LIVE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP
HREC Essentials: NHMRC National Statement 2025 Updates
About the workshop
The 2025 NHMRC National Statement update reframes how we think about participants, moving away from labeling groups as “vulnerable” and instead focusing on the concept of increased risk of harm.
This shift promotes inclusion, encouraging researchers to involve individuals and communities often underrepresented in studies. It also introduces a clearer distinction between risks arising from participant circumstances and those created by the research context. Importantly, the changes open the door to more flexible review pathways, meaning research involving at-risk participants won’t automatically require full HREC review if assessed as low risk.
This workshop is perfect for:
- New and experienced HREC Committee Members
- HREC Chairs and Deputy Chairs
- HREC Executive Officers and Secretariat staff
- Research Governance & Integrity Officers
What You'll Gain from This Workshop
- Understand the Key Changes
- Explore the major revisions in the 2025 National Statement, including:
- Shift from “vulnerable groups” to “participants at increased risk”
- New and expanded chapters in section 4 (e.g., pregnancy, children, disasters/emergencies)
- Strengthened guidance for research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Explore the major revisions in the 2025 National Statement, including:
- Interpret the Ethical Implications
- Learn how the updated framing of risk affects how committees and administrators conduct ethical review.
- Understand the rationale behind inclusion-focused language and flexible review pathways.
- Considerations for applying the changes in practice
- Identify how these updates impact:
- Risk assessment
- Consent processes (including assent for minors)
- Governance and monitoring responsibilities
- Identify how these updates impact:
- Navigate new review pathways
- Discuss and share when alternative review mechanisms may be appropriate for research involving participants at increased risk.
Why you'll benefit:
- Understand the changes and apply these in your ethical review
- Contribute to how these changes may be applied in practice by your committee and ethics office.
- Navigate new review pathways implemented by your committee and ethics office.
Join us to unlock your team’s full potential, because when your team thrives, success follows.
Our training and education offers have been developed according to Australian and international best practice standards.
Our modules are built upon the competencies developed by the Harvard Multi-Regional Trials Centre (MRCT) and aligned to competencies recommended by the NHMRC.
These training offers are regarded as a benchmark for researchers, clinical trials, and healthcare professionals in Australia and internationally.
About the Facilitator
Sophie Gatenby
Sophie Gatenby is a Research Ethics Manager with more than a decade of experience in human research ethics, having worked in the field since 2012. She provides expert ethics and governance support and consultation to a wide range of research teams across the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne, with a particular focus on complex, multi-site, and paediatric research.
Sophie is recognised as a leader within the national research ethics community of practice, regularly contributing to sector-wide discussions, training, and capability building to support high-quality, ethically robust research across Australia.
Price
Price: $599 +GST pp
PRAXIS Partner price: $479 +GST pp
*Savings available for group enrolments and for PRAXIS partner organisations.
Next Virtual Workshop
Thursday 16 April 2026: 10.00am – 2.00pm (Sydney Time)
Thursday 16 July 2026: 10.00am – 2.00pm (Sydney Time)
Need training on demand?
This session can also be conducted at your location for groups of 10 or more. Ask us about this today.
PRAXIS Australia has the right to cancel a workshop or training session (or move the event format online) due to unforeseen circumstances. For more information regarding our Cancellation Policy and your rights as a student, please see our Student Terms and Conditions.
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