The Australian Catholic University (ACU) is currently looking for volunteers to join the ACU Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) as (i) Laypeople - Laypeople bring the broader community or consumer perspective to discussions and reviews and (ii) a person with knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care or treatment of people; for example, a nurse, counsellor or allied health professional.

ACU is committed to providing a research environment that develops good research practice and nurtures a culture of research integrity. To help achieve this we maintain the Ethics Committee which is responsible for considering the ethics of human research.

The primary role of the HREC is to safeguard the rights, safety and well-being of research participants. This includes protecting participants from physical, psychology, social/cultural, economic and legal risks of harm.

Role Responsibilities: Each member is responsible for the competent review of all applications and listing any ethical concerns for the research project. Members would check and ensure that all information given to the research participants is clear and easy to understand.

Time Commitment: The HREC meets monthly 11 times per year (except January) from 11am-3pm. Applications are sent to committee members 2 weeks before the meeting and must be reviewed before attendance. The time required to review applications will vary but generally 2-3 hours per application may be required.

The meetings are held via Teams and access to an uptodate computer or other tablet device is required. ACU does not pay sitting fees to committee members – involvement in the HREC is on a voluntary basis. ACU will provide induction and training to assist new members. Members will also be required to attend annual training sessions. If you are interested in this role, please contact the Ethics Secretariat on res.ethics@acu.edu.au. Expressions of interest are due by Friday 18 April 2025 and you should include a copy of your CV and a cover letter. Your letter should outline which position you are applying for, how you meet the criteria for, why you are interested in this role and include any relevant experience.