Australian Paediatric Research Ethics and Governance Network

The Australian Paediatric Research Ethics and Governance (APREG) Network was established in 2013.

APREG (represented by a Steering Committee)  formalised a commitment within paediatric Australian public health organisations  to streamline the ethics and governance review of multicentre projects using the National Mutual Acceptance (NMA) Scheme. APREG also aims to  identify opportunities for collaboration and project initiatives in the ethics and governance of paediatric research.

The partner members of APREG are the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network; John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle; The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne; Monash Health, Melbourne; Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Services (incl Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital), Brisbane; Mater Hospital, Brisbane; Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide; and Child and Adolescent Health Service (incl Princess Margaret Hospital), Perth.

For more information contact: apreg@ptna.com.au

APREG Guidelines

Clinical trials, the child participant and consent: a practical guide for investigators and sponsors

  • Are assent forms required?
  • What if a parent and child’s view regarding participation in the clinical trial conflict?
  • Can investigators request exemption from parental consent?
  • Who signs the informed consent form when a child’s parents are separated?
  • Should the written information provided to the child participant differ from the written information provided to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s)?
  • Who should provide written informed consent to participate in a paediatric clinical trial?

           and more…

APREG Contacts

 State InstitutionHREC name and Contact OfficerResearch Governance Officer
NSWThe Sydney Children’s Hospital Network (incorporates The Children’s Hospital Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick)ABN 53 188 579 090The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network HRECAsra GholamiHREC Executive Officer02 9845 3066ethics.schn@health.nsw.gov.auhttp://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/health-professionals/our-researchLucia SmithResearch Governance Manager02 9845 0198governance.schn@health.nsw.gov.auhttp://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/health-professionals/our-research
NSWHunter New England Local Health District(Includes John Hunter Hospital)ABN 63 598 010 203Hunter New England Health HRECDr Nicole GerrandManager, Research Ethics and Governance Unit02 4921 4950nicole.gerrand@hnehealth.nsw.gov.auhttp://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/research_ethics_and_governance_unitDr Nicole GerrandManager, Research Ethics and Governance Unit02 4921 4950nicole.gerrand@hnehealth.nsw.gov.auhttp://www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au/research_ethics_and_governance_unit
QLDChildren’s Health QueenslandHospital and Health Service (Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital)ABN 62 254 746 464Children’s Health Services QLD HRECAmanda SmithCo-ordinatorHuman Research Ethics Committee07 -3069 7002Amanda.Smith7@health.qld.gov.auCHQEthics@health.qld.gov.auhttps://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/research/Dr Peng Tjun ChoyResearch Governance Officer07 -3069 7008  PengTjun.Choy@health.qld.gov.auCHQ_Research@health.qld.gov.auhttps://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/research/
QLDMater Misericordiae Ltd ABN 83 096 708 922 Mater Health Services HRECOdette PetersenHREC Coordinator07 3163 1585research.ethics@mmri.mater.org.auhttp://www.mater.org.au/Home/Research/Human-Research-Ethics-Committee.aspxDominique RossouwResearch Governance Officer07 3163 2147dominique.rossouw@mater.uq.edu.auresearch.governance@mmri.mater.org.au
SAWomen’s and Children’s Health Network (incorporates Women’s and Children’s Hospital)ABN 64 021 748 126Women’s and Children’s Health Network HRECDr Luke Fraser
HREC Executiv Officer(08) 8161 7703luke.fraser2@sa.gov.auhttp://www.wch.sa.gov.au/research/committees/humanethics/index.html		Camilla LiddyResearch Governance Officer08 8161 6688camilla.liddy@sa.gov.auhttp://www.wch.sa.gov.au/research/committees/researchgovernance.html
VICThe Royal Children’s HospitalABN 35 655 720 546Royal Children’s Hospital HRECAlexandra RobertsonDirector, Research Ethics & Governance03 9345 6924alexandra.robertson@rch.org.aurch.ethics@rch.org.auhttp://www.rch.org.au/ethics Kelly Hoffman 
Research Governance Manager 
03 9345 4112 Kelly.hoffman@rch.org.auhttp://www.rch.org.au/ethics
VICMonash HealthABN 82 142 080 338 Monash Health HRECDeborah DellManager, HREC03 9594 4611deborah.dell@monashhealth.orgresearch@monashhealth.orghttp://www.monashhealth.org/page/Research/Human_research_ethics/Michael KiosResearch Governance Manager03 9594 4606michael.kios@monashhealth.orgresearch@monashhealth.orghttp://www.monashhealth.org/page/Research/Human_research_ethics/
WAChild and Adolescent Health Service (including Princess Margaret Hospital for Children)ABN: 37 180 581 22  Child and Adolescent Health Service HRECHelen HughesEthics Committee Coordinator08 9340 8405Helen.Hughes@health.wa.gov.auhttp://www.pmh.health.wa.gov.au/development/resources/ethics.htm Jenny Westgarth-TaylorResearch Governance Officer08 9340 7108PMH.RGO@health.wa.gov.auhttp://www.pmh.health.wa.gov.au/development/resources/ethics.htm