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What is AHREC?

The Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee (AHREC) was established in 1986 to promote and support quality health research for the benefit Aboriginal people and communities in South Australia.

The Committee’s role is to review and monitor health and medical research involving Aboriginal people and communities in South Australia to ensure ethical standards have been met in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Values and Ethics – Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research. 

What is the role of our Committee Members?

Our Committee Members are dedicated individuals that have a commitment to ensure that AHREC continues to set the highest standards of health research ethics. They support human rights in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research and the objectives of AHREC.

As a member you must: 

  • Become familiar with and apply the National Statement in reviewing all research projects
  • Attend a minimum of four annual meetings (meetings are held online via Microsoft Teams).
  • Read all applications in preparation for an AHREC meeting (approximately three to four hours).
  • Commit to reviewing responses from applicants (approximately four hours per month).

Current Positions Available

AHREC is looking for individuals to represent the following categories on the committee: 

  • Health practitioner - Knowledge of, and current experience in, the professional care, counselling or treatment of Aboriginal people. 
  • Community member – Persons with no affiliation to AHREC or AHCSA, and who bring a broad community or consumer perspective. 
  • Elder/community leader – An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Elder, current Minister of Religion or a person who performs a similar role in the community. 
  • Lawyer – Persons who are legally trained or lawyers.
  • Researcher – Persons with knowledge of, and current experience in, health research with or about Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.

Interested in joining AHREC?

Please fill in our form now. Membership will be determined consistent with the requirements of the National Statement Sections 5.1.29–5.1.33. Applicants can apply to one or more of the categories but can only be appointed to one. AHREC strives for a majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and a gender balance. Induction and training will be held for all appointed AHREC members.

Apply Now

Credit: Illustration by Allan Sumner, 2016 | This artwork is a fusion of symbols that represent the values that form the honourable foundation of the Aboriginal Health Research Ethics Committee and protect Aboriginal families and communities across Australia. It visually pieces together, in waveform, a representation of AHREC’s collective cohesion and connectedness.