Ethics Statement and Human Research Ethics Policy

1. HUMAN RESEARCH AND ETHICS 

1.1  All human research carried out by staff members and students at the Nan Tien Institute must be submitted for consideration of the ethics associated with it. The Institute’s Code of Conduct sets out the general standards and ethical conduct expected of those who work and study at the institute. All human research conducted at NTI is assessed by an ethical review panel for its ethical acceptability and for its compliance with the regulatory requirements of:

1.1.1 The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) guides institutions and                researchers in responsible research practice and promotes integrity in research.

1.1.2 The NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 (updated 2018) sets out the national standards of ethical conduct for research involving humans and should be used by researchers when developing their projects.

1.2  The essential values that guide ethical research are the values of respect for human beings. Research merit and integrity, justice and beneficence guide the design and conduct of human research and help shape a relationship of trust, mutual responsibility and ethical equality between researchers and research participants.\

1.3  The basis for approving a research project is the set of guidelines in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC, 2018). Researchers should design their projects in accordance with these guidelines. The purpose of this Statement is to promote quality, ethical research that accords participants the respect and protection that is due to them and is of benefit to the wider community. The Statement clarifies the responsibilities of researchers in the ethical design, conduct and dissemination of results of human research.

1.3.1   'Human research' has a broad definition and includes research conducted with or about people, their data or tissue. Ethics approval is required for certain research activities involving humans. Research projects requiring ethics approval include, but are not restricted to: 

(a) gathering information about human beings (and organisations) through interviewing, surveying, questionnaires, observation of human behaviour, audio/videotaping, administering tests or stimuli;

(b) collecting or using human tissue/bone/blood or other body fluids;

(c) clinical trials, using archived data in which individuals are identifiable, and

(d) study or research in illegal activities. 

1.3.2   Ethics approval may not be required where:

(a) the project has an educational or practical experience focus;

(b) is deemed to be of negligible risk; or

(c) involves the use of existing collections of data and records that contain only non-identifiable data about human beings.

Staff should check with the Dean of Studies and students should check with their unit coordinator.

1.4  Researchers may not commence their research until they have written advice that their project has ethics approval. Students should discuss their projects with their supervisors who will help to develop the project and give due consideration to the ethical issues involved.  Will be attached when uploaded to the web, having difficulties attaching it to a word doc.

1.5  The issues considered in examining a request for ethics approval include:

1.5.1  the aim of the research and methodology; 

1.5.2   the experience and training of the researchers; 

1.5.3   the participants and their vulnerability;

1.5.4   risk versus benefit, risk management and unexpected outcomes; 

1.5.5   recruitment of participants including dependent relationships;

1.5.6   informed consent, cultural sensitivities, confidentiality; and

1.5.7   publication of the research, funding, conflicts of interest and payment to participants.

1.5.8   security and duration of data storage.

1.6 The Nan Tien Institute will carry out ethical review of research involving human subjects of the kind described above. NTI  will ensure that all human research complies with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (the National Statement) and is ethically acceptable.

The National Statement recognises that research may carry different levels of risk and defines 'low risk research' as research in which the only foreseeable risk is one of discomfort.  We expect that most research at NTI will be deemed low risk. For research involving “no more than low risk” as described by the National Statement, NTI will perform ethical review of that research in accordance with clause 5.1.19 and 5.1.20 of the National Statement. Ethical review will be carried out by the President and Dean of Studies. In circumstances where proposed research involves more than low risk, the research will be considered by a HREC of a collaborating university with whom NTI has a MoU.