Background:
Victoria University is a small university in Melbourne, Australia. We have developed an integrated system of ongoing ethics education for all researchers and research students. This consists of ethical advisors for human research ethics applications, who are often members of the ethics committees, bespoke seminars, research supervisor training and PhD coursework. In addition, we hold a monthly “Ethics Case of the Month” whereby a researcher or PhD student presents an ethically complex issue from their own research.
Nature and scope of the topic:
The research ethics ecosystem is based upon a combination of procedural and relational/care ethics. That is, while adhering to the core national standards concerning research ethics, as set out in the government document National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025) (procedural) our implementation of these utilises a relational model, based upon the work of writers like Joan Tronto and Carol Macdonald.
Thus ethical research cannot exist without a web of strong ethical relationships, not only with research participants but research partners (e.g., industry) and the procedural networks that ensure compliance.
Results, outcomes and implications.
Strong interpersonal relationships and coordinated teaching and training are vital on developing ethical researchers and ethical practice.
Conclusions
Research ethics education should be ongoing and encompass PhD students and researchers alike. A Human Research Ethics committee can be instrumental is developing an eco system that ensures procedural compliance as well as developing ethical research and researchers alike.