Submitting an ethics application

This is a guideline for the ethics application process.

It is recommended that all researchers contact the HREC before submitting their application to discuss submission requirements. Most Queensland Health HRECs provide a checklist for researchers to ensure submission requirements have been met.

Low or negligible risk and greater than low risk ethics applications

An HREA is used for low or negligible risk and greater than low risk research ethics applications.

Complete and submit a Human Research Ethics Application (HREA)

• Create an ERM account if you do not have one.
• Login to ERM to create an HREA. Once logged in:
• Select Create Project from the list of Actions on the left-hand side and follow the prompts.
• On the Create Project page, select QLD Health as jurisdiction and HREA as the Form type, then select Create.
• Complete the HREA by following the prompts and attach relevant supporting documents before submission.
• Once you have completed the form, with all supporting documents uploaded, complete the Signatures and Declarations page and sign the form electronically (recommended).
• Select the Submit tile on the left-hand side and follow the prompts. This will submit the application to the selected HREC for processing.

Exempt research ethics applications

The QLD Exemption Form is used for negligible risk research that can be exempted from ethics review and for non-research activities such as the publication of case reports.

Complete and submit a QLD Exemption Form

• Create an ERM account if you do not have one.
• Login to ERM to create a QLD Exemption Form. Once logged in:
• Select Create Project from the list of Actions on the left-hand side and follow the prompts.
• On the Create Project page, select QLD Health as jurisdiction and QLD Exemption Form as the Form type, then select Create.
• Complete the QLD Exemption Form by following the prompts and attach relevant supporting documents before submission.
• Once you have completed the form, with all supporting documents uploaded, complete the Signatures and Declarations page and sign the form electronically (recommended).
• Select the Submit tile on the left-hand side and follow the prompts. This will submit the application to the selected HREC for processing.

Post-approval management of research

After research ethics approval, you are required to complete specific procedures to ensure that research continues to comply with ethical standards.  Amendments, progress, and final reports are submitted in ERM. Refer to the reviewing Queensland Health HREC for reporting requirements.

• Login to ERM
• Select the relevant project under ERM Applications
• Select the tile Create Subform from the list of Actions on the left-hand side
• On the Create Subform page, select Amendments, Reports and Notifications and then Create
• Select the required report type Amendment Request Form, Progress Report or Project Final Report
• Complete the form, attach the supporting documents as prompted in ERM and Submit.