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Research ethics

Find out how we ensure ethical and responsible research practices involving humans, animals and genetically modified organisms.

We're committed to the highest standards of ethical and responsible research because we believe in doing things the right way. All research involving people, personal data or human tissue requires ethics approval. Following regulations is about more than compliance; it ensures integrity in research and protects the rights, dignity and welfare of participants.

We’re proud to champion openness and accountability, and we strive to continually improve our animal ethics, human ethics and biosafety processes. A big part of this is education – making sure our researchers have access to clear guidance and resources that support ethical practice. 

Human research ethics
Our commitment to the ethical and responsible conduct of human research includes protecting research participants and safeguarding personal data. Researchers must assess the ethical risk of their projects and make modifications if necessary.
Animal research ethics
Respect for animals underpins all decisions and actions involving the care and use of animals at Federation University. Our researchers conduct world-leading conservation research to better understand and protect native wildlife at home and abroad.
Institutional biosafety
Our researchers aim to protect the health and safety of their community and the environment by identifying and managing risks around using genetically modified organisms and gene technology. All research must follow national biosafety standards.

Openness in animal research and teaching

Federation University is a proud signatory of the Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia. Find out more about this pledge and what our commitments are.

Ethics committees

Already working at Federation?

You can learn more about the committees, find meeting dates and submission deadlines, and submit proposals for ethics approval on our SharePoint site.

Explore resources

Concerned about a research integrity issue?

If you think a researcher may not be following responsible research practices, you can report a breach of research integrity.

Contact us

If you have a question or need advice about research ethics, email research.ethics@federation.edu.au any time or call (03) 8768 5542 between 9 and 5, Monday to Friday.