How to Apply

Learn how to apply through Bellberry’s robust ethics review process. Our step-by-step approach ensures clarity and support at each stage of your submission journey.

How the application process works

This short video provides a clear, high-level overview of the Bellberry application process. It’s designed to give you confidence before you begin, showing how each stage fits together—from registration through to approval.

HREC Submission Guide

This interactive Bellberry prototype reflects the latest decision-tree content, including removal of the “Does your study require HREC review” question and the updated branching logic for additional sites.

How to apply Guidance & Resources Contact
Step 1
Check whether the site may submit through Bellberry.
Step 2
Answer guided questions to identify the likely pathway.
Results
Receive tailored guidance notes and relevant resource links.
  1. 1. Check eligibility
  2. 2. Prepare research
  3. 3. Additional study details
  4. 4. View guidance

Step 1 – Check if you can submit to Bellberry

Is your study site affiliated with a public health organisation?
Public health organisations include public hospitals, state-based Local Health Networks and Local Health Districts.

Can your site submit to Bellberry?

Please see the public sites webpage for a detailed explanation of which sites may submit to Bellberry.

Step 2 – Prepare your research for submission

For a full list of study requirements please see Bellberry’s guidance and resources pages.

Is this submission single-centre or multi-centre?
Single-centre: The study is conducted at one centre through Bellberry, under one Principal Investigator. This can include satellite sites, as long as they are under the direct supervision of the same Principal Investigator.
Multi-centre: The study is planned to be conducted at multiple centres through Bellberry and a different Principal Investigator is responsible for each centre.

Is this the first site to submit to Bellberry for this study?

Only shown for multi-centre submissions.

Is this study using an Investigational Product?

An investigational product is a therapeutic good being tested in a currently unapproved manner for use in Australia.
For a list of goods and their approved use, please see the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). If your product does not appear in this search, it would be considered an investigational product.
Examples of studies without investigational products include surveys, retrospective audits, and some database studies.
If “No” is selected, the other investigational product options are automatically cleared.

Are you seeking consent from participants for this study?

Consent to participate in research must be voluntary and based on sufficient information and adequate understanding of both the proposed research and the implications of participation in it.
Depending upon the circumstances of an individual project it may be justifiable to employ an opt-out approach or a waiver of the requirement for consent, rather than seeking explicit consent. Refer to the National Statement (2025) Chapter 2.3.

What PICF submission pathway have you chosen?

A pathway must be chosen before submission.
If you are the only site that will be taking part in this research, please select pathway 1.
If additional sites will be taking part in this research, please select pathway 2 or 3. We recommend selecting pathway 2 for a streamlined process.

[Additional Sites Only] What PICF submission pathway has been chosen by the lead site?

As you are an additional site, pathway 2 or 3 should have been chosen for this study.

What is the risk level of your study?

Bellberry offers a pathway for lower risk research that is reviewed by the Bellberry Lower Risk Sub-Committee, in accordance with the National Statement Chapter 5.1.12.
Institutions that are responsible for a proposed human research project should assess its level of risk in accordance with the guidance on risk provided in Chapter 2.1.
Please refer to Chapter 2 of the National Statement to determine if your proposal may meet the criteria for the Lower Risk Pathway.

Does your study involve any of the following?

Study-specific guidance may be relevant to your site if your study involves the following:

[Additional Sites Only] Does your study involve any of the following?

Study-specific guidance may be relevant to your site if your study involves the following:
If neither “Medicine or biological” nor “Medical device” is selected, the non-clinical indemnity resource is added automatically.

Your Bellberry submission guidance

This results view summarises the path selected and lists the guidance/resources that should appear for that user journey.

Submission summary

Guidance notes

Recommended resources

Prototype notes: this file uses Bellberry-inspired styling, live quick links to Bellberry website pages, and placeholder links for the more granular guidance documents that would be mapped in a production build.

Your selections

No answers selected yet.
Expression of Interest

Ready to Apply?

Login or Register for eProtocol.

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What is eProtocol?

Compliance is mandatory, but tedious paperwork is not. eProtocol is Bellberry’s secure online submission and review system. It allows you to prepare, submit, and manage your research applications, while communicating directly with reviewers at every stage.

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Learn how to use eProtocol

New to the system? Visit our Navigation Guide for Researchers for step-by-step training on using eProtocol—from creating your first application to responding to committee feedback.

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FAQs

Get answers to common queries

Whether you’re preparing your first submission or managing amendments, these answers cover the most common scenarios and link to detailed guidance when needed.

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Not all projects require HREC review. Studies with more than a low level of risk must be reviewed by an HREC. Some low-risk or quality assurance activities may follow other pathways or be exempt. Refer to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research for details, or see our Review Pathways guide.

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Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Browse our FAQs page or contact us for helpful guidance and detailed information.

View all FAQs
Useful links
Orientation

Guidance & Resources

Find policies, templates, and checklists to support your application. From pre-submission planning to post-approval monitoring, this hub gives you practical tools at every stage.

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Member Responsibilities

Our Fees

Review the current schedule of fees for new applications, amendments, and multi-centre studies. Transparent pricing helps you plan and budget with confidence.

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eProtocol Help

Complaints

If you have concerns about a study or the way it has been managed, learn how to raise a complaint with Bellberry.

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MAR

Ready to start or need advice?

If you’d like to speak with a Bellberry team member about your study or need help preparing an application, our customer service specialists are here to assist.

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