How to submit a human research ethics application

Log in to the Human Research Ethics Application (HREA) system.

Create a new human research ethics application and complete all sections. Please refer to the HREA help guide on how to create an application and upload documents.

Students must:

• Include their supervisor as the Chief Investigator
• Share the application with the supervisor for review and sign-off before submission
• Ensure the supervisor has completed and signed all required declarations

Prepare Supporting Documentation

Use only the current Bond-approved templates when preparing your application. Applications submitted using outdated or non-approved templates may be returned for amendment prior to review.

Before submitting your application, ensure that all required supporting documents are included and that any documents requiring signatures have been appropriately completed and signed. Using the correct templates and providing complete documentation will help avoid delays in the review process.

Download all required supporting documents (refer to the attachment checklist), and complete, as applicable:

• Bond University Protocol Form
• Participant information sheet and consent form (PICF)
• Recruitment materials (e.g. emails, social media posts, advertisements, text messages)
• Survey instrument(s)
• Interview or focus group guides
• Data collection tool(s)
• Authorship Agreement (preferred), or Authorship Principles Statement (refer to Authorship Guidelines). At least one of these documents must be submitted with all ethics applications.
• Letters of support and/or site approvals (if applicable)

Once your HREA application has been completed in the system, download:

• The ZIP folder.
• The OMNI file.

These files must be uploaded with your submission in Pure.

Log in to Pure.

Under ‘Ethical Review’, select ‘Application‘ to complete the following:

• Title: Title of the project. Ensure the title entered in Pure matches the HREA documentation.
• HREA Application ID: Enter the HREA Application ID generated by the HREA system. This will be used as the ethics application reference number. Ensure the HREA Application ID entered in Pure matches the HREA documentation.
• Submission date: Ethics application submission date
• Persons: "Add Person" - Ensure all members of the research team are entered in Pure, including external collaborators and student researchers. A Bond University staff member must be listed as the chief investigator (select only one person as Chief Investigator).
• Add managing organisational unit: Faculty
• Add documentation:  ZIP Folder – Upload under ‘HREA Application Bundle’. Supporting documentation: If you have not already added this within the HREA system and they are not part of your ZIP Folder, upload all participant-facing documents, study instruments, approvals and other supporting documents in the relevant document category. OMNI File – Upload under ‘HREA Omni File’.

Important: before submitting

While preparing your application, leave the application status as ‘Entry in Progress’. This will allow you to continue editing the application and uploading documents. Once the status is changed to ‘Under Review’ and the application is saved, researchers can no longer make changes to the application.

Only change the status to 'Under Review' when:
All application documents have been uploaded.

All research team members have been added.

The application has been reviewed for completeness.

The application is ready to be formally submitted to the research ethics office.

Quick Checklist

Before submitting, confirm that you have:

• Completed the HREA.
• Downloaded the ZIP folder and OMNI file.
• Completed the Bond protocol form.
• Used current Bond templates.
• All relevant forms are signed.
• Uploaded all supporting documents.
• Included all research team members.

Change the application status to ‘Under Review’ and select ‘Save’.

This notifies the research ethics office that your ethics application is ready for assessment.

• The research ethics office will undertake an initial compliance review.
• Following the initial compliance review, the application will be sent for faculty endorsement.
• Following faculty endorsement, the HREC Chair (or delegate) will determine the appropriate ethics review pathway for the project based on the information provided and the level of foreseeable risk.
• Additional information may be requested if required.
• Once risk assessment is completed, the process is as follows
• Low risk applications: Applications determined to be low risk may be reviewed outside scheduled committee meetings, allowing for a faster turnaround.
• Greater than low risk applications: Applications determined to be greater than low risk will be referred to the next available HREC meeting for review and decision.
• Applicants will be advised of the outcome via email from [email protected].
• Do not commence research until you have received formal written confirmation of approval.
• If additional information, clarifications or amendments are required during the review process, please refer to the How to respond to ethics review feedback.

Researchers remain responsible for:

• Ensuring that all information provided in the application is accurate and complete.
• Complying with any applicable data custodian, legislative, regulatory, or contractual requirements.
• Managing and storing research data in accordance with Bond University policies and procedures.
• Monitoring the project throughout its lifecycle to ensure it continues to meet the conditions under which the approval was granted.