On Friday 17 July, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) launched its Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), marking a significant milestone in Aboriginal Community-controlled health research governance.
Established in November 2025, with funding from the Victorian Government and the Lowitja Institute, the VACCHO HREC is the first committee of its kind in Victoria in over two decades. It is a culturally appropriate ethics mechanism designed to protect the welfare, dignity, rights, safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who participate in health, medical and wellbeing research.
The VACCHO HREC ensures that health and wellbeing research impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria is reviewed by an independent, culturally grounded body – centring Aboriginal authority on research impacting Aboriginal lives.
The committee is built around the six Research Accord principles, is independent, and is comprised of over 80% Aboriginal members.
Victoria is now part of a growing network of Community-controlled research governance across Australia, and VACCHO encourages all researchers to do the right thing and apply for a HREC review if their research impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Find out how to apply for HREC review.
Quotes attributable to VACCHO Acting CEO, Jim O’Shea
“The VACCHO HREC now fills a gap and provides a rigorous, culturally embedded review process that finally puts Aboriginal research back where it belongs – in Aboriginal hands.”
“Over the past 25 years, researchers undertaking work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria have navigated mainstream ethics that have not been designed with Community or with cultural safety at their heart.”
“An Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committee review is not just best practice; it is the mark of responsible research.”
Quotes attributable to The Lowitja Institute CEO, Paul Stewart
“The VACCHO HREC is a significant investment in research where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, values and knowledge shape every stage of the research journey.”
“Lowitja Institute is honoured to support the VACCHO HREC. The new ethics body ensures the research we do with Community continues to be strengthened and grounded in our knowledge and cultural safety.”
“The new ethics process consolidates Aboriginal researchers and Aboriginal-led research; it ensures our people are at the centre of the process from beginning to end.”
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll
“We’re giving Aboriginal families a say over medical research that involves them – that means more ethical research with better research outcomes.”
“We’re helping strengthen community trust and accountability in medical research involving Aboriginal people.”
