AIS Ethics Committee (EC)

The AIS Ethics Committee (EC) assesses the ethical implications of research projects undertaken in the National High Performance Sports System (NHPSS).

The EC is an established Human Research Ethics Committee and abides by the National Health and Medical Research Council’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2023)., opens in a new tab

Researchers working within the National Institutes Network (NIN), National Sporting Organisations (NSOs), or with identified partners, are encouraged to apply for ethics approval from the EC.

AIS Ethics Committee Review: Possible Outcomes

Approved

An Ethics Committee letter of approval will be sent to the applicant via email. Research may commence following receipt of an approval letter.

Resubmission Required

An email or letter will be sent to the applicant detailing the EC's requests for amendments. The applicant will be asked to respond to EC requests and resubmit their EC submission form for review.

Additional Resources

• EC-Submission-Form-Final.docx(DOCX • 191.7 kb)
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Ethics Approval Process

For new submissions, researchers must reach Stage 3 of the AIS research submission process to engage the EC.

Applications submitted to the EC mustfirst be approved by the AIS Research Review Committee (RRC).

Please remember to:

• Submit the final version of your EC submission form that was returned to you by the RRC.
• Submit both forms as Microsoft Word Documents.
• Attach all supporting documents in PDF format.
• Check for an email from the EC Secretariat confirming that your application was received.

Following RRC approval, submit both your EC submission form and RRC review form to ethics@ausport.gov.au

Submitting a Minor Variation

Minor variations to studies that have previously been approved by the EC must be submitted for review. You should also submit a minor variation request if you are requesting an extension of your project timeline.

Variations must be submitted with:

• The AIS-EC-Minor-Variation.dotx
• An updated version of the project's EC submission form
• Any relevant supporting documents
• A written request for minor variation, briefly summarising the variations and reason for the request - please use the content in the AIS-EC-Minor-Variation-Letter-Template.dotx on your organisation's letterhead.

Minor variation approval requests can be submitted to ethics@ausport.gov.au

Who Should Apply?

The following criteria have been established by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) for proposals to be considered by the AIS Ethics Committee (EC):

• Research proposals led by ASC staff, involving the use of AIS facilities, or requiring access to Athlete Management System (AMS) data must be submitted to the AIS EC for review.
• The AIS EC will also consider research proposals submitted through state institutes or academies of sport and national sporting organisations who do not have their own HREC.

Activities that do not require EC approval are as follows:

• Standalone procedures that are not part of a research project.
• Research that does not involve human participants. For example, the development of hardware, software, or sporting equipment that will not be validated or tested using human participants.

External HREC Recognition

• ASC researchers can apply to have ethics approval from an external NHMRC registered Ethics Committee recognised by the AIS EC, except where the research is led by ASC staff, involves use of AIS facilities or access to AMS data.
• The AIS Ethics Committee does not recognise ethics review conducted by a non NHMRC registered Ethics Committee including ethics review conducted overseas.  Submissions must be reviewed in full to ensure requirements of the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2023 are met.

Monitoring and Reporting

Annual Reporting

Researchers must provide the EC with annual status reports on approved research projects.

Reports are required every 12 months, on the anniversary of initial ethics approval.

• Use the AIS-EC-Annual-Status-Report-Form.dotx to report on project status and progress.

Project Completion or Termination

Researchers are required to notify the EC when an approved project is completed, or if an approved project is terminated before completion.

• Use the AIS-EC-Project-Final-Report.dotxform to inform the EC of project completion and final outcomes.
• Use the AIS-EC-Termination-of-Project.dotx form to report on projects that have been terminated early.

Submit any research project reports to ethics@ausport.gov.au

Submission Dates

The EC meets 6 times per year. Calls for research submissions are made approximately 8 weeks before each EC meeting, as per the AIS research submission process.

Remember to submit to the RRC  first.

Please note:

• A decision on ethics approval is provided to applicants within 10 working days after a meeting
• Meeting dates are subject to change.

Out-of-session Review

If a project requires ethics approval prior to the next EC meeting, an applicant may request an out-of-session review. Out-of-session reviews are granted at the discretion of the EC Chair.

If you require an out-of-session review, please email a formal written request to ethics@ausport.gov.au

Please remember to:

• Detail why an out-of-session review is required.
• Have your EC submission form complete and ready to submit to the RRC, as per the AIS research submission process.
• Check for an email from the EC Secretariat, confirming that your request has been received.

The EC Secretariat aims to provide the Chair's response to an out-of-session request within 10 days.

For further information

Please contact the AIS Ethics Committee Secretariat - ethics@ausport.gov.au