Early career researchers often find it difficult to know how best to approach the ethical challenges associated with a project they are planning. It can be reassuring to obtain expert and independent advice on a project during the design phase of the work. Some institutions have established a network of collegiate advisers who researchers can consult and/or practical resource material, but many have not.

This platform puts researchers in touch with Research Ethics Advisers. This is not research ethics review and an adviser cannot grant a project ethical clearance. But an adviser can give you feedback on your research plan, identify ethical challenges and matters that might come up during research ethics review, and might suggest refinements of your research plan.

This is a beta test version of the Research Ethics Adviser Platform.

Currently there are two levels of advice:

Basic Advisory that will give you a sense of the degree to which you plan is in good ethical shape and might provide a dot point list of the areas requiring attention – the cost of a Basic Advisory is AUD50.

Full Advisory In addition to a Basic Advisory (see above) a Full Advisory will discuss the ethical challenges in more detail, discuss matters that are likely to come up in research ethics review and might suggest refinements and improvements to a project – the cost of a Fill Advisory is AUD500.

The next step is selecting a Research Ethics Adviser from the roster, send them your plan and paying the fee by electronic funds transfer. All of this can be done from the Roster page.