Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committee
VACCHO’s new Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committee (VACCHO HREC) conducts scientific and ethical reviews of health and wellbeing research projects from a local Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community perspective.
The new HREC answers a 35 year-call by Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Communities to have a local mechanism that promotes and monitors health and wellbeing research that impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the State.
Prior to the establishment of VACCHO HREC, Victoria was one of the few states without an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific ethics committee. This meant that a lot of our Mob were being asked to participate in studies that may have been inappropriate, unnecessary, and that would not bring net benefit to Community.
VACCHO HREC does not seek to be punitive, but to support and capacitate researchers and/or research organisations to develop the capability to conduct ethical health and wellbeing research that genuinely engages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, creating better outcomes for Community.
1. Greater than 80% Aboriginal representation
2. Dedicated to reviewing Aboriginal health and wellbeing research only
3. Quick turnaround
4. User friendly ethics application system
5. Available 24/7
The HREC is guided by the following Accord principles:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership
Trust
and Equity
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Priorities
Cultural Safety
and Humility
Knowledge Equity
and Recognition