Access forms, templates and guidelines

Researchers must ensure their projects comply with all relevant policies, legislation and guidelines.

In preparing your application, refer to the following resources:

All applications must be submitted via Forms for Research Applications (FoRA). For more information about this system, how to submit new FoRA HREA applications or submit externally approved applications and the management of existing applications, please refer to the Human Research Ethics Management support page.

See information about:

Macquarie University policies:

NSW legislation:

Australia and international:

Depending on the age of the child and their capacity to understand the research, consent from children can be obtained in the following ways:

  • verbally, and recorded in writing, audio recording or video recording
  • using simple words or pictures to convey the information, in paper format or electronically
  • using a child-friendly version of a parent information and consent form, written in age-appropriate language.

The following reference article discussing the ethical issues concerning consenting children may also be useful:

Recruiting participants from schools

Research in New South Wales state schools requires approval from the NSW Department of Education and Communities via the State Education Research Application Process (SERAP).

All researchers submitting a SERAP form must obtain insurance sign-off from Macquarie University’s Risk and Assurance Unit. This sign-off is obtained via the ‘SERAP-Risk & Assurance Checklist’ form, which is available online in the Forms for Research Applications (FoRA) system.

Research in:

  • other states’ public schools or state education sites require approval from the relevant state government Department of Education eg if you want to conduct research involving QLD department sites and/or data, you must submit an application via the Queensland Education Research Inventory (QERI)
  • Catholic schools require approval from the relevant Catholic Education Office Diocese
  • independent/private schools require approval from the principal.

Download guidelines for collecting demographic data.

This document outlines the wording we would recommend for diversity demographic questions based on current expert advice. These could be included in data systems, forms and surveys. It may not be necessary to include all these questions – it is always important to consider why you are collecting data and how it will be used.

For more information on collecting, interpreting and acting on diversity data, contact:

Whether or not you can use data collected or held by a third party depends on:

  • the type of data being collected
  • the purpose for which it was collected
  • what consent was obtained from participants at the time of initial data collection
  • how it is to be used in your research.

Sharing data can be complex and is subject to the relevant national and state legislation. You should contact the Ethics Secretariat for tailored assistance, after consulting the following guidelines, policies and legislation:

Contact us

The Ethics Secretariat administers the Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) and the Faculty Ethics Subcommittees.

Ethics Secretariat

T: +61 (2) 9850 4459
E: ethics.secretariat@mq.edu.au

Ethics administration

T: +61 (2) 9850 4490

HREC: Humanities and Social Sciences

T: +61 (2) 9850 7850

HREC: Medical Sciences

T: +61 (2) 9850 4194