RESEARCH

The Ethics Secretariat is an administrative unit processing all applications for ethics approval and enquiries relating to research and teaching involving human subjects, human tissue or animals that are conducted by investigators employed by the UNSW or its affiliated institutions. The Secretariat is a point of contact for two ethics committees of the UNSW, the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and the Animal Care and Ethics Committee (ACEC).

The UNSW HREC is governed by and is constituted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The primary task of the HREC is to assess the ethical and scientific merit of research and teaching that involves human subjects or human tissue.

The UNSW ACEC is constituted in accordance with The NSW Animal Research Act (1985) and is governed by the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purpose of the NHMRC. The primary task of the ACEC is to assess the ethical merit of scientific and teaching activities that involve animals or animal tissue.

Animal Ethics Infolink

The Occupational, Health and Safety Section is one of three sections in the Risk Management unit. The OH&E team provides advice and assistance to the UNSW community on all matters relating to occupational health, safety and welfare to UNSW, its staff and students in the areas of: OHS&E regulatory compliance; OHS consultative mechanisms; OHS policies, programs and training; advice on health and safety issues in relation to design, modification and assessment of workplace facilities, work methods and procedures; OHS&E audits; and management and disposal of hazardous waste. You can click here for information on OHS Clearance for proposed new research.