West Gippsland Healthcare Group
Position Description – Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)
Position Title:
Positional voluntary membership: Lay Person Female
Employment Type:
Volunteer
Reporting Relationship:
The Board of Directors through the Chair of the Human
Research Ethics Committee
Position Governance:
This position is required in order to meet requirements for the
composition of a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC), as
outlined by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human
Research.
Division:
Community Services
Location:
West Gippsland Healthcare Group
Position Summary:
The minimum membership of a HREC is eight. There are a number of minimum requirements
that need to be met in order to constitute a HREC. This positional membership is seeking a
specific person and background to meet the minimum requirements: A woman who has no
affiliation with the West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG) and do not currently engage in
medical, scientific, legal or academic work. This role is voluntary and does not attract any
financial remuneration.
Commitment:
2-3 hours per bi monthly for meetings with reading time required between meetings. Currently
meetings are held Wednesday evening bi-monthly.
Appointment Period:
Members will be appointed for a 3 year period. Membership to the HREC is ratified by the
Board of Directors. Members will be appointed as individuals for their knowledge, qualities and
experience, and not as representatives of any organisation, group or opinion. Members will be
appointed to fill one of the positional requirements of the HREC. (See Attachment 1) If
circumstances changes to make the appointed member no longer eligible for the positional
appointment, then their membership to the HREC will be reviewed.
Organisation Overview:
West Gippsland Healthcare Group is a sub-regional public hospital providing 77 Hospital and
110 Aged Care beds. We provide acute medical and surgical, paediatric, obstetrics &
gynaecology, emergency, aged care and community services, primarily in the Shire of Baw Baw,
approximately 100 kms east of Melbourne.
West Gippsland Healthcare Group comprises a number of sites. They are Baw Baw Health and
Community Care Centre in Drouin, Community Services Centres in Warragul and Trafalgar,
Rawson Community Health Centre, Cooinda Lodge Aged Care Residence, Andrews House
Aged Care Residence, Warragul Linen Service and West Gippsland Hospital.
Qualifications/Experience:

Experience in reflecting on and analysing ethical decision making.
Key Responsibilities:
The function of the HREC shall be to:
 Advise on all matters of an ethical nature referred to it from the Board of Directors or
Executive of the West Gippsland Healthcare Group.
 Advise on draft policies and procedures to promote ethical decision making within the
West Gippsland Healthcare Group;
 Advise the Board on all ethical matters relating to research within the West Gippsland
Healthcare Group, with particular reference being made to compliance with the National
Health and Medical Research Council Statement (NHMRC) on Ethical Conduct in
Research 2007 updated May 2013 (NHMRC Guidelines) and amendments.
 To ensure that research procedures relating to obtaining patient consent are compliant
with the NHMRC Guidelines;
Member Responsibilities:

Each member is responsible for deciding whether, in his or her judgement, a proposal
submitted to the review body meets the requirements of the National Statement on
Ethical Conduct in Human Research and is ethically acceptable.
 To fulfil that responsibility, each member should:
o
Become familiar with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human
Research, and consult other guidelines relevant to the review of specific research
proposals;
o
Prepare for and attend scheduled meetings of the review body or, if unavailable,
provide opinions on the ethical acceptability of research proposals before
meetings, subject to WGHG policies on absences; and
o
Attend continuing education or training programs in research ethics at least every
three years.
 Members should disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any
financial or other interest or affiliation that bears on any research coming before the
WGHG HREC.
 Members will abide by the policies and procedures of WGHG but with particular
reference to the Privacy of Personal Information Access (copy attached attachment 2)

Information received while a member of the HREC should be treated at confidential,
and disposal of such information should be done in accordance with the General
Disposal Schedule for Public Health Services Patient Information Records (PROS
99/04), which will be to burn or shred the information received. Alternatively
information may be returned to the WGHG HREC for disposal.
Reviewed By:
Director of Community Services
Last Review Date:
September 2013
Date to be Reviewed:
September 2016
I have read and am satisfied that I have understood the contents of this Position Description. While
this position description reflects the current duties and responsibilities, it is not to be interpreted as
all inclusive. It may be subject to review from time to time.
Volunteer Name:___________________________________________
Volunteer Signature:_________________________________________
Witness: __________________________________________________
Date:_____________________________________________________