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Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC)

This section of the site contains a range of information about the functions and composition of AHEC.

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Introduction

The Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) is a principal committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) established under the NHMRC Act 1992. The Act sets out AHEC's functions, which are to advise the NHMRC on ethical issues relating to health and to develop guidelines for the conduct of research involving humans.

AHEC's membership is specified in the Act and draws on expertise in philosophy, the ethics of medical research, public health and social science research, clinical medical practice and nursing, disability, law, religion and health consumer issues.

In the course of its activities, AHEC consults extensively with individuals, community organisations, health professionals and governments, and undertakes formal public consultation when developing guidelines. AHEC monitors and advises on international developments in health ethics issues through liaison with relevant international organisations and individuals, including the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Functions

The NHMRC Act establishes that the functions of the Australian Health Ethics Committee are:

  1. to advise the Council on ethical issues relating to health; and
  2. to develop and give the Council human research guidelines under subsection 10(2); and
  3. any other functions conferred on the Committee in writing by the Minister after consulting the CEO; and
  4. any other functions conferred on the Committee by this Act, the regulations or any other law.

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Terms of reference

In addition to the functions outlined in the Act during the 2006-09 triennium the Australian Health Ethics Committee will:

  1. develop and give the Council guidelines for the conduct of health research involving humans, additional to those required for function (b) above;
  2. promote ethical conduct in health and medical research involving humans;
  3. support and facilitate the work of institutions and of human research ethics committees in the oversight of health and medical research;
  4. foster community debate, and consult with relevant stakeholders on ethical issues in health, and health and medical research;
  5. provide advice to Council on ethical issues in health research and medical research;
  6. monitor international developments in ethical issues relating to health and health and medical research involving humans, and liaise with relevant international organisations and individuals.

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Composition of the Australian Health Ethics Committee

Members of AHEC are appointed by the Minister for Health and Ageing for a period of three years. All Committee members are part-time appointees. Members may be reappointed. The committee meets on several occasions each year.

The Committee members, as provided for in section 36 of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992, consists of the following:

  • the Chair;
  • a person with knowledge of the ethics of medical research;
  • a person who has expertise in law;
  • a person who has expertise in philosophy;
  • a person who has expertise in religion;
  • a person who has experience in medical research;
  • a person who has experience in public health research;
  • a person who has experience in social science research;
  • a person who has experience in clinical medical practice;
  • a person who has experience in nursing or allied health practices;
  • a person with knowledge of the regulation of the medical profession;
  • a person with understanding of health consumer issues;
  • a person with understanding of the concerns of people with a disability; and
  • no more than 2 other persons with expertise relevant to the functions of the Committee.

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Membership of the Committee

Chairperson

Professor Colin Thomson

Individuals in the following areas

Knowledge of the ethics of medical research

Dr Gregory Pike

Expertise in law

Mr Christopher Coyne

Expertise in philosophy

Professor Paul Griffiths

Expertise in religion

Reverend Dr Gerald Gleeson

Experience in medical research

Dr Nikolajs Zeps

Experience in public health research

Associate Professor Peter Sainsbury

Experience in social science research

Mr Barry Maley

Experience in clinical medical practice

Dr Rosanna Capolingua

Experience in nursing/allied health practices

Professor Margaret O’Connor

Knowledge of regulation of medical profession

Dr Marian Scarrabelotti

Understanding of health consumer issues

Ms Sharon Caris

Understanding of the concerns of people with
disability

Dr Nicholas Tonti-Filippini

Expertise relevant to the functions of the Committee

Associate Professor Terry Dunbar
Expertise relevant to the functions of the Committee Professor Peter Silburn

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Contact details

Postal Address:

Australian Health Ethics Committee
NHMRC
GPO Box 1421
Canberra ACT 2601

Support is provided to AHEC by the Health and Research Ethics section, Quality and Regulation Branch, Knowledge and Development Division.

Phone: +61 2 6217 9070
Fax: +61 2 6217 9175
Email: ethics@nhmrc.gov.au

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