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Ethics Committees
Ethics Committees
At Southern Cross University, any research involving humans, their data, or tissue, must receive ethics approval from an SCU Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) before commencement. This applies to research conducted by SCU staff, students, or visitors, and includes the use of university equipment, facilities, or premises.
SCU has both a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) and two Low-Risk Committees (LRC) to review human research, operating in accordance with the National Statement. This ensures ethical standards are upheld in all research activities.
The Southern Cross University Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is an accredited HREC that reviews and approves high risk ethics applications.
The HREC meets monthly to review applications assessed as higher than low risk.
HREC Membership:
| Professor Liz Mackinlay | Category A - Chair |
| Dr Joanne Bradbury | Interim Deputy Chair |
| Ms Jafreen Khan | Category B - Community Member |
| Mr Rob Browne | Category B - Community Member |
| Dr Hedy Bryant | Category B - Community Member |
| Mr Julius Dias | Category B - Community Member |
| Ms Simone Balzer | Category C - Healthcare Professional |
| Dr Robert Lingard | Category D - Pastoral Care |
| Ms Dona Graham | Category E - Lawyer |
| Professor David Heilpern | Category E - Lawyer |
| Dr Joanne Bradbury | Category F - Research Expertise, Faculty of Health |
| Dr Kylie Day | Category F - Research Expertise, Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples |
| Dr Alana Gall | Category F - Research Expertise, National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine |
| Assoc Prof Romy Lauche | Category F - Research Expertise, National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine |
| Associate Professor Lynne McPherson | Category F - Research Expertise, Centre for Children and Young People |
| Assoc Prof Gail Moloney | Category F - Research Expertise, Faculty of Health |
| Dr Lisa Marlow | Secretary |
HREC Standing Orders - coming soon
A Low-Risk Committee meets fortnightly to review applications assessed as low risk and aims for a two-week turnaround time for each application. The committee membership comprises staff representing all Faculties and Colleges at the University.
Low Risk Committee Membership:
| Blue Committee: | |
| Professor Liz Mackinlay | Chair HREC |
| Dr Annabelle Keene | Faculty of Health |
| Associate Professor Kathomi Gatwiri | Faculty of Health |
| Dr Marie-Chantale Pelletier | Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Dr Liz Goode | SCU College |
| Professor Natalie Munro | Faculty of Health |
| Dr Mellie Green | Faculty of Education |
| Mr Lincoln Nettleton | Secretary |
| Gold Committee | |
| Professor Liz Mackinlay | HREC Chair |
| Dr Georgina Dimopoulos | Deputy Chair - SCU College, Gnibi, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Ms Kate Giles | Faculty of Health |
| Dr Felicity Walker | Faculty of Health |
| Dr Carla Valerio | Faculty of Education |
| Dr Reza Ghanbarzadeh | Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Ms Emily Rodger | Secretary |
Low Risk Committee Meeting Dates 2025