Ethics

'Ethics and ethical principles extend to all spheres of human activity. They apply to our dealing with each other, with animals and with the environment. They also govern our interaction in conducting research. Ethics serve to identify, good, desirable or acceptable conducts and provides reasons for these conclusions.' (National Health and Medical Research Council 2003)

The University of Western Sydney (UWS) is required by several federal and state laws to examine all research proposals, whether they deal with human or animal participants, and where there are issues of biosafety or radiation safety to be considered.

At UWS, research is carried out in accordance with the Research Code of Practice and is guided by the following national guidelines:

• Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007)
• National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans (2007)
• Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (2004)
• Health Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research (2003)

UWS Biosafety and Radiation Safety review is guided by national and State guidelines and standards:

• Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
• Australian Standard AS 2243.3 Safety in the Laboratory, Part 3: Microbiology.