Research involving Population Groups requiring Particular Ethical Considerations in NSW

Research involving People from Indigenous Populations

The Constitution of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Committee (AH&MRC) requires it to operate an Ethics Committee. For research involving people from the Indigenous populations of Australia the Values and Ethics: guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research applies.

In addition to this the NSW Aboriginal Health Information Guidelines  ensures consistency and good practice in the management of health and health-related information about Aboriginal peoples in NSW.

Research involving Prison and Juvenile Justice Inmates

Justice Health Human Research and Ethics Committee – All health research undertaken with people in the correctional environment is subject to review by the Justice Health Human Research and Ethics Committee. The role of this committee is to safeguard the welfare and rights of both research subjects and researchers. This committee reviews all research within Justice Health and ensures that all projects are undertaken within the nationally and internationally approved ethical and safety framework.

Research involving Defence Personnel

The Australian Defence Human Research Ethics Committee (ADHREC) has been established  to promote and encourage health research in the military context. Ethics submissions for research involving Defence personnel must be submitted to the ADHREC.

Research involving Participants Unable to Provide Informed Consent.

The Guardianship Act 1987 (NSW) provides for the appointment of a guardian to make substitute decisions, on behalf of a person, who is aged 16 years and over, with a disability that is unable to do so on their own or without support.

The Guardianship Tribunal is a legal tribunal established under the Guardianship Act 1987. Amongst it’s duties the Tribunal can approve a clinical trial so that people with decision-making disabilities can take part