A new code of conduct provides a new principles-based approach to responsible research and will help safeguard the quality and integrity of Australian research.
The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the 2018 Code) and Guide to Managing Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (the Investigation Guide) demonstrate Australia’s commitment to the highest quality research. Both the 2018 Code and the Investigation Guide are jointly authored by Australia’s premier research funding agencies, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC), as well as Universities Australia (UA).
Chief Executive Officer of NHMRC, Professor Anne Kelso AO, said that high-quality research underpins improvements in the health, wellbeing and prosperity of our society. “By providing researchers and research institutions with a clear set of principles for the ethical conduct of research, the 2018 Code will help to maintain Australia’s strong culture of research quality and integrity.”
Chief Executive Officer of the ARC, Professor Sue Thomas, said that while the 2007 version of the Code has been very successful in building a framework for responsible research conduct in Australia, the 2018 Code will build on this to provide more contemporary and clearer guidance to researchers and research institutions. “Our researchers and research institutions undertake crucial work—we rely on them to advance and build knowledge that will allow us to address complex problems, grow industries, and improve national and global wellbeing. The 2018 Code will help ensure that our researchers undertake their work responsibly and to the highest ethical and scientific standards.
“It will provide assurance that the Australian research effort continues to be underpinned by honesty, rigour, transparency and accountability, and that researchers treat each other fairly and show respect for the people, communities and environments impacted by their research,” Prof Thomas said.
