Complaints and Unexpected Events

Complaints:

External complaints: To lodge a complaint about the ethical conduct of a research project please contact:

Human Ethics Officer

Research Office

James Cook University

Townsville, Qld, 4811

Email: ethics@jcu.edu.au

Ph: (07) 4781 5011

Fax: (07) 4781 5521

JCU Researchers:

Internal complaints: If an applicant is concerned by the way a human ethics application was processed or by a decision of the HREC, in the first instance, please contact the Human Ethics Officer or the Human Ethics Advisor of the project. If concerns remain unresolved after discussing the issue with the Human Ethics Officer or Human Ethics Advisor, the matter may be referred to the Chair, HREC for advice and action. If still unresolved, a meeting may be called where the Chair, HREC and Senior Deputy-Vice-Chancellor will discuss the matter with the applicant.

External complaints: If a complaint is received about the conduct of a project (from any source, internal or external), the Human Ethics Officer or Human Ethics Advisor must immediately be advised of the nature of the complaint. If the Human Ethics Officer or Human Ethics Advisor receives a complaint about any project, the researcher will be contacted. The HREC will follow up and investigate all complaints and take corrective action where necessary.

Unexpected events:

The HREC must be promptly notified of any unexpected adverse or serious events that may impact participant welfare or the conduct of the project. The Human Ethics Officer or Human Ethics Advisor of the study should be contacted to report such incidences.