How to Apply

Become familiar with the application and review process, and access tailor made guidance to help you submit your research application to Bellberry. Our step-by-step approach ensures clarity and support at each stage of your submission journey.

The application process, step by step

How to apply

Complete the guidance tool below for tailor made guidance for your particular application

Complete the guidance tool below for tailor made guidance for your particular application

Answer the questions on our guidance tool to get the relevant guidance notes and resources to enable you to complete the eProtocol application form

Register with eProtocol

If you are new to Bellberry, set up your eProtocol user account.

If you are new to Bellberry, set up your eProtocol user account.

All research for review is submitted through Bellberry’s eProtocol online system. Before you can start your application, you must complete a registration request to become an eProtocol user. Once processed, you’ll have full access to the platform.

Submit your application

Complete the eProtocol form and upload the relevant documentation

Complete the eProtocol form and upload the relevant documentation

Log in to eProtocol, complete the application form and upload all your study documentation. Once submitted, if your application is complete, it will be triaged for the next available HREC meeting. If the application is incomplete, it will be returned requesting the necessary information.

Ethics committee review

Your application is reviewed by one of our expert HRECs

Your application is reviewed by one of our expert HRECs

Bellberry’s expert Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) meet weekly on Wednesdays — with committee members selected to match the type of research under review — meaning your application won’t wait long to be assessed.

Receive committee decision

The HRECs determination is ready within 48 hours

The HRECs determination is ready within 48 hours

You’ll receive the Human Research Ethics Committee’s determination — including any comments or questions — via eProtocol on the Friday following the meeting. Typical turnaround from application submission to decision is around 21 working days.

Respond to committee comments

Address any queries or requested changes.

Address any queries or requested changes.

If the committee has questions or requests changes to your study, you’ll respond directly through eProtocol. Once all queries are resolved to the committee’s satisfaction, your study can proceed to approval.

HREC Application Guide

For new and existing users, before you start your eProtocol application form, follow this interactive tool which will provide you with the relevant guidance and recommended resources tailored to your particular type of research application.

eprotocol registration 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 – Can you submit through 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 health submission page 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 (drug/medical device)?

An investigational product is a therapeutic good being tested in a currently unapproved manner for use in Australia, in accordance with the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). If your product does not appear in this search, it would be considered an investigational product.
For a list of goods and their approved use, please see the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Examples of studies without investigational products include surveys, retrospective audits, and some database studies.

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.
PICF submission pathways
If you are the only site that will be taking part in this research, please select pathway 1.
If additional sites may be taking part in this research, please select pathway 2 or 3.

[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. Please refer to section 2.1 of the National Statement to determine if your proposal may meet the criteria for review via the Lower Risk Pathway, in addition to Bellberry guidance Review Pathways – Higher risk and Lower risk research and Application for Lower Risk Review.
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

Your selections

No answers selected yet.

How to complete the eProtocol application

This short video provides clear, step by step guidance on how to complete the eProtocol application form. It’s designed to give you the confidence to submit a comprehensive application ready for review by a Bellberry HREC.

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.

Register for eProtocol
Sally and Sarah looking at RAP

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.

eProtocol Help
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.

Bellberry reviews a broad range of human research, including clinical drug and device trials, social and behavioural studies, health services research, public health studies, and AI and digital health research.

We also offer specialist review through our Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and Consumer and Community Advisory Panel (CCAP). If you’re unsure whether your study type is covered, contact us.

You need to complete the online registration form to register for eProtocol. Please see our Registrations Guidance for further information on how to complete this form.

Yes. Bellberry offers single ethical review for multi-centre studies, reducing duplication and providing one consistent approval across all sites.

Our fees vary depending on the type and complexity of your study. See Our HREC Fees for a full breakdown, or contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Documents required depend on the type of study you are submitting. Please see our Submission Requirements Checklist for a comprehensive list of possible documents required for review.

When registering for eProtocol for the first time, you’ll be asked to create a user ID. We recommend using your surname followed by your first name initial — for example, SmithJ. See our Registrations Guidance for more information.

Applications can be submitted via eProtocol at anytime and meetings are held weekly on Wednesday evening. Studies being submitted for HREC review have a weekly submission cutoff of Wednesday at 5pm (ACST). A complete application will generally be considered at an HREC meeting on the Wednesday two weeks following the submission cutoff.

Amendments to approved studies are submitted via eProtocol using the amendment form. Please see Amending Approved Research for further guidance.

If you have a concern about the review process, a committee decision, or how your study has been handled, Bellberry has a formal complaints process. See Complaints for information on how to raise a concern and what happens next.

Our typical turnaround is around 21 working days from submission to decision. Meetings are usually held weekly on Wednesdays, with the committee’s decision and any comments communicated via eProtocol within two business days following the meeting.

For more information, refer to Submission requirements and responsibilities.

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.

Learn More
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.

Learn More
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.

Learn More