Business College Human Ethics Advisory Network (BCHEAN)

Announcement

Please note that RMIT ethics application forms have changed. There is no longer a separate ethics checklist, instead applicants will complete a human ethics risk assessment as part of the application form. Applications submitted on previous versions of the form will only be accepted until May 30.

Research Ethics Approval Information

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All research conducted by RMIT College of Business staff or students involving humans as subjects must have written approval from the Business College Human Ethics Advisory Network (BCHEAN), or where appropriate the RMIT Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) prior to the commencement of any research. RMIT staff and students must receive HREC or BCHEAN approval of their research proposal before research can begin. This includes research into teaching and learning practice.

All enquires and applications should be directed to the BCHEAN Secretary, Kristina Tsoulis-Reay.

On this page

• Introduction
• Application Lodgement Process
• Coursework Masters students
• Research students (Honours, Masters by Research, PhD and Professional Doctorates) and RMIT staff
• Ethics application step-by-step guide
• Participant information and consent form (PICF)
• Complaints Process
• Research involving student participants
• Outcomes of ethics application review
• Reporting
• See also…

Research conducted with or about people, their data or tissue is classified as human research and must abide by The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007-Updated 2009 which outlines the national standards for use by any individual, institution or organisation conducting human research.

RMIT University is responsible for establishing procedures for the ethical review of all human research conducted by its staff and students. Research considered low risk or below is reviewed by BCHEAN and research considered more than low risk is reviewed by HREC.

Coursework Masters students

Coursework Masters students undertaking negligible risk or low risk projects are required to submit their completed forms with the relevant BCHEAN school representative (see BCHEAN members above). Negligible risk applications will be reviewed by the BCHEAN school representative and low risk applications will be forwarded to the BCHEAN secretary for assessment at the monthly BCHEAN meeting.

Research students (Honours, Masters by Research, PhD and Professional Doctorates) and RMIT staff

Applications for review of negligible risk and low risk research need to be submitted to the BCHEAN secretary.

The approval process will generally take 4-6 weeks. Your application must be complete and include all of the required documentation. Research students must prepare their application in conjunction with their supervisor. Their supervisor must be listed as the Chief Investigator on the ethics application.

Applications that are incomplete or unintelligible will be returned to you for amendment or resubmission. The approval process timeframe can be reduced if applicants submit complete documents that provide well considered, proof read content.

Plese email the application form including any supplementary information to the BCHEAN secretary at least 10 days prior to the monthly scheduled meeting (see the application deadline table above).

You need to download the application form and all of the supplementary documents directly from the HREC website to ensure that you are using the most up-to-date forms.

1. Go to Go to Human Research Ethics - How to Apply.
2. Review contents and select 'Human Ethics Risk Assessment and Application Form'. Choose 'Save Link As' to download the form.
3. Review contents and complete 'Part A: Risk Assessment Checklist' to determine the risk level of your research.
4. Once the risk level has been determined the relevant application form will appear as ‘Part B’

Your application must include a complete participant information form (plain language statement) and your process for obtaining consent. On the webpage Human Research Ethics - How to Apply you can download two documents that will assist you with preparing your PICF. These two documents are titled Preparing the Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) and PICF template. You should read both documents before preparing your PICF. You are strongly encouraged to utilise the PICF template format provided.

All complaints regarding participation in negligible risk and low risk research should be directed to the Chair of BCHEAN. Contact the Chair, RMIT Business College Human Ethics Advisory Network, GPO Box 2476V, Melbourne, 3001, telephone +61 3 9925 5596 email bchean@rmit.edu.au

If your research project involves student participants please read the following document.

BCHEAN Recommendations for Research Involving Student Participants (PDF 43Kb)

The annual/final report form and the amendment/extension form are available at the Human Research Ethics - How to Apply webpage. These forms can be submitted to the BCHEAN secretary by email, mail or delivery to reception at building 108, Level 11.

• Annual report and final report
  Continued approval of your research project is dependent on the submission of an annual report. A final report must be provided at the conclusion of the research project or if a research project has been discontinued.
• Request for amendment or extension of a human research ethics projectApproval must be sought from BCHEAN to amend any aspect of a project including the approved documents. Amendments must not be implemented without first gaining approval from BCHEAN.

If you need to amend or re-submit your ethics application, there is a time limit of three months from the date you received your review outcome.

RMIT University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
Provides the HREC contact details, terms of reference, meeting dates and complaints process.

Human Integrity
Provides information on how to manage your research - including authorship agreements, data management, publication and supervision - ensuring that your research is high quality and is in line with RMIT and legal requirements.

College of Business research
This site provides research information for students and staff as well as news, reports and events.

Kristina Tsoulis-Reay
For all enquires and applications please contact Kristina Tsoulis-Reay.