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The Human Research Ethics Review Panel (HERP)

The Human Ethics Review Panel provides guidance in relation to the conduct of research. It aims to ensure the well-being of all stakeholders involved and to safeguard the standards and reputation of the Institute in matters of academic and professional practice related to research.

This panel reviews ‘low risk’ applications for research proposals involving human participants by internal staff or associates and by external bodies seeking to undertake research at Holmesglen.

Researchers seeking ethics approval should complete an Eligibility for Low Risk Human Research Ethics Review to determine if the application is ‘low risk’. If the project presents as ‘low risk’, then an application should be made to the HERP. Applications for ‘low risk’ research projects should be made on the Application Form for Human Research Ethics Review (low risk), and be accompanied by the necessary ‘plain language statement’ (see Plain Language Statement Requirements).

The following forms are available from appliedresearch@holmesglen.edu.au

• Eligibility for Low Risk Human Research Ethics Review
• Application Form for Human Research Ethics Review (low risk)
• Plain Language Statement Requirements.
• Research request from an external researcher or if research has been approved by an external ethics panel/committee

If you would like to request any of the forms above please contact us today.

The Centre for Applied Research and Innovation provides advice and information about research integrity and guidance in the submission of ethics application forms.

Holmesglen’s Human Research Ethics Review Panel (HERP) considers whether applications (and the accompanying documentation) meets the low risk requirements of human participation in research.

The Panel also considers whether the researchers have the necessary experience and qualifications to conduct this research.

To determine if the application meets the low risk requirements, two questions need to be considered.

Firstly, does the application provide a clear and coherent research proposal that recognises the need to take appropriate safeguards in the conduct of research involving human participants?

In particular, does it provide appropriate information about:

• the structure of the research, its aims and objectives;
• the research qualifications/experience of the researchers, or is there adequate provision for supervision if required;
• details of participants and their recruitment, how the data will be collected and used;
• the monitoring of the research process throughout the duration of the project; and
• how the project’s outcomes will be reported?

Secondly, does it ensure that appropriate safeguards for participants and their data are met? These include:

• informed participant consent;
• voluntary participation and withdrawal without sanction;
• confidentiality of participants and their records; and
• provision for the secure storage of relevant data?

Researchers are encouraged to allow sufficient time for approval in keeping with the meeting schedule below:

Australian code for the responsible conduct of research

National statement on ethical conduct in human research