Governance and Ethics

Ethics

• Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee
  • The MQ HREC has ethical oversight of conduct of this research. All changes to this research with potential implications for study participants require the MQ HREC’s approval. The MQ HREC also receives annual reports on the conduct of this research from the investigators. These requirements ensure that all aspects of this research is in accordance with the Australian National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
• NSW Population & Health Services Research Ethics Committee
  • This research will also obtain permission for data linkage from the NSW Population & Health Services Research Ethics Committee. Research using linked data require separate approval from the relevant ethics committees and data custodians.

Confidentiality

• The MQ-MINDS cohort study is bound by Commonwealth and State privacy legislation, including the Health Records and Information Privacy Act and the NSW Health Privacy Manual. All information collected is treated with absolute confidentiality and used for health research only.
• No information will be released in a way that would enable an individual or household to be identified, unless required by law. Information gathered will be stored, analysed and reported on with all individual identifying details removed to ensure total security, confidentiality and anonymity.
• The independent ethics committees outlined above play an important role in ensuring participant confidentiality.