Australian HREC submission dates

Purpose of the tool

The HREC submission and meeting dates tool is designed to assist researchers in efficiently planning ethics submissions by providing a centralised, searchable platform for HREC submission deadlines and meeting dates, for the majority of Australian HRECs.

This tool aims to:

• Support the planning of a submission strategy for multi-site research applications, that are higher risk applications (as defined by the National Statement, 2023, section 2.1), to help researchers align their project timelines with committee review cycles.
• Provide a single point of access for HREC submission and meeting dates.
• Save researchers time by eliminating the need to search individual HREC websites.
• Help researchers align their project timelines with HREC review cycles to avoid delays in project initiation.

The tool can also be used to search for HRECs that are certified under the National Mutual Acceptance (NMA), to find the up and coming submission deadlines for NMA approved HRECs.

Notes

• The tool provides HREC submission deadlines for higher risk applications (as defined by the National Statement, 2023, section 2.1). Please see individual HREC websites for submission details, for projects that are of lower risk.
• The NMA worksheet is a summary of all HRECs registered and certified and can review multi-site research under the National Mutual Acceptance scheme.
• Always check with the reviewing HREC, particularly if you apply for ethics approval outside of your institutional HREC, to ensure that you are meeting their submission requirements.
• Check with your institutional HREC to see if they accept other HREC review outcomes. Some HRECs do and some HRECs have a ratification process.
• This tool is only a guide. Dates may vary slightly if changes are made during the year by the HREC for unexpected reasons. It is recommended you double check the submission date with the local HREC.
• This tool will be periodically updated if a HREC provides further information during the year. Otherwise the tool will be updated at the end of the year with the following year's submission and meeting dates.