New horizons: PRAXIS Australia launches ethics training for medical research
Ethical human research needs to ensure the welfare of its participants and the quality and effectiveness of research. Malcolm Crompton is Chair of PRAXIS Australia, a new initiative aimed at anybody involved in medical research.
Privacy can take you to interesting places, all the way to ethics education for everybody involved in research, including health research.
The privacy of research participants is an issue that Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) that are accredited by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) often have to consider. Many years ago I was invited to join the Board of Bellberry Limited. Bellberry has revolutionised the operation of HRECs. Indeed, it was recognised by the McKeon Review of Health and Medical Research in Australia as setting the benchmark for HREC review process.
Bellberry is a Not for Profit and donates its operating surpluses back into health research.
Recently Bellberry joined with the Sydney University and Monash University (via its partner Global Reconciliation Ltd) and funded the establishment of PRAXIS Australia Ltd, another Not for Profit.
Now I have been elected Chair of PRAXIS Australia.
PRAXIS Australia promotes the understanding and practice of ethical human research in Australia and internationally, in order to enhance the welfare of research participants and the quality and effectiveness of research. It aims to be a hub; a central place that facilitates and fosters the exchange of ideas and sharing of knowledge, through education, training and other interactive forums.
PRAXIS achieves this by:
- education and training, seminars, workshops and conferences
- facilitation of discussions about research and ethics in the research, health care, academic and wider communities
- development of resources and tools to enhance the ethical aspects of research and the research process
- contributions to knowledge about ethics and ethical practice in research and the ethical aspects of research, research practice and regulation
- provision of consultative and educational services to individuals and organisations involved in research
PRAXIS has just launched its unique training model for Human Research Ethics Committees. The only nationally accredited training model for this sector in the Australian market, the course has been designed by HRECs for HRECs. It combines online and face to face learning modalities that encourage flexible learning.
PRAXIS is now building new services to extend our training to the research sector more broadly.
This is an exciting new development. For anybody involved in medical research as a member of an HREC, as a researcher or research administrator, I would encourage you to look at the PRAXIS offering.
To find out more visit our website www.praxisaustralia.com.au, email us at info@praxisaustralia.com.au or tweet us at @GentgallMelanie.
Malcolm Crompton is the Founder and Lead Privacy Advisor of IIS Partners (IIS), a company that works with public and private sector organisations to build trust with customers through protecting their personal information.
