National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) established the Indigenous Research Ethics Guidelines Review Working Committee to undertake the review of the Values and Ethics and Keeping Research on Track guidelines.

The goal of our review is to ensure that guidance about research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to be up to date and relevant.

NHMRC established the Indigenous Research Ethics Guidelines Review Working Committee to undertake the review of the Values and Ethics and Keeping Research on Track guidelines.

The goal of our review is to ensure that guidance about research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continues to be up-to-date and relevant.

Terms of reference

  1. Based on the evaluation undertaken in July–October 2013, to advise the Australian Health Ethics Committee (AHEC) on the revision of both:
    • Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research 2003
    • Keeping Research on Track: A guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about health research ethics 2005
  2. To develop final advice in the form of draft ethical guidelines for consideration by AHEC.
  3. To advise on any changes relevant to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2007.
  4. The Indigenous Research Ethics Guidelines Review Working Committee will be effective for the period 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017.

Committee members

Chair,
Ms
Chrissy
Grant

Expertise: Institution-based Human Research Ethics Committee representative with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience

Declaration

  • Chair of Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Human Research Ethics Committee.
  • Member of international expert panels on Indigenous research ethics.

Professor
Samar
Aoun

Member of the National Statement Review Working Group.

Declaration

None disclosed.

Professor
Yvonne
Cadet-James

Researcher with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience.

Declaration

  • Member of NHMRC Grant Review Panels.
  • NHMRC grant recipient.
  • Member of NHMRC working committee that developed Keeping Research on Track: A guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about health research ethics 2005
  • Speeches and lectures on research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Employed by James Cook University.

Professor
Tom
Calma

Community leader and researcher with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience

Declaration

  • Speeches and lectures on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues.
  • Board Chair, Ninti One.
  • NHMRC grant recipient.

Associate Professor
Terry
Dunbar

Researcher with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience.

Declaration

  • NHMRC grant recipient.
  • Member of NHMRC working committees that developed Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research 2003 and Keeping Research on Track: A guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about health research ethics 2005.
  • Speeches and lectures on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research ethics.

Ms
Summer
Finlay

Individual with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience.

Declaration

  • NHMRC PhD scholarship recipient.
  • Working relationship with Dr Jenni Judd; Dr Judd was engaged as a technical writer for preparation of the revised draft prior to public consultation.

Associate Professor
Jane
Freemantle

Researcher with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research experience.

Declaration

  • Speeches and lectures on research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Member of NHMRC Grant Review Panels
  • Previous NHMRC grant recipient.
  • Employed by University of Melbourne.

Associate Professor
Daniel
McAullay

Nominee from the Australian Health Ethics Committee.

Declaration

  • NHMRC grant recipient.
  • Employed by University of Western Australia.
  • Casual employee of Edith Cowan University. 
  • Runs two consulting businesses (one self-run, one jointly run with colleagues).

Mr
Romlie
Mokak

  • Community leader
  • Health policy

Declaration

  • CEO, The Lowitja Institute.
  • The Lowitja Institute undertook an evaluation in 2013 on Values and Ethics: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research 2003 and Keeping Research on Track: A guide for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples about health research ethics 2005. The Lowitja Institute is implementing some evaluation recommendations that are outside the scope of NHMRC.

Dr
Sanchia
Shibasaki

Torres Strait Islander representative with expertise in health research.

Declaration

  • Undertaking consultancy work with the Lowitja Institute.
  • Undertaking consultancy work with NSW Department of Health.