Research Division

Submitting an application

All research projects which involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander data that is not publicly available, are reviewed by a full Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Depending on your research project, this may be the Health & Medical HREC or the Social Science HREC. For Health & Medical applications the Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) form is used. For Social Science applications a local application from is used and can be downloaded from the forms page.

For applications to both the Health & Medical HREC and Social Science HREC, your application will need to demonstrate how this research project addresses each of the values listed in the Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders, 2018 Guidelines: Spirit and Integrity; Cultural Continuity; Equity; Reciprocity; Respect; Responsibility. Examples of how you can demonstrate the six values in research projects is available in this PDF: Guidance for the Six Values Table (PDF 68KB)

Please complete the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander supplementary form (Word 95KB) and submit to the HREC along with your application documents for review. This form will also need to be completed for amendments to projects were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or their data are being included where they weren't previously.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ethics Advisors

The University has appointed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ethics Advisors who are available to provide support and guidance on draft ethics applications in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research, 2003 and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2007 - updated 2018.

The Advisors can offer advice on a draft application, and assist you to understand what is required before your application is submitted to the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). Advisors can offer advice at any stage of a project, including amendments. Advisors may also be asked by the HREC to provide advice to the HREC on ethical issues in relation to research conducted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or their data.

Current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ethics Advisors

Professor Maggie Walter, Pro Vice-Chancellor Aboriginal Research and Leadership & Professor in Sociology

Maggie.Walter@utas.edu.au; 03 6226 2874

Associate Professor Clair Andersen, Aboriginal Higher Education Advisor

Clair.Andersen@utas.edu.au; 03 6226 2517

Mr Jacob Prehn, Project Officer, Office of School of Social Sciences, and Office of the Provost - Riawunna

Jacob.Prehn@utas.edu.au; 03 6226 2013

Caroline Spotswood, Head of Service – Riawunna

Caroline.Spotswood@utas.edu.au; 03 6226 8542

Guidelines and resources

National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007 - updated 2018
Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders 2018
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies, 2012
University of Tasmania Riawunna Centre: http://www.utas.edu.au/riawunna
University of Melbourne presentation on the Ethical Guidelines for researchers in Aboriginal Communities
Maiam nayri Wingara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Data Sovereignty Collective