Victoria's first Aboriginal-led human research ethics committee has officially begun operations, marking a significant step in strengthening cultural oversight of medical research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Delivered by the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and funded by the Victorian Government, the Aboriginal Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) will oversee medical research involving First Nations people to ensure projects are culturally safe, ethically conducted and deliver meaningful benefits for First Peoples.
On Friday, Deputy Premier and Minister for Medical Research Ben Carroll announced the appointment of the inaugural members of the HREC, which forms part of marra ngarrgoo, marra goorri — the Victorian Aboriginal Health, Medical and Wellbeing Research Accord, an initiative aimed at creating an ethical and culturally safe research sector.
The new HREC "fills a gap and provides a rigorous, culturally embedded review process that finally puts Aboriginal research back where it belongs — in Aboriginal hands," acting VACCHO chief executive officer Jim O'Shea said.
Built around the Research Accord's principles — at least 80 per cent Aboriginal representation, a sole focus on reviewing Aboriginal health and wellbeing research, fast turnaround times, user-friendly processes and 24/7 availability — the committee is independent and not "just best practice," Mr O'Shea said, but a "mark of responsible research".
"Over the past 25 years," he argued, "researchers undertaking work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria have navigated mainstream ethics that have not been designed with Community or with cultural safety at their heart".
The Victorian Government has invested $4.5 million in VACCHO to implement the Research Accord, with additional funding provided by the Lowitja Institute. Establishing the ethics committee was identified as one of the Accord's key initiatives.
Mr Carroll said the committee would ensure Aboriginal communities had greater oversight of research affecting them.
"That means more ethical research with better research outcomes," he said.
"We're helping strengthen community trust and accountability in medical research involving Aboriginal people."
Lowitja Institute chief executive officer Paul Stewart said the investment in the HREC was "significant," with First Nations "voices, values and knowledge" shaping every stage of the research journey.
"Lowitja Institute is honoured to support the VACCHO HREC. The new ethics body ensures the research we do with Community continues to be strengthened and grounded in our knowledge and cultural safety," he said.
"The new ethics process consolidates Aboriginal researchers and Aboriginal-led research; it ensures our people are at the centre of the process from beginning to end."
Ethics application submissions can be made online.
