Purpose
We are running a short listening survey to inform the early phase of the Strategic Ethics Reform Project. In this phase, we want to understand your experience of working within Victoria’s human research ethics system.
Through this survey, we are seeking system level insights about how the current ethics system is functioning in practice, including your experience of:
- participant safety and ethical integrity
- timely and proportional review
- confidence in ethical oversight across organisations
- organisational accountability and risk management.
This is a listening phase only. No reform options have been developed at this stage.
Your feedback will help us build a clear picture of the current system and identify themes for deeper exploration in later engagement activities.
What we are asking
We are seeking input about:
- what is working well and should be preserved
- what aspects of the system should be protected to maintain safety, independence and trust
- where the system creates operational pressure, duplication, uncertainty or risk
- where expectations, roles or decision pathways are unclear.
Who the survey is for
- HREC Chairs and members
- HREC Ethics and Governance Advisors, Coordinators and Secretariat staff
- Research Governance and Research Office staff
- Directors of Research and Research Governance leaders
- Clinician researchers and research delivery teams
- Commercial sponsors and collaborative research partners (universities, Medical Research Institutes, funding bodies)
- Consumers and community representatives
- Organisational executives (e.g., Chief Executives, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Operating Officers, Clinical Governance leaders)
Complete the survey
Timing
The listening survey will be open until 11:59 PM (AEDT) Sunday 22 March 2026.
A summary of themes identified through the listening phase will be shared with the sector on this page and via our research newsletter.
Contact
Questions can be directed to Heidi Gaulke at research@safercare.vic.gov.au.