About TSC: Policies: Service Management

The Spastic Centre recognises the need for sound and effective management systems and supports management practices that are in line with its mission statement and strategic plan. It values its staff and will provide systems to ensure staff work in an environment that maximises their personal and professional skills in ways that promote positive outcomes for people with a disability.

S08:01:02 - Research & Ethics Policy (

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The Spastic Centre Ethics Committee is a recognised National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), EC00402.

Submission Process
All submissions must be in electronic format. Please submit to ethics@tscnsw.org.au. Prior to submission, contact with the Research Fellow is welcomed, contact Sarah McIntyre smcintrye@tscnsw.org.au.

Application Process
You can submit to the Ethics Committee using a choice of 2 processes.

Option 1: National Ethics Application Form (NEAF)
https://www.neaf.gov.au/Default.aspx
NEAF is a web-based tool that has been developed to assist researchers of all disciplines to complete research ethics proposals for submission to Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs), and to assist HRECs to consistently and efficiently assess these proposals. NEAF allows you to identify more than one HREC to which you will be submitting your proposal, and you can complete one proposal to submit to multiple HRECs. This removes the need for researchers to prepare multiple application forms and means that all HRECs receive identical information about the proposal.

Option 2: Standard Spastic Centre Research and Ethics Application (See Att 5 in the list of forms below).

Overview of the Standard Research and Ethics Application Process
We use a four stage submission process.

Stage 1: Expression of Interest* - The purpose of this phase is to alert the Committee to your proposal and for you to receive initial feedback about whether it is likely to be approved before you complete a full submission. The Research Committee is assessing whether (a) the project has appropriate supervision, i.e. do no harm, and (b) the resources you request from the organisation to support your project, such as staff time and funds, is a good match with the organisation’s agenda.
*Experienced researchers or postgraduate students enrolled in a supervised research degree can elect to omit this phase and start the process at stage 2.

Stage 2: Formal Research Proposal – The purpose of this phase is to provide the Research Committee with a detailed research plan. The Research Committee is assessing whether (a) the project has sound rigour, i.e. do no harm, and (b) it is feasible to recruit the sample group you are proposing to work with and that they not currently being over-researched by other projects underway.

Stage 3: Ethics Application – The purpose of this phase is for the Ethics Committee to assess ethical principles including: respect for people; potential benefits versus harm; and justice.

Stage 4: Board Approval – The Board of Directors of The Spastic Centre provides the final approval to enure potential liabilities have appropriate risk management strategies in place.

Forms/Appendicies:
Att 1: Research Project Procedures (

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Att 2: Research Committee (

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Att 3: Research Expression of Interest to TSC's Research Committee (

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Att 4: Outcome of Research Expression of Interest to TSC's Research Committee (

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Att 5: Formal Research Proposal to TSC's Research Committee (MSWord)
Att 6: Outcome of Formal Research Proposal to TSC's Research Committee (

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Att 7: Ethics Committee (

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Att 8: Ethical Guidelines for Approval to Undertake Projects (

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Att 9: Application for Ethical Approval of a Project (MSWord )
Att10a: Guidelines for the Preparation of an Information and Consent Form (

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Att 10b: Template for Information and Consent to Participate in a Research Study (

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Att 11: Outcome of Application to TSC's Ethics Committee (

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Att 12: Research Project Final Approval to TSC's Board (

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Reporting requirements for approved projects
The Spastic Centre Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is a fully constituted Ethics Committee in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans 2007. Approval of research projects by the HREC is conditional upon the investigators’ continuing compliance with the National Statement. Accordingly, it is the responsibility of the chief investigator/s to:

Provide a summary of research progress to the HREC on an annual basis commencing one year after approval. A one-page plain English summary of the progress to date and current status of the project is sufficient. Failure to submit required reports will result in withdrawal of consent for the project to continue.

Provide a final report on completion of the research to the HREC. The final report should be written in plain English and contain 1) a summary of the findings of the research and 2) references to any publications stemming from the work.

Advise the HREC immediately in writing of any serious adverse events occurring during the course of the research.

Advise the HREC immediately of all unforseen events that might affect continued ethical acceptability of the project.

Advise the HREC of any proposed changes to the research protocol, research personnel, information statement or consent form. All proposed amendments must be addressed in writing to the HREC and must be approved by the HREC before continuation of the project.

Advise the HREC immediately, providing reasons, if the research is discontinued prior to its completion.

Request an extension of ethics approval should the project not be completed within the time period specified in the approval.

Ensure that copies of all signed consent forms are retained and made available to the HREC on request.

The Spastic Centre HREC can be contacted at PO Box 184 Brookvale NSW 2100 or ethics@tscnsw.org.au

S08:01:05 - Publicity Protocol
All requests from the media for information or interviews must be directed to the Marketing manager.