{"id":146392,"date":"2026-09-24T13:59:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T05:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/?page_id=146392"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:43:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T06:43:27","slug":"2025-national-statement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/research\/research-integrity-and-ethics\/human-ethics\/2025-national-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 National Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The National Health and Medical Research Council has released the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025)<\/em><\/a> which replaces the 2023 version and took effect from 23 June 2026. Curtin\u2019s Ethics Office is transitioning to the revised requirements and will refer to the 2025 version of the National Statement as of 25 September 2026. Updates to the HREA form are in progress, and researchers will be advised when relevant changes are implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers should begin referring to the 2025 National Statement now, particularly when their work involves the circumstances or participant groups addressed in Section 4. Section 4 applies where a specific population group is likely to be represented in significant numbers because of targeted recruitment, foreseeable inclusion, geography, recruitment strategy, analysis of identifying data, or the likely impact of research outcomes. Researchers must consider the relevant chapter throughout design, recruitment, consent, data management, monitoring and dissemination.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n

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What has changed in Section 4<\/h2>\n \n \n

Section 4 adopts a more individualised and inclusive approach to ethical risk. Researchers should not assume that risk is inherent in membership of a particular group. Instead, risk may arise from a combination of personal, social, cultural, relational and research-specific factors. The revised guidance emphasises ethical inclusion, autonomy, self-determination, consultation and appropriate safeguards rather than excluding people solely to avoid potential risk.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n

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Advice for researchers<\/h3>\n
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  1. Use the 2025 National Statement when planning and describing new research.<\/li>\n
  2. Identify whether chapters in Section 4 apply to the study context or proposed participants.<\/li>\n
  3. Assess risk at the individual and contextual level rather than relying on group labels.<\/li>\n
  4. Build inclusion, autonomy, consultation, cultural safety, consent and confidentiality safeguards into the study design.<\/li>\n
  5. Where relevant, consult people with lived experience, communities, cultural advisers, service providers or other experts before finalising the design.<\/li>\n
  6. Design for inclusion and autonomy by using accessible information, supported decision-making, appropriate assent and consent processes, culturally safe methods, independent recruitment and clear withdrawal arrangements.<\/li>\n
  7. Plan safeguards and responses. State how the team will manage distress, fluctuating capacity, disclosures, child safety concerns, privacy in shared settings, power imbalances, emergencies and researcher safety.<\/li>\n
  8. Refer to relevant clauses in Chapter 4 in the application to demonstrate how the guidelines have been addressed.<\/li>\n
  9. Check whether the revised guidance changes the appropriate review pathway, noting that some research may now be eligible for low-risk or exempt review while specified activities still require HREC review.<\/li>\n
  10. Monitor Ethics Office advice about HREA form updates and implementation arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Ethics Office staff are available to provide additional support including further advice on the updated National Statement, guidance regarding ethics application requirements, and assistance using InfoEd. Please contact the Ethics Office on (08) 9266 9223 or <\/strong>ROC-ethics@curtin.edu.au<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n

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    Summary of the updates to the 2025 National Statement<\/h3>\n \n \n

    Full details of the new provisions are outlined on the NHMRC’s website.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n

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