Roles and responsibilities

The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research establishes a framework for responsible research conduct in Australia. The Code simply and succinctly stipulates the high-level principles, responsibilities and expectations that apply to all research. It is written specifically for researchers and institutions. Compliance with the Code is a prerequisite for receipt of National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Research Council Funding.

The PHRN requires researchers to comply with the principles, values, and responsibilities described in the Code and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

Legal responsibilities

Ethical responsibilities

Researchers

  • Comply with the relevant laws, regulations, disciplinary standards, ethics guidelines and institutional policies related to responsible research conduct. Ensure that appropriate approvals are obtained prior to the commencement of research, and that conditions of any approvals are adhered to during the course of research
  • Develop and implement a data management plan
  • Respect any project-specific conditions of consent or confidentiality obligations
  • Report any inappropriate use of, access to, or loss of data, per applicable institutional policies and other reporting schemes such as the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme. See Management of Data and Information in Research: A guide supporting the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.
  • Acknowledge the use of linked data. For details, see Acknowledge Us.

Data Linkage Units

  • Review and advise on data applications and approval requirements and processes
  • Assess feasibility of proposed linkage
  • Comply with the relevant laws, regulations, guidelines and institutional policies
  • Minimise privacy risks involving data linked, integrated and shared using methods and technology including data separation

Data custodians

  • Ensure applicable legal, regulatory and institutional requirements are met in relation to the data collection and the organisation
  • Consider standards of quality, safety, risk and financial management

Human Research Ethics Committees

  • Determine whether the project has sufficient merit to warrant human participants
  • Protect the interests of participants and the wider community

Institutions

  • Govern research to ensure it meets its objectives and conforms to relevant institutional, jurisdictional and national standards and applicable laws
  • Conduct site assessments to support authorisation of research projects