Important information
All research being conducted with Queensland Health must have valid Ethics Approval and Research Governance for each Hospital and Health Service that the project will take place.
There are two steps for approval to commence a research project in the NWHHS:
Getting Started
Your first point of contact should be the Research Governance Officer (RGO), who can provide you with information on what process you need to follow for authorisation and direct you to which staff you need to discuss your project with and obtain signatures from.
RGO contact details
(07) 4745 4521
RGONWHHS@health.qld.gov.au
Postal address:
ATT: Research Governance
Mount Isa Hospital,
PO Box 27, Mount Isa, QLD 4825
Collecting signatures and discussing your research project as part of the SSA
You need to discuss your project with relevant NWHHS staff members as they must provide a signature on the SSA form. This indicates during the review of your application that the project was discussed with NWHHS staff who confirm that they can commit time and support to your research project if it is approved.
At this stage you must only discuss the feasibility of your project, do not start collecting any data or requesting data collection until you have both ethics and SSA approval.
Signatures required for your application to be valid (contact the RGO for relevant contact details):
Submitting your SSA
Site specific documents (for multicentre projects)
We require localised PICFs that include local site details/contacts etc. to assist local participants. We can provide a template with all headers/footers already inserted. Please contact the RGO for a copy.
*Site specific documents should reference the master in the footer section including version details
Participant Information Sheet Master V3 20.03.18
Mount Isa NWHHS Site Specific V1 25.05.18
Where Mount Isa is stated above, here you include the site where the study will take place i.e., Doomadgee, Mornington Island etc.
Other elements required
NWHHS logo - please contact RGO for a copy of the logo.
A collaboration logo if the study is being conducted with parties external to Queensland Health.
Details of the Local Principal Investigator with relevant phone number (if applicable).
Details of the local Site Contact/Coordinator with relevant phone number (if applicable).
Once your SSA is submitted
Research Committee dates and submission dates
2022 - 23 dates
| Submission Dates | Meeting Dates |
|---|---|
| 7 November 2022 | 21 November 2022 |
| 2 January 2023 | 16 January 2023 |
| 6 February 2023 | 20 February 2023 |
| 9 March 2023 | 20 March 2023 |
| 3 April 2023 | 17 April 2023 |
Last updated 28.11.2022
Guides, resources and templates for RG process
Where do I go for ethics approval?
North West HHS does not have its own Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC). The closest HREC is located at the Townsville Hospital. Visit their homepage for more information about submitting to their HREC.
A full list of HRECs for Queensland Health is available here
Useful links to get you started
Last updated 22.06.20
Access to identifiable medical or patient records or internal datasets
last updated: 1.09.20
Getting started with your Case Report
The following are some free access options that health professionals of any specialty may find useful in writing their case report.
Want to Publish?
Choose a journal that best suits your case study and check their website for their submission requirements, this usually includes referencing format, word count range and layout specifics.
BMJ (available on CKN) accepts Case Reports, review BMJ's support resources for authors and contact Yacca Library for a fellowship code so that you don't have to pay a publishing fee.
Before you submit a case report for publishing it is important to have written patient consent and endorsement by a Queensland Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), please contact the Townsville HREC.
Last updated 02.07.20
Recommended Titles
Important information
Regardless of whether you are planning to present the audit in the future, all clinical audit activity must be registered with NWHHS Healthcare Standards Unit. Please contact this team in the first instance.
What is a Clinical Audit and how is it approved?
Definition: A clinical audit produces information to inform delivery of best care, and measures against an existing standard.
Approval: If you are planning to publish the results, present at a conference (poster or oral) or disseminate the findings outside of Queensland Health you will need to submit to the HREC Chairperson, via the HREC Coordinator, to arrange an endorsement of your project as non-research (see section 2).
Image: Craig.parylo (2005)
Unsure if you are conducting a research or non research activity?
The Defining Research Vs Audit (PDF) may also be of use: download here
Last updated 22.06.2020
Important information
Regardless of whether you are planning to present the findings in the future, all service evaluation/quality improvement activities must be registered with the NWHHS Healthcare Standards Unit. Please contact this team in the first instance.
What is a service evaluation or quality improvement activity and how are they approved?
Definition: A service evaluation or quality improvement activity defines or judges current care, and may measure service without reference to a standard. It can involve analysis of existing data or may include simple interview or questionnaire.
Approval: If you are planning to publish the results, present at a conference (poster or oral) or disseminate the findings outside of Queensland Health you will need to submit to the HREC Chairperson, via the HREC Coordinator, to arrange an endorsement of your project as non-research (see section 2).
Image copyright: NHS Improvement
Unsure if you are conducting a research or non research activity?
The Defining Research Vs Audit (PDF) may also be of use: download here
Last updated 22.06.20
Guidelines
The North West Hospital and Health Service acknowledges and pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to the Traditional Owners/Custodians and Elders both past and present, on whose lands we provide health services to all Queenslanders.
The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) - Updated 2018 consists of a series of guidelines made in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992.
Chapter 4.7 : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples provides guidance to researchers concerning research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Page 77 states:
The Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders are based on six core values identified as being important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The message for researchers is that there is great diversity across the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and societies. Application of these core values, and of additional cultural and local-language protocols, should be determined by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or groups involved in the research.
The six core values are: Reciprocity, Respect, Equality, Responsibility, Survival and protection, Spirit and integrity.
Image: Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders, p. 3.
There should be evidence of support for the research project from relevant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or groups and the research methodology should engage with their social and cultural practices (National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2007, p. 78).
Evidence of engagement by the research team is usually reflected in their discussions of the project with the community/committees they wish to work with, and by requesting a written letter of support.
Please contact the RGO or the relevant HREC for further information or any queries you may have.
Last updated 09.12.20
Publications - Standards and Policies
Last updated 16.01.20
Other Useful Links
Contact details
(07) 4745 4521
RGONWHHS@health.qld.gov.au
Researchers should contact the RGO for submitting a site specific assessment (SSA) application. NWHHS staff can also contact the RGO if they have any inquiries about research activities.
For inquires for ethics applications please view the HREC contacts list
Are you conducting research or an audit/QI/SE activity? The library is here to help!
Library staff can assist you with:
email: mt_isa_library@health.qld.gov.au phone: (07) 4745 4532
visit us: Mount Isa Hospital, located between the Renal Unit and MCRRH
Yacca Library is jointly funded by the North West Hospital & Health Service and the Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health (James Cook University)
