Request Process for New Projects

If you are a pregnancy and early childhood health researcher and have a new project idea that involves the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study, you will need approval from the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee, a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) approved Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Committee (AH&MRC) HREC.

Person doing experiments in the lab

By following these 4 steps the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study ensures that appropriate ethical considerations are made and that community consultation is undertaken before any new projects begin. This means that any new projects undertaken by the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study should align with the values and interests of the Gomeroi community in Tamworth.

  • If you have a new project idea involving the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study, we suggest that you have a discussion with the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study director (find contact details on the Our Team tab). This way any potential problems, considerations and collaborations can be discussed.

    Importantly:

    • Any new projects proposing to use existing data or samples collected from Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study participants must be within the scope of what was consented to by the participant.

    Any approval given by the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee is subject to approval by the NHMRC approved HREC and AHMRC HREC and vice versa.

  • The lead investigator will submit a one-page summary outlining their new project idea to the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee for inclusion in the next Committee meeting.

    • The template for this one-page summary has been created with guidance from the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee and can be downloaded below.

    • Researchers are advised to ensure that their one-page summaries are community friendly and use strength-based language.

    • In the interest of keeping your novel project ideas confidential, only committee meeting members will have access to your submitted summary.

    The lead investigator will be given the opportunity to explain their project at the next Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee meeting either in person or via Zoom link. Committee meetings occur every 3 months, so please allow up to 3 months for committee approval.

  • The Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study Director will inform you of the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee decision via return email.

    Approval from the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee must be given before any new research can be started and is subject to approval from an NHMRC approved HREC and the AH&MRC HREC.

    As a condition of working with the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study lead investigators agree that they may be asked to provide project updates to the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee and Local Aboriginal Land Council throughout the scope of their project.

  • Once a new project has been approved by the NHMRC approved HREC, the AH&MRC HREC and the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Advisory Committee, the lead investigator can request access to existing data and/or samples from the Gomeroi Gaaynggal Study Director.

    The Director reserves the right to request evidence of approval from the NHMRC approved HREC and the AH&MRC HREC, before data/sample access is given.

Please use our New Project Application Template below to structure your application and send it to ggstudy@newcastle.edu.au

Click here to download our new project application template