/animal_ethics/ and www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/animal

You will need to include the certificate you received on completion of the online animal ethics assessment with your ‘Core Component’ documentation.

Gene Technology

Students whose research will involve genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will need the appropriate approvals from the University of Adelaide Institutional Biosafety Committee and, where necessary, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator, prior to commencing their research. All dealings with GMOs must comply with the Gene Technology Act 2000 and the associated Gene Technology Regulations 2001. Certain dealings with GMOs must be conducted within physical containment facilities that are certified by the OGTR and students working in these facilities must be trained in the OGTR requirements. Students should also be aware that if they are working in another organisation’s premises or facilities, there is the requirement to meet both the University and the other organisation’s compliance protocols.

For further information and advice refer to: www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/genetech

Quarantine

The Quarantine Act 1908 regulates the importation of certain material from overseas. Students wishing to import/receive material from overseas need to determine if they require an Import Permit from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS). Other permits or approvals may also be required as a condition of an import permit and the student must ensure that the appropriate approvals and/or permits are obtained prior to commencing the research work. The conditions listed on the import permit must be met at all times to ensure ongoing compliance with the legislation. In addition, some quarantine risk material must be stored or dealt with in a Quarantine Approved Premise (QAP). Students who work with material subject to quarantine in a QAP need to complete the AQIS required online training to become a ‘QAP Accredited Person’. 

For further information and contact details for queries regarding quarantine compliance obligations, please refer to the web at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/quarantine/

Security Sensitive Biological Agents (Biohazards)

To improve the security of biological agents of security concern in Australia, a regulatory scheme has been implemented by the Office of Health Protection, Department of Health and Ageing for the regulation of security sensitive biological agents. The aim is "to give effect to Australia's obligations to establish controls for the security of certain biological agents that could be used as weapons."

 Agents that are considered to be of security concern to Australia are regulated by inclusion on the List of Security Sensitive Biological Agents (the List of SSBAs). The list may be viewed on the ORECI website at: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/ethics/ssba/   

If your research will involve handling any agent on the List of SSBAs you must first contact the Research Ethics and Compliance Unit in order to register the SSBAs.