Aboriginal research

The HREC will review ethics protocols with significant or targeted participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and/or communities with the expectation to see that the researchers have involved Aboriginal stakeholders and/or communities from project inception (as part of the research design and methodology), with ongoing engagement throughout the lifecycle of the project, including the reporting of the research outcomes (to whom and in what form, considering cultural expectations, etc.). Similar considerations will also apply to research involving other Indigenous communities too. Researchers are expected to submit a protocol that demonstrates how they have addressed cultural safety and inclusivity in the following phases of the research process where relevant:

• conceptualisation
• development and approval
• data collection and management
• analysis
• report Writing
• dissemination of the research results

Researchers need to show how each phase of the research process is ethically defensible, based on the NHMRC guidelines relating to ethical research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Researchers must complete, and provide with their ethics application, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Ethics Engagement Plan. 

Researchers can seek advice from Michael Watkins, the Aboriginal Research Ethics Advisor: michael.watkins@unisa.edu.au; 8302 7413.

And please refer to the University's webpage on Aboriginal engagement, including the downloadable guide titled "Yurirka: Proppa Engagement with Aboriginal Peoples".

 

Further information

For further information please refer to the following documents and/or websites:

• Chapter 4.7 – ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023) – NHMRC
• Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders
• Keeping research on track II was developed to provide advice on how the values and principles outlined in Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders can be put into practice in research
• AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research
• Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC), a subcommittee of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia Inc.  All research about the health or wellbeing of Aboriginal Peoples in South Australia must be reviewed by AHREC.  You may use this ethics approval as the basis for obtaining ethics approval from the UniSA HREC. You are required to create a new application in the online ethics system. When completing your online ethics application, under the section “Non-UniSA HREC”, you should answer “yes” when asked whether another HREC has approved the protocol.  This will shorten the application.

  You will need to attach copies of the following documents to your UniSA ethics application:

  • The full ethics application submitted to the external HREC
  • The approval letter from the external HREC
  • Other supporting documents as necessary - for example: recruitment materials (Participant Information Sheet(s), Consent Form(s), etc.) and research tools

  The UniSA HREC Chair will review these documents, and if satisfied, will ratify the decision of the other committee.

  Please note that the approval from the other HREC must be current (i.e., not expired), and must cover the entire period of the project. If you need to extend the approval period you must do that with the original approving HREC.

  You will also need to obtain confirmation of insurance cover from the UniSA Insurance Office.

  
  

  Contact the Executive Officer of UniSA HREC for further assistance regarding Ethics and Aboriginal research.