Processes and Governance

Waivers of consent in human research

In most research, participants are asked to give their informed consent before taking part. In some limited circumstances, a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) may approve research without this requirement — this is known as a waiver of consent.

A waiver can only be granted by a fully constituted HREC, and only where strict criteria are met.

Under the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (Chapter 2.3), a waiver of consent may be approved where:

• The research carries no more than low risk to the privacy and safety of participants.
• Obtaining consent from every individual is impracticable — for example, where research involves historical records or large registry datasets.
• The expected public benefit of the research clearly outweighs the absence of explicit consent.
• Participant privacy is protected throughout.

Publicly disclosing waived research

Even where consent has been waived, all HRECs across Australia are required to make publicly available a list of all research projects approved under this arrangement.

This ensures transparency and accountability, and allows the public to see what research is being conducted without individual participant consent and why it has been ethically justified.

Bellberry is committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical conduct and transparency in research, in accordance with the National Statement.

View Bellberry’s waiver of consent list

View the list of studies currently approved by Bellberry’s HRECs for which a waiver of consent has been granted.

Download the list