Research that involves multiples sites and/or poses risk greater than low risk will require a full Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) review. Greater than low risk research is where the risk, even if unlikely, is more than discomfort (National Statement, 2023).

All institutions involved in research must meet high ethical standards and must comply with national and international laws and guidelines that are in place to protect research participants, and to ensure good research conduct and appropriate research oversight and governance.

The key document that guides and supports the ethical conduct of research in Australia is the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2023.

Multi-site research
– Under the National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) Scheme,  a single scientific and ethical review can be accepted for eligible multi site human research conducting across participating public health organisations.
– To qualify for mutual acceptance under the NMA scheme, the HREC conducting the ethical review must be certified under the NHMRC National Certification Scheme.
– For further information about the NMA scheme, including a list of certified reviewing HRECs, please visit their website.

How to obtain HREC approval

Step 1: Northern Health does not have a HREC but will instead accept the approval provided by an external NHMRC certified HREC.

We recommend contacting your selected HREC early for advice and assistance.

NHMRC Certified HRECs – Victoria
Meeting dates & deadlines

Step 2: Following HREC Approval, you will then be required to obtain governance authorisation.

For further information- please see Research Governance