Research Ethics Consultation Committee

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The Community Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Research Network (CMHDARN) encourages researchers to engage in an informal peer-review process focusing on ethical issues. This initiative promotes ethical conduct in practice-based research within the mental health and alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sectors, enhancing the quality and utility of research for CMHDARN’s members. CMHDARN supports community-managed mental health and AOD sectors in implementing and demonstrating ethical research practices.

About the CMHDARN Research Ethics Consultation Committee (RECC): The RECC provides ethical guidance to researchers and research participants, offering a forum for informal consultation and guidance on ethical matters in research within the mental health and AOD sectors.

How can the CMHDARN RECC help you?

The RECC can assist with:

• Reviewing project proposals, methodologies, and data collection tools from an ethical perspective.
• Providing ethical reviews for CMHDARN and partner-organisation research projects that do not require approval from another institution (e.g., a Human Research Ethics Committee)
• Offering guidance on engaging with individuals with lived experience and incorporating their feedback into research data and publications.
• Providing approval for CMHDARN/NADA/MHCC to support, participate in or promote a research project
• Providing information on ethical standards and practice guidelines relevant to the mental health and AOD sectors.
• Providing advice and support for an application to a Human Research Ethics Committee.

Eligibility for Ethical Guidance from the RECC:

• Researchers conducting studies related to clients/consumers receiving services from MHCC and NADA member organisations.
• NADA member organisations seeking access to data from the NADAbase.
• Academic researchers conducting research in and with the mental health and AOD sectors.
• Service delivery organisations in the mental health and AOD sectors conducting internal evaluations.
• Service delivery organisations in the mental health and AOD sectors wishing to publish research/evaluation results.
• Researchers seeking CMHDARN/NADA/MHCC support or participation in their research.

Requesting a RECC Review:

Read the CMHDARN RECC – Information for Applicants guide. Then, complete the Request for Ethical Research Consultation or the Request for CMHDARN, NADA and/or MHCC Promotion form and submit it to the CMHDARN Coordinator via email.

The CMHDARN RECC will review your application, provide feedback, ask questions, and make recommendations.

More information: For more information contact the CMHDARN Coordinator at info@cmhdaresearchnetwork.com.au