NHMRC has established a Steering Committee and a Guideline Development Committee to advise on the development of the ME/CFS Guidelines.

NHMRC’s legislative requirements

As a legislative function of the National Health and Medical Research Act 1992 (NHMRC Act), NHMRC is tasked with inquiring into, issuing guidelines on, and advising the community on matters related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. This legislative function underpins NHMRC’s authority and responsibility in developing clinical practice guidelines, including those for ME/CFS.

NHMRC comprises staff, the NHMRC Council, Principal committees and working committees/advisory groups formed under section 39 of the NHMRC Act. Working committees are established by NHMRC’s CEO to help carry out the functions of the CEO, Council or Principal committees. A working committee comprises members appointed by the CEO and has functions determined in writing by the CEO.

Governance structure

The governance structure for the ME/CFS Clinical Practice Guidelines is outlined in the diagram below, including roles and responsibilities.

Flowchart detailing governance structure. Details in accordion under image.

Figure: ME/CFS Clinical Practice Guidelines Governance Structure
Abbreviations: DOI, declaration of interest; GDC, guideline development committee; GRADE, Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Evaluation; ME/CFS, myalgic encephalomyeltis / chronic fatigue syndrome; NHMRC, National Health and Medical Research Council; ONHMRC, Office of the National Health and Medical Research Council; s39, Section 39.
Image description: ME/CFS Clinical Practice Guidelines – Governance Structure

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing engages with NHMRC to:

  • funds guidelines
  • assists in dissemination and implementation activities.

External contractors engage with NHMRC to:

  • provide services to support guideline development, including:
  • evidence review and the GRADE process
  • methodological review.

Stakeholders engage with NHMRC to:

  • provide expert advice when invited onto NHMRC Guideline Development Committee
  • advise on topics and priorities (for example, through a scoping survey)
  • provide feedback to targeted consultation
  • provide feedback through public consultation on draft guidelines.

Section 39 working committees

The ME/CFS Guideline Development Committee engages with NHMRC to:

  • advise on scope and topics for the guidelines
  • advise on the evidence evaluation process (using GRADE)
  • develop draft and final guidelines
  • consider feedback from consultation activities

The ME/CFS Steering Committee engages with NHMRC to:

  • advise on the general scope of the guidelines
  • advise on the Guideline Development Committee (GDC) composition and establishment
  • advise on the communication strategy
  • provide governance of the GDC (for example, declarations of interest).

In addition to engaging with the Department, external contractors, stakeholders and working committees, NHMRC is also responsible for:

The NHMRC CEO will:

  • establish working committees
  • issue guidelines.

Council will:

  • approve the release of draft guidelines for public consultation.

Office of the NHMRC (ONHMRC) will:

  • project manage and develop guidelines
  • manage committees as secretariat
  • manage stakeholder engagement, communication strategies and public consultations.