The Managing Ethical Studies on Sensitive Issues (MESSI) study is an Australian Research Council funded study that examines barriers and enablers to the participation of children and young people in social research. Although there is consensus that children’s involvement in social research is important, considerable uncertainty remains around children’s inclusion in research on ‘sensitive’ issues. This study aims to better understand and address the tensions between the protection of children and their participation in research, and to explore how researchers, ethics committees, parents, other interested parties and children themselves manage and navigate these tensions.
We have approval from our University ethics committee (2016-110H) to contact Australian Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) managers and members.
In order to address these aims we are conducting a 10 minute survey with HREC managers and members. (Other groups are being surveyed separately.)
To participate or for more information please visit:
HREC member survey
HREC manager survey
In addition, we would be grateful if you could forward the URL of this page to your fellow HREC members and managers.
If you have any further questions please email or call the project manager
Bianca Hoban on 0497 316 933 or visit www.acu.edu.au/messi
Full disclosure, we know and have worked with Daryl Higgins (the Director of ICPS, ACU) and Colin is part of the Advisory Group for this study – So we admit to a bit of a Conflicts of interest when we encourage the Australian members of the AHRECS community to participate in this study and promote it in your networks.