The AH&MRC Human Research Ethics Committee (Ethics Committee) was established in 1996 in response to the conduct of research on Aboriginal people which had largely been negative and without consultation with Aboriginal people and communities.

Our Committee’s review is a necessary step to assist researchers to design meaningful, ethical, and culturally appropriate research projects to minimise harm and mitigate risks for Aboriginal Communities participating in research.

The purpose of this document is to ensure that research that affects Aboriginal people and communities is done in a culturally appropriate way, involves and considers the people that it affects. This guideline may be useful for the following:

• Researchers that are planning to submit a research application for review by the AH&MRC Ethics Committee.
• AH&MRC Ethics Committee members who are reviewing ethics applications against all relevant guidelines.

The AH&MRC Ethical Guidelines: Key Principles was updated in 2020. Notable changes to this document include:

• Clarification on the expectations of researchers under the Five Key Principles.
• Further information on the requirements of Aboriginal Governance: Aboriginal Reference Groups, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and Aboriginal Researchers.
• Links between the expectations of the AH&MRC HREC and the NHMRC.
• Updated checklist for submission requirements.