Ethics Application

To be tabled to Ethics Committee

Important Information

Prior to completing this Ethics Application, it is strongly recommended that you read 'Research Ethics Policy' on the Alphacrucis College website, and the National Research Ethics Guidlines which can be downloaded from: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/publications/national-statement-ethical-conduct-human-research-2007-updated-2018. You should also read the document 'Requirements for Ethics Application Forms'. which includes instructions on what to prepare for completing this form and provides templates for the documents that need to accompany this form. To view this document and additional supporting information please click here

For more information, please see this video on Applying for Ethics Approval for Research (18 Minutes).

If your research involves gathering new information or data from people such as through surveys,
interviews, focus groups. observation, personal written information or personal measurements (e.g.
weight, saliva measures) which will be made public, it needs ethical approval. This form is provided to
enable easy applications to the Alphacrucis Human Research Ethics Committee for such approval.
If your research only uses data or information which has been previously collected with its own ethical
approval (such as national censuses or omnibus published surveys) or data that is publicly available
(such as blogs publicly posted on the Internet), ethics approval is not needed and you do not need to
complete this form.

If you are doing research within an organisation solely for the use of that organisation, such as seeking
feedback from students on their experiences of their studies, or feedback from staff, no ethical approval is
needed as long as that research is not going to be made public. If it will be made public, ethics approval
should be sought.

Note for HDR candidates: Confirmation of Canditature must be passed before applying for ethics
approval.

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Details of Researcher

First Name of the Primary Researcher *

Last Name of the Primary Researcher *

Email Address of the primary researcher *

Phone Number *

First Name of the Secondary Researcher (if relevant)

Last Name of the Secondary Researcher (if relevant)

Email Address of the secondary researcher (if relevant)

First Name of the third Researcher (if relevant)

Last Name of the third Researcher (if relevant)

Email Address of the third researcher (if relevant)

Are you an Alphacrucis College HDR candidate? *

Yes

Is your research being overseen by a supervisor/s?

Yes

Supervisor Name (1) *

Email Address *

Other contact details

Supervisor Name (2)

Email Address

Other contact details

Supervisor Name (3)

Email Address

Other contact details

Names of any additional researchers involved in the project

Details of Research Project

Name of the Research Project *

Explain the nature and aims of your research project (max. 200 words) *

0/200 words

For whom or for what are you doing this research? If you are doing the research for a degree, indicate the degree. If it is commissioned for an organisation, give the name of the commissioning organisation. *

Is the research being funded? *

Yes

Other Other

Name of the funding body. *

To what organisation are you accountable in this research? *

Do you have any conflicts of interest in doing this research? For example, are there any personal or institutional interests which have the potential to influence the carrying out of this research? *

What are the anticipated starting and concluding dates of your collection of information or data for your research? ( You may give an approximate dates).

Start date * +

Concluding date * +

Which of the following forms of collection of data will you be using in your research? (tick all that apply) *

Survey

Interview

Focus group

Observation of public events (such as worship services)

Experiments in which human beings are subjects

Connecting with people through social media

Analysis of publicly available documentation or data (such as Census data or publicly available survey data)

Use of data collected by someone other than the researcher

Other Other

Participants in the Research

A basic ethical principle is that people make a truly voluntary decision as to whether to participate or not
in your research project. They must indicate their consent to the research. If they are doing a survey in
their own time and in a private space, the fact that they complete the survey is understood as their
consent to it. If you are conducting interviews or focus groups, you must obtain written consent from all
participants before the interview or group event. Ensure your consent form is attached to this application.
If they cannot give their own consent or are aged under 18 years of age, then you should also obtain
consent from a parent or guardian.

Are the following statements true of the people you are inviting to participate in this research? *

	True	Not True	May be true
They are 18 years or older	True	Not True	May be true
They all live in Australia	True	Not True	May be true
They are in a state of good health and able to make their own decisions	True	Not True	May be true
They are not dependent on the researcher in any way or in an unequal power relationship (such as students in the researcher's class)	True	Not True	May be true
They are not members of a culturally or ethnically vulnerable group	True	Not True	May be true
This research is not of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders	True	Not True	May be true

Explain how you will decide on people's capacity to participate in the research, how you will explain
the research to them, and how you will obtain consent, protect their rights, and ensure their
participation is truly voluntary. This is particularly important if any participants are under 18, not
able to make their own decisions, are in an unequal power relationship, or members of a
vulnerable group. *

Recruiting Participants for Your Research

Recruitment of participants must take place in such a way that people feel under no obligation to
participate. It is also important to respect the privacy laws when you are recruiting. Thus, you cannot use a
church directory, for example, to contact people because people did not give their contact details for the
purpose of research. However, you can ask the leaders of the organisation to publicise the research and
invite people to contact you. You cannot ask individuals for the names and addresses of people you might
contact to participate in the research, but you can ask them to give an advertisement to other people who
may then get in touch with you.

What groups of people and how many people will be invited to participate in this research project? *

Do you need permission from an organisation, club or business to recruit people for the research? (if so, ensure you attach your letter seeking permission or a letter indicating that permission has been granted) *

Yes, I will need permission

Yes, I have permission

No, I do not need permission

Other - explain below Other - explain below

Please upload the letter you plan to use to seek permission, OR if you have received permission, the evidence that permission has been granted

How will you be inviting people to participate in your research? If you will be advertising your research, attach the flyer or other advertisement to this application. *

I will be advertising publicly (or within an organisation) for participants

I will be asking people who are in a public position (such as leaders of groups)

Other - explain below Other - explain below

Upload your advertising flyer or email.

If you answered 'Other' in either of the two questions above, explain how you will recruit people to participate in your research and how you will obtain contact details.

Research with Minors

If you are doing research which involves minors (generally under 18 years of age), you will need to be
especially careful to obtain consent from parents and guardians as well as the participants. You will need
to have the information about the research written appropriately for the participants. Please ensure the
appropriate consent forms and information sheets are attached to this application. If you research does
not involve minors, move to the following section 'Research Outside Australia'.

Please respond to each of the following items if you are doing research with minors. *

	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Have you obtained written approval from relevant organisations for your research?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Are you seeking consent from the children's parents or guardians?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Have you explained the concept of anonymity to potential participants and the limits of confidentiality under the Child Protection legislation in your Information Sheet?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Have you completed Child Protection Training for Workers with Children?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Do you have a current Working With Children Check?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Have you ensured research will be in a suitable public location for the children's protection?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Will you explain to the children that they may withdraw at any time without needing to explain?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable
Have you ensured that parents or guardians can be present if they so wish or if the child wishes?	Yes	No	Not Sure	Not applicable

If you have answered 'no' or 'not sure' to any of the items in the table above, please explain.

Please provide the numbers of the Working with Children Checks and the expiry dates for each research involved in the project.

Research with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders

If your research involves Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders or will be conducted in an area in which
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders are likely to be participants, then you will need to answer the following
questions. If your research is not likely to involve Aboriginals or Torres Strait Islanders, then please
proceed to the following section on research overseas.

Have you received assessment and advice from people familiar with the culture and research among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders? If so, please upload the assessment advice you received.

Yes

Please upload assessment and advice received

What support for your research have you received from relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or groups?

What steps are you taking to develop trust with potential participants and a sense of equal research partnerships?

What are the benefits for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders and how will those benefits be shared with them?

Research Outside Australia

If you are conducting research outside Australia, complete the following questions. If all your research is
being done within Australia, please move to the following section 'Conducting the Research'.

In what countries will you be conducting your research? *

Explain how you have checked on legal and ethical requirements for research in those countries and how you will be obtaining the necessary permissions and fulfilling the requirements of research in those countries.

Conducting the Research

In your research, it is important to minimise any harm or discomfort which could arise from the questions or from the way that the research is conducted.

Does your research cover any of the following issues? *

	Yes	No	Maybe
Personal issues including trauma, loss, death, suicide, grief, gambling, substance abuse, sexuality or gender?	Yes	No	Maybe
Sensitive workplace, church, or other organisational issues?	Yes	No	Maybe
Sensitive cultural issues including race, ethnicity, or sexuality?	Yes	No	Maybe
Possible criminal behaviour of participants?	Yes	No	Maybe
Physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual health of participants?	Yes	No	Maybe
Fertility and/or pregnancy (including abortion)?	Yes	No	Maybe
Other sensitive issues?	Yes	No	Maybe

If you have answered 'yes' or 'maybe' to any of the items above, explain how you will minimise any hurt or distress, and how you will refer people to other independent counselling if there are hints of potential needs.

Do the methods in your research involve any of the following? *

	Yes	No	Maybe
Deception or concealment?	Yes	No	Maybe
Disguised covert observation or recording without consent?	Yes	No	Maybe
Counselling practices or psychological interventions or treatments?	Yes	No	Maybe
Administration of a physical stimulus?	Yes	No	Maybe
Collection of physical samples from participants?	Yes	No	Maybe
Withholding a benefit from which a participant may benefit?	Yes	No	Maybe
Use of personal data obtained from a 3rd party such as government, medical, or psychological records?	Yes	No	Maybe
Other methods which might involve some harm to the participant?	Yes	No	Maybe

If you answered 'yes' or 'maybe' to any of the items in the question above, explain what you plan to do in your research and how you will minimise any hurt or harm that could occur.

Confidentiality

It is important to keep confidential the information that you are gathering. One way to minimise the
problem is not to collect any information which might identify the participants. Otherwise, it may well be
necessary to 'de-identify' the data you collect so that the identifying details of the participants are kept
separately from other data.

In your research, will you be asking for or recording the name of your participants or any information which could be used to identify them? *

Yes

Maybe

Explain how you will ensure that the information will be gathered in a confidential way. For example, how will you ensure a location for the research where other people cannot hear what the interviewee is saying? If you are interviewing groups, how will you encourage all group members to maintain confidentiality? If a survey is done, will it be done in a private location and given to you in a way that does not compromise confidentiality?

Explain how you will protect the confidentiality of the information or data which has been collected after collection and during analysis. For example, where will be data be stored?

Will anyone apart from the research team be involved in the research, either conducting interviews or assisting with the analysis? If so, ensure you have included a confidentiality agreement form for use with such person with your applications

Yes, I am including the confidentiality form.

No, no one else will have access to the data

Maybe, and I am including the confidentiality form.

Upload a Confidentiality Agreement Form for use with such person(s) with this application.

Explain where and how the data will be stored following the completion of the research. Note that all research materials should be stored for 7 years for legal reasons.

How will the data be used? How will you ensure the confidentiality of the participants when it is used, for example, in theses or publications?

What benefits do you expect from the research? Are there benefits for the participants? How will you ensure the participants receive those benefits? (Note that it is usual to offer the participants a short report.)

Additional Information

Is there any additional information you would like to provide the Human Research Ethics Committee? *

Yes

Please outline below. *

Declaration

I, the undersigned, declare that:
1. The information supplied in this application is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge;
2. I have read the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and accept responsibility for the conduct detailed in this application in accordance with the principles contained therein and any additional principles required by the institution to which I am accountable for this research.
3. I have no conflicts of interest other than those stated in the above application.

Signature/s of researcher/s *

clear

Save & Return

Details of Researcher

Details of Research Project

Participants in the Research

Recruiting Participants for Your Research

Research with Minors

Research with Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders

Research Outside Australia

Conducting the Research

Confidentiality

Other Documents Relevant to the Research

Additional Information

Declaration