Corporate and Research Ethics
All WIRF employees are expected to discharge their duties in good faith and act honestly in the best interest of the Foundation, striving at all times to enhance the reputation and performance of the Foundation.
All scientific studies conducted by the Foundation are approved by the Ethics Committee of the Women and Newborns’ Health Service and / or the Human Research Ethics Committee and Animal Ethics Committee of The University of Western Australia.
Research ethics is the application of fundamental ethos and principles that promote responsible conduct of research and determine the way in which researchers engage in human research.
Human research ethics clearance is required if research includes the involvement of human beings. For full details see
page 8 of the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
The types of research include, but are not restricted to:
- Gathering information about human beings (and organisations) through interviewing, surveying, questionnaires, focus groups, observation of human behaviour, audio/video taping, undergoing psychological, physiological or medical testing or treatment
- The collection and use of their body organs, tissues or fluids (e.g. skin, blood, urine, saliva, hair, bones, tumour and other biopsy specimens) or their exhaled breath
- Clinical trials
- Access to personal documents or other materials
- Using archived data in which individuals are identifiable
- Study or research in illegal activities
- Access to their information (in individually identifiable or re-identifiable form) as part of an existing published or unpublished source of database.