Research Policy

This policy replaces a suite of policies:
Accreditation of Faculty and Other Academics as Research Supervisors, Grants, Publications, Research Conduct & Responsibilities, Research Encouragement Scheme Committee Terms of Reference, Research Ethics, and the previous Research Framework (policy).

This policy establishes the principles and responsibilities that govern all human research conducted under the auspices of Eastern College Australia. It ensures that research undertaken by staff, students, and external collaborators upholds the highest standards of ethical integrity, scholarly excellence, and regulatory compliance.

This policy applies to all research activities associated with Eastern, whether funded or unfunded, within Australia or internationally. Operational procedures and templates are detailed in the Eastern College Research Framework (2025).

All staff.
All students undertaking a human-research component within their studies.

NHMRC (National Health and Medical Research Council): The Australian government agency responsible for providing national guidance on research ethics and the development of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

CRA HREC (Christian Research Association Human Research Ethics Committee) is an external body registered with NHMRC and authorised to grant ethical clearance for research involving human participants.

Commitment:
Eastern is committed to fostering a culture of ethical, innovative, and responsible research that advances knowledge and serves the common good. All research undertaken through Eastern shall:

• Reflect the College’s Christian ethos and values of integrity, justice, and respect.
• Be conducted in accordance with national standards and relevant legislation.
• Protect the rights, dignity, and welfare of all participants.
• Promote transparency, accountability, and excellence in all stages of the research process.

Research Integrity Principles:
All research conducted through Eastern is guided by the following principles, consistent with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (NHMRC, 2025) and the Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research (2018):

1. Research Merit and Integrity – Research must be methodologically sound, justified, and conducted by competent investigators.
2. Justice – Participants must be treated equitably, with fair access to research benefits and no undue burden.
3. Beneficence – The benefits of research must outweigh potential risks, which are to be minimised.
4. Respect – The autonomy, culture, privacy, and dignity of participants must be upheld.
5. Accountability – Researchers must act with honesty, transparency, and responsibility in design, conduct, and reporting.

Research Ethics and Approval
All research involving human participants, identifiable data, or sensitive materials requires ethics approval through an NHMRC-registered body.
No research may commence without written ethics approval.

Implications for Courses and Course Design

All staff and students enrolled in courses that include a human research component must complete approved research ethics training prior to submitting an ethics application. An approved ethics application must be received prior to any data collection.

Responsibility & Governance:
Research governance at Eastern operates under the oversight of the Academic Board through the Learning, Teaching and Research Committee (LTR).

Role:                           Responsibilities:
LTR                               Oversees implementation of the Research Policy and Framework; monitors quality, compliance, and reporting.
Course Coordinators   Nominate a staff member to review student research ethics submissions and liaise with the CRA HREC, or appoint another staff member for this role and notify LTR of the appointment.
Researchers                 Both staff and students will conduct research in accordance with ethical principles, policy requirements, and approved procedures.