The Australian Government consulted on Draft Quality Standards for Human Research Ethics Committees and their Host Institutions. The Quality Standards and national accreditation for Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) aims to enhance consistency, efficiency and reciprocal confidence in HREC reviews.
Australian Genomics and the Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics (ALIGN) highlighted the need to address how ‘high quality ethics review’ should be assessed and establish transparent processes for review of HREC submissions with any risk profile. HRECs need sufficient training and resources, and ongoing partnerships with Indigenous peoples, consumer representatives and subject matter experts. The Draft Standards and national accreditation scheme will need to be evaluated and have appropriate oversight. An update of the National Statement would also be timely.