Apply for ethics approval

About the ethics review process

As part of planning your research project, you’ll need to apply for ethics approval.

Human Research Ethics Committees review research applications to decide whether the proposed research is ethically acceptable.

When you apply for ethics approval, the committee assesses your project using the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

You'll need to be able to show that:

• your research has scientific merit
• any benefits outweigh any risks
• the people who’ll work on your project have the right qualifications
• you’ll treat the participants with respect, especially vulnerable groups
• you’ve thought about ethical issues linked to your research methods.

Our Human Research Ethics Committee

Our Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) reviews applications for single-site research projects in hospital and health services.

It’s registered with the National Health and Medical Research Council as the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee and its registration number is EC00173.

Our HREC reviews research in line with:

• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research
• Declaration of Helsinki
• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research
• Note for Guidance on Good Clinical Practice.

Chair: A/Professor Sunday Pam
Secretariat/Coordinator: Kathryn Ritchie

Read the Human Research Ethics Committee Terms of Reference [PDF 407.28 KB].

Projects that may not need full ethics review

Low-risk projects like clinical audits or quality assurance activities may not need a full ethics review or may be eligible for exemption.

You can read the Eligibility for exemption from ethics review guide [PDF 642.26 KB] for more information.

If you aren't sure which pathway is right for your project, contact our team for advice.

Multi-site research

If your research will happen in more than one place (a multi-centre research project), it will need to be approved by a HREC certified for multi-centre ethical reviews.

Our HREC currently isn’t certified to do multi-centre ethical reviews.

You can find a full list of HRECs who can approve multi-centre research on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

You’ll need to mark your application as a ‘multi-site’ application in the Ethical Review Manager (ERM) and share your application with the principal investigator at each site.

How to apply for ethics approval

Before you apply

We recommend you contact our HREC before you apply for ethics approval.

Do this after you’ve planned your project and prepared your project plan.

We can talk you through the application process and answer any questions you may have. This can help you include all the required information and reduce the chance of delays before you can start your project.

When to apply

Check the dates in the table below and allow enough time to prepare your application.

You must submit your complete application by 12 noon on the closing date. Our HREC can’t accept late or incomplete applications.

Our HREC meets on the fourth Thursday of each month to review applications for ethics approval.

Application and meeting dates for 2026

Step 1: Prepare your research protocol

Design your research protocol first.

Your research protocol should include details on:

• the activities you plan to include in the project
• evidence to support your activities from other research and your preliminary investigations
• timelines
• how you plan to deal with potential problems.

Use our Research study protocol guide [PDF 934.31 KB].

Step 2: Prepare your documents

You need to upload supporting documents when you apply for an ethics review. It's a good idea to get started on these as soon as possible so you have plenty of time to submit your application.

Our Research application checklist [DOCX 965.24 KB] will help you keep track of the documents you need for your application. The Coordinating Principal Investigator should complete the checklist.

Required documents

• Cover letter
• Research study checklist
• Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) form generated in ERM
• Research protocol
• CV for each project team member

Make sure you include page numbers, document version numbers, document names and dates on your study documents. Your project may change over time. Documenting the changes helps you make sure you’re using the most up to date version.

Supporting documents

Provide supporting documents if they’re relevant to your project.

Supporting documents may include:

• participant information and consent forms (PICF)
• data collection tools indicating all information to be collected for the project such as a survey, questionnaire, audit tool or case report form
• investigator brochures
• questionnaires and other instruments
• advertising materials, including transcripts for ads, emails, websites, letters or phone calls
• letter of invitation or letter to GP
• participant diaries or wallet cards
• Medicines Australia Form of Indemnity for a research site that isn’t a Queensland Health site
• Independent assessment report or verification by a medical physicist or a district radiation safety officer detailing the total effective dose and organ doses for radiological procedures.

Participant information and consent form templates

The National Health and Medical Research Council has Participant information and consent form (PICF) templates for researchers. It’s not compulsory to use them, but they’re useful tools.

Research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

If your research focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, you’ll need to provide letters of support and evidence of community consultation.

You’ll also need to do this if your research compares Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with non-Indigenous people.

Read more about ethical guidelines for research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

Step 3: Submit your application

Apply through the ERM.

Learn more about how to use the ERM on the Queensland Health website.

After we've reviewed your application, we'll send you an email to let you know the outcome.

Apply for a site specific assessment (SSA)

For most research projects, you’ll also need to get governance authorisation, by submitting a site-specific assessment application. You can do this after you’ve applied for ethics approval.

Contact our team if you’re unsure whether you need to complete this step.

Contact us

If you have any questions about ethical reviews email cqhhshrec@health.qld.gov.au.

Feedback and complaints

If you have feedback, concerns or a complaint about the ethical conduct of research, email the research governance officer at cqhhs-rgo@health.qld.gov.au.