An ethical review is done by a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). These committees are registered under the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
All research must:
You'll also need to get governance authorisation for your project. This is sometimes called a site-specific assessment.
Some projects including quality assurance (QA) activities, may not need full ethics review by a HREC. The QA Activity Review Guide (PDF, 215 KB) should assist you to determine the correct review pathway for your project. If you’re unsure which pathway is right for your project, please contact the HREC Coordinator for advice on 07 4226 5513 or email FNQ_HREC@health.qld.gov.au.
Read more about quality activity applications.
After your research planning phase, you’ll need to apply for ethics approval.
You’ll need to submit your ethics application online using the Ethical Review Manager (ERM).
The Far North Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (FNQ HREC) can consider ethics applications for research at:
Multi-site research applications need to be approved by a HREC that has been certified by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
The FNQ HREC can't review multi-site research that involves Queensland Health sites that fall outside Cairns and Hinterland and Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services.
The FNQ HREC can review multi-site research for non-Queensland health sites within the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service area.
View a list of the NHMRC certified HRECs.
You’ll need to mark your application as a ‘multi-site’ application in the ERM and share your application with the principal investigator at each site.
There are more steps you need to take if your research focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons.
This also applies if you plan to compare Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons with non-indigenous persons.
You’ll need to consult with the relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander bodies and communities. You’ll also need to provide letters of support and evidence of community consultation with your application.
Read the advice on:
The FNQ HREC meets every 5 weeks to review applications for ethics approval.
See the list of meeting dates read more about our FNQ HREC Committee.
We recommend you talk to the Human Research Ethics Committee Coordinator before submitting your application. It’s better to do this after you’ve done the planning phase of your project and you have finalised your project plan.
The coordinator can talk you through the submission requirements and answer any questions you may have. This will make it less likely that you miss something in your application and risk delaying the start of your project.
Contact the Far North Queensland HREC Coordinator on 07 4226 5513 or email FNQ_HREC@health.qld.gov.au.
Design your research protocol first.
Your research protocol should include details on:
Use our guide to writing a research protocol (PDF, 414KB) and research study protocol template (DOC, 51KB).
You'll need to submit the following supporting documents with your application. It's a good idea to get started on these as soon as possible so you have plenty of time to submit your application.
The research study checklist for Principal Investigators (PDF, 160KB) will help you keep track of the documents you need for your application.
It’s also important to include logos, page numbers, document version numbers, document names and dates on your study documents. Your project may evolve and change over time. Documenting the changes will ensure you’re using the most up to date version.
Provide the following information if it's relevant to your project.
For more information on submission requirements read the HREA submission advice and process (PDF, 210KB).
Postal address
FNQ HREC Coordinator
PO Box 902
Cairns QLD 4870
Office address
FNQ HREC Coordinator
Level 7, William McCormack Place 2
5b Sheridan Street
Cairns QLD 4870
Read the ERM how-to guides.
After the HREC has done their review, you’ll get an email to let you know the outcome of your application.
If your research has been given ethics approval, you’ll have reporting requirements.
You also need to apply for governance authorisation if your study sites involve Queensland Health resources such as staff, patients or facilities.