High-quality research and research findings can inform decisions about policy, teaching, learning, higher education and skills development.
The standards for ethical research practice set out the department’s expectations of researchers so that evidence is generated appropriately and respectfully, in accordance with the highest ethical standards. The standards identify the core requirements of ethical practice design, delivery and reporting of research involving the department’s sites, students or employees.
As a general rule, any research conducted on department sites should be administered in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council's
National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NSECHR), in particular, the standards and principles for conducting research about specific populations, including Indigenous Australians and children and young people.
Consistent with the NSECHR, the department’s standards for ethical research practice are underpinned by five core values of ethical research: informed consent, voluntary participation, privacy and confidentiality, justice and beneficence, and right to review. The standards apply to all research conducted by staff or external researchers on departmental sites, while recognising that the legislative responsibilities of internal and external researchers can differ.
To maximise the benefits of the research, researchers grant the department the right to disseminate their reports within the department. This contributes valuable knowledge to our shared evidence base.
Read more about
standards for ethical research practice
.