National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research Section 4: Response to the Consultation

This document sets out Research Australia’s survey responses to the National Health and Medical Research Council’s consultation on the revised draft Section 4 of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, which addresses ethical considerations specific to research participants and emphasises inclusive participation. Research Australia finds the scope, chapters and language on sex and gender appropriate, and supports the emphasis on including as many people as possible and tailoring risk assessment, risk mitigation and consent to individual circumstances. It notes that this approach requires more time, expertise and training, and asks that the extra cost be recognised in research budgets, timeframes and funding programs. It also suggests separating asylum seekers from people engaged in illegal activity in the list of risk factors, rewording two Chapter 4.1 questions to refer to some individuals in the pool of potential participants, using ‘paid care workers’ consistent with the Carer Recognition Act 2010, checking language on research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with representative bodies, and correcting two typographical errors.