Informed consent in research
Obtaining informed consent is a key part of conducting research.
Researchers must provide potential participants with sufficient information to make an informed decision about whether to take part in a research project.
Participant Information and Consent Forms
The InFORMed Participant Information and Consent Form (PICF) template is the nationally endorsed approach for developing participant information and consent materials in Australia. It provides a clear, consistent and participant-centred structure for explaining research studies to participants.
In December 2025, Australian state and territory health departments endorsed the template for use in research reviewed under the National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) scheme.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has also endorsed the template for all human research conducted in Australia or involving Australian participants.
Using the InFORMed PICF template helps to:
- present information in a clear and accessible way
- support consistency across participating sites
- reduce administrative duplication for researchers, research offices and ethics committees.
The template is supported by a user guide that helps researchers understand and complete each component.
We encourage researchers undertaking projects in Victoria to use the InFORMed PICF template and user guide.
Access the InFORMed PICF template and user guide
Consent from a medical treatment decision maker
A medical treatment decision maker is a person legally authorised to make medical treatment decisions on behalf of someone who does not have decision-making capacity, in accordance with the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 (Victoria).
If your research project requires consent from a medical treatment decision maker, you can still use the InFORMed PICF template with some additional wording.
When preparing the PICF:
- use 'you' throughout the document to address the participant directly, consistent with the InFORMed user guide
- include additional text in the consent section explaining why the medical treatment decision maker is being asked to provide consent on behalf of the participant.
Suggested consent wording
Why are you being asked to sign this consent form?
We are asking you to make a decision about whether ____________________________ (participant name) should take part in this research project. This is because they are unable to make this decision themselves and you are their medical treatment decision maker.
By signing this form, you:
- confirm that you are the participant's medical treatment decision maker
- agree to the participant taking part in this research project.
If you would like more information about the role of a medical treatment decision maker, please contact the Office of the Public Advocate: publicadvocate.vic.gov.au
Access medical treatment decision maker - researcher resources
Contact us
If you have questions about research participant consent or cannot find the information you need, please email us at research@safercare.vic.gov.au.