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Research at Adventist HealthCare

Ethical Review of Research

In Australia, Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) review research proposals. To conduct research at an Adventist Healthcare facility, you can submit your research proposal to our AHCL HREC. Should you have already obtained ethical approval through an Australian HREC, you can skip this step and move on to the application for Research Governance review.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE HREC REVIEW PROCESS

Our AHCL Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) will be formally disbanded effective August 2025. As a result, all research proposals involving a higher risk profile will require review by an external HREC. Research deemed low risk, as well as quality improvement (QI) activities and exemptions from ethical review, will continue to be reviewed internally. Researchers are kindly reminded that all research proposals must still be submitted to the Research Office in the first instance. Our team will assess each submission and advise whether it requires internal or external review.

We understand that change can be challenging, and the Research Office is committed to supporting you throughout this transition. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for guidance or assistance at any stage of the process.

AHCL HREC meeting dates

The full-board HREC reviews 'Lower risk' projects and Waivers of Consent, as well as endorses Authorised Prescriber applications.

2025 Meeting Dates:
Please note that 2025 meeting dates are subject to change without notice.

Meeting Date Submission Closing Date

February 5
March 19
April 30
June 11
July 23

January 8
February 19
April 2
May 14
June 25

The AHCL HREC sub-committee meets at the call of the chairperson and reviews 'Lower risk' projects, case studies, project amendments, progress reports and exemptions from ethical review.

All submissions to the AHCL HREC need to be emailed to research@sah.org.au by the submission closing date for full-board meetings, and are accepted at any time for sub-committee review.

How to apply for ethical review of a lower or higher risk study

Download our guide

How to apply to be exempt from ethical review

Download our guide

Download Protocol Outline - Exemption from Ethical Review

Retrospective studies and applying for a 'Waiver of Consent'

Download our guide

Resources, forms & templates

AHCL Resources & Templates

Safety Reporting

NHMRC Guidelines & Guides

Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018
The 2018 Code is a principles-based document that articulates the broad principles and responsibilities that underpin the conduct of Australian research. Adherence to the 2018 Code is a requirement for conducting research at and with AHCL. The co-authors have released a number of downloadable guides that we highly recommend you read via the link below.

External Resources

Fees for research review

Fees are payable upon receipt of an Application for Ethical Review, an amendment to an approved research project and/or a Site Specific Assessment Form. Fees are non-refundable, even if a submission is unsuccessful or is withdrawn prior to consideration or determination.

ACHL Research Ethics & Governance Fee Schedule

Research type

Ethics fees
(excl. GST)

Governance fees
(excl. GST)

Amendment fees
(excl. GST)
Investigator initiated1 Nil Nil Nil

Cooperative / collaborative group2 without commercial sponsorship

Low/negligible risk:3
$300.00

Greater than low risk:4
$500.00

$500.00

Standard: $150.00

Complex: $450.00

Commercially sponsored5 (includes pharmaceutical and collaborative / cooperative group)

$3,000.00

$3,600.00

Standard: $500.00

Complex: $1,700.00

AHCL ethics and governance fees are charged per submission of documents to the Research Office for review. For a definition of amendment types, please refer to Section 3 of the AHCL RESEARCH ETHICS AND GOVERNANCE FEES policy available to download below.

1. Investigator initiated research has the following characteristics:

  • The principal investigator is accredited or employed by Adventist HealthCare Limited (AHCL)
  • The principal investigator is the primary author or custodian of the study protocol
  • If the principal investigator is affiliated with ANU then there must be a co-investigator on the project accredited or employed by AHCL

2. Cooperative/Collaborative group without commercial sponsorship has the following characteristics:

  • The co-operative group must be the primary author and custodian of the research protocol
  • The sponsor is a research institute, university or collaborative group
  • The research addresses clinical questions and not industry or commercial interests
  • The cooperative group must declare the nature of any sponsorship from a pharmaceutical entity or other entity that may directly benefit commercially from the research outcomes
  • The research project must have a PI accredited or employed by AHCL

3. Low/negligible risk research projects fall within the definition contained within the National Statement:

  • Negligible risk projects: no foreseeable risk of harm or discomfort and no more than inconvenience to participants
  • Low risk: where the foreseeable risk is one of discomfort

4. Greater than no risk research projects fall within the definition contained within the National Statement:

  • Where the risk even if unlikely is more serious than discomfort, the research is not low risk.

5. Commercially sponsored research has the following characteristics:

  • The research is initiated by a pharmaceutical/device company or a cooperative collaborative group with commercial funding
  • The research is conducted to investigator a medication/device for commercial exploitation by its manufacturer/sponsor
  • The study protocol has been developed and is the responsibility of a pharmaceutical/device company of other commercial entity

Download our full Policy & Fee Schedule