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WA health system ethics reform: researchers

WA health system ethics reform: researchers

At each step of the reform, researchers will receive updates from the Department of Health (the department) via various channels.

The department and HSPs will endeavour to minimise disruption during transition to the WA Health Central Human Research Ethics Committee (Central HREC). The stepped integration of the HSP based HRECs into the Central HREC began in the first quarter of 2024 and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2025. 

As of 3 November 2025, the following types of submission should be directed to the Central HREC:

  • ALL new project applications (including those requiring review by an NMA Lead HREC)
  • ALL post approval monitoring submissions for projects that were approved by the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group (SCGOPHCG), Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), WA Country Health Service (WACHS), Women’s and Newborn Health Service (WNNHS) and North Metropolitan Area Mental Health (NMAMH) HRECs.
  • Projects determined to be of lower risk as defined by the National Statement 2024 (N.S. Section 2.1)

    The following types of application can be submitted to either the Central HREC or to the Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) HREC. 

  • ·new more than lower risk projects involving children and young people that require review by a Lead HREC under NMA
  • ·new projects involving children and young people that are determined to be of lower risk as defined by the National Statement 2023 (N.S. Section 2.1).

    The following must be submitted to the CAHS HREC.

  • post approval monitoring submissions for projects that are currently being monitored by CAHS HREC.

The SMHS, SCGOPHCG, RPH, WACHS, WNHS and NMAMH HRECs are no longer accepting new submissions of any kind for review. 

Queries relating to the ethics review process should be directed to the Central Office for Research Ethics (CORE) at HREC@health.wa.gov.au. Where the submission needs to be redirected or resubmitted, staff at HSP research offices and the CORE will provide support to ensure a smooth transition.

Research governance

Research governance processes will not change as part of the ethics reform and the research governance offices will continue to review applications for site approval. Applications for site approval should be submitted to the appropriate research governance office via the RGS as is current practice.

Approved projects

Ethics monitoring (post-approval) submissions

Ongoing ethical oversight of all previously approved projects is being transferred progressively to the Central HREC with system-wide integration to be completed by the end of 2025.

As of 03 November 2025, the ethical oversight of active research projects previously approved by the DoH (as a Lead HREC), NMAMHS, WNHS, WACHS, RPH, SCGOPHCG, and SMHS HRECs has been transferred to the Central HREC. Monitoring submissions (amendments, safety reports, annual progress reports and site and project final reports) for projects approved by these HRECs should be submitted to the Central HREC.

For projects previously approved by the CAHS HREC, amendments, safety reports, annual progress reports and site and project final reports should be submitted to this HREC for review until you are advised otherwise.

Submissions to the WA Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (WAAHEC)

WAAHEC is a specialist HREC that operates externally to WA Health and is therefore outside the scope of this reform. Submissions to WAAHEC will continue to be managed via their existing processes.

Please refer to the WAAHEC website for more information on their submission processes: Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee – AHCWA (external site).

 

More information

For more information on the reform, contact the CORE 08 9222 4214 or via HREC@health.wa.gov.au

Last reviewed: 05-11-2025
Produced by

Office of Medical Research and Innovation

wa.gov.au