Human ethics

Conducting research about people and their data

The Human Research Ethics team is responsible for ensuring that processes, resources and guidance embed ethics across our research practices.

According to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023) (the National Statement), human research is understood broadly to include the involvement of human beings through:

• taking part in surveys, interviews or focus groups
• undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment
• being observed by researchers
• researchers having access to their personal documents or other materials
• the collection and use of their body organs, tissues or fluids (eg skin, blood, urine, saliva, hair, bones, tumour and other biopsy specimens) or their exhaled breath
• access to their information (in individually identifiable, re-identifiable or non-identifiable form) as part of an existing published or unpublished source or database.

Approval is required before there is any interaction with participants or their data. If your research includes any of the above, you must apply for ethics approval before you commence your research. If you have doubts about whether your project falls under research or the teaching and learning category, contact the Ethics Secretariat for further clarification.

Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs)

All research conducted at Macquarie University or Macquarie University Hospital, or by staff, students or visitors to Macquarie University or Macquarie University Hospital, or which is carried out using University equipment, facilities or premises owned by the University or otherwise under control of the University must obtain ethics approval from a Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) before it can commence.

Two centralised HRECs and several low-risk ethics subcommittees review the conduct of research involving humans. These HRECs are constituted and operate in accordance with the National Statement.

Learn more about HRECs:

• HREC Terms of Reference
• HREC Membership.

Events and training

You can request an information session to learn more about the National Statement. Sessions are presented by Dr Karolyn White, Director, Research Ethics and Integrity at Macquarie University and/or Jennifer Rowland, Human Research Ethics Manager and Secretariat to HREC Medical Sciences.

Contact ethics.secretariat@mq.edu.au to arrange an information session.