The Code outlines the principles of responsible research practice:

• Honesty in the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Rigour in the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Transparency in declaring interests and reporting research methodology, data and findings
• Fairness in the treatment of others
• Respect for research participants, the wider community, animals and the environment
• Recognition of the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be engaged in research that affects or is of particular significance to them
• Accountability for the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Promotion of responsible research practices

WHAT IS RESEARCH INTEGRITY?

• Research integrity refers to the factors that underpin the responsible conduct of research through good research practices and promote trust and confidence in the research process.
• La Trobe University is committed to the responsible design of research, conduct of research and the report of research reports.
• Latrobe expects the La Trobe Research Community to aspire to the highest standards of responsibility and ethics in their research practice.
• The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018 (the Code) outlines the broad principles and responsibilities that underpin the responsible conduct of Research in Australia.

How do I conduct responsible research?

It's important to think about research integrity at every stage of a research project, from developing your research idea to close-out of the project.

Researchers are expected to meet the principles of responsible research conduct as described in the Code. Below are some examples of a few things to keep in mind throughout the lifecycle of a research project.

Developing your research hypothesis

• Ensure that the ethics principles of research merit and integrity, justice, beneficence and respect are applied to human research
• Ensure that the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) are considered at all stages of research involving animals
• Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure research is safe, respectful, responsible, high quality, of benefit to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and reflects the core values of – spirit and integrity, cultural continuity, equity, reciprocity, respect and responsibility.

Planning your research project

• Adopt methods appropriate to the aims of the research
• Identify actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest
• Develop a data management plan for the proposed research

Obtaining approvals and licences

• Obtain appropriate ethics approvals prior to starting research involving humans or animals
• Obtain appropriate approvals and licences prior to conducting research involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
• Ensure appropriate agreements are in place, as required (e.g. material/data transfer agreements, collaboration agreements, confidentiality agreements etc.)

Conducting your research

• Provide appropriate guidance and mentorship on responsible research conduct to researchers, including students, under your supervision
• Comply with relevant laws, regulations, standards, ethics guidelines and institutional policies related to responsible research conduct
• Adhere to the conditions of relevant licences and approvals during the course of the research project
• Spend grant funding responsibly, according to the funding agreement
• Retain complete records of all research including research data and primary materials

Disseminating your findings

• Ensuring that conclusions are justified by the results
• Disseminate research findings responsibly, accurately and broadly and, where necessary, correct the record in a timely manner
• Cite and acknowledge other relevant work appropriately and accurately
• Ensure that authors of research outputs meet the required authorship criteria
• Acknowledge those who have contributed to the research
• Disclose actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest
• Ensure research data, records and primary materials are maintained and appropriately destroyed once the retention period has passed

Lastly, regardless of the stage of the research lifecycle, it is important to:

• Ensure that peer review of grant applications and research outputs is conducted in a way that is fair, rigorous and maintains confidentiality
• Support a culture of responsible research conduct at La Trobe and in your field of practice
• Undertake and promote education and training in responsible research conduct
• Report suspected breaches of the Research Code to the LTU Research Integrity Hub

For more information, we encourage you to contact the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety team:

Research Integrity:  P +61 3 9479 1271 | E: researchintegrity@latrobe.edu.au

~ or ~

Vivienne Moyle, Senior Manager, Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety

P +61 3 9479 1383 | E v.moyle@latrobe.edu.au

Outreach Program - 2025

Unless noted otherwise, all workshops are held online.

Registrations can be done via the Research Education and Development Website

Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety Workshops

Disclosure of Interests & Management of Conflicts of Interest: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers (all levels)

Facilitators: Valentina Tankov (Senior Coordinator, Research Integrity & Policy)

Date & Time: 11 August, 11 am

Duration: 60 min

Description:

Conflicts of Interest (COI) happen; they are a part of life and research. Managing them starts with understanding what they are, recognising when they arise, and knowing how to address them effectively. This workshop explores the nature of conflicts of interest, why they matter, and practical ways to handle them to ensure transparency and trust in your research.

Suggested pre-reading: Disclosure of interests and management of conflicts of interest: A guide supporting the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Learning outcomes:

• What conflicts of interest are and the different types, whether they are actual, potential, or perceived
• How financial and non-financial interests can create conflicts in research
• How to disclose and manage COI’s using clear, simple strategies
• The rules in the Code and La Trobe University policies that you need to follow
• Steps to prevent consequences of unmanaged COI’s, from reputation damage to misconduct investigations
• Create a clear COI action plan to keep your research ethical and trustworthy

Supervision in Human Research Ethics: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Supervisors

Facilitators: Vivienne Moyle (Senior Manager, Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety)

Dates & Times: 19 August, 1 pm

Duration: 90min

Description:

Helping to guide students and candidates through the Human research ethics process is vital to their success. Understanding your role as supervisor and principal investigator in gaining and maintaining their ethics approval is a key part of that process.

Suggested pre-reading: Supervision: A guide supporting the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the student requirements for gaining and maintaining human research ethics approval.
• Understand the dual role of supervisor and principal investigator.
• Consider the risk levels appropriate to student research.
• Understand timing implications and other factors on student ethics applications.
• Identify potential ethical issues relating to student human research ethics applications.

Voluntary and Informed Consent in Human Research Ethics: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers

Facilitators: Mary Duffy (Senior Coordinator, Human Research Ethics)

Date & Time: 26 August, 12 noon

Duration: 60 min

Description:

For research to be ethical, everyone should make their own decision about whether to participate or continue participating in a study. The consent process requires a person to be accurately informed of the purpose, methods, risks, benefits, and alternatives to the research. The person must understand this information and how it relates to their own situation or interests and, based on this knowledge, autonomously decide whether to participate.

Learning outcomes:

This seminar will explore the importance of voluntary and informed consent in human research ethics. It will help you:

• Understand what voluntary and informed consent means
• Understand the diverse ways consent may be obtained
• Understand the key elements to informed consent
• Gain tips on creating a Participant Information and Consent Form that works with your research.

Animal Ethics Refresher: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop (Register)

Who should attend: Researchers who have done the induction training >3years ago

Facilitators: Mukesh Raipuria (Senior Coordinator, Animal Ethics and Biosafety), Marianne Hevern (Research Ethics and Biosafety Advisor)

Location: Online

Dates & Times: 26 August, 24 November, 2 pm

Duration: 90 min

Description:
The purpose of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (the Animal Code) is to promote the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for scientific purposes. It provides guidance for investigators, institutions, animal ethics committees, animal carers and all those involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

LTU staff or students involved in direct animal work and/or personnel listed on an AEC application, including those added via modification, who have completed the Animal Ethics
Induction sessions attended more than three (3) years prior are required to attend an animal ethics refresher to update their understanding of their obligations under the Code.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand their obligations under the Animal Code
• Understand how to prepare an Application for Approval to Use Animals for Scientific Purposes
• Understand how to use PRIME to manage applications and post approval requests.

Animal Ethics Induction: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop (Register)

Who should attend: Researchers and anyone handling or caring for animals

Facilitators: Mukesh Raipuria (Senior Coordinator, Animal Ethics and Biosafety), Tara Egan (Veterinarian and Compliance Manager), Marianne Hevern (Research Ethics and Biosafety Advisor)

Location: Donald Whitehead Building, Rm 101; Level 1

Dates & Times: 27 August, 27 November, 10:30 am

Duration: 150 min

Description:

The purpose of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (the Animal Code) is to promote the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for scientific purposes. It provides guidance for investigators, institutions, animal ethics committees, animal carers and all those involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

LTU staff or students involved in hands-on animal work and/or personnel listed on an AEC application, including those added via modification, are required to undertake an animal ethics induction where they will learn of their obligations under the Code and how to submit an Application for Approval to Use Animals for Scientific Purposes to the LTU AEC.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand their obligations under the Animal Code
• Understand how to prepare an Application for Approval to Use Animals for Scientific Purposes
• Understand how to use PRIME to manage applications and post approval requests.

Responsible Conduct of Research: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers (all levels)

Facilitators: Valentina Tankov (Senior Coordinator, Research Integrity & Policy)

Dates & Times: 16 September; 11 November, 11 am

Duration: 60 min

Description:

Trust in research is earned through rigorous, ethical practices that ensure institutions and communities can rely on it to shape the future. This workshop covers essential topics like data management, authorship assignment, and upholding ethical guidelines while breaking down the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018 (the Code) and La Trobe University policies into actionable steps.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand core principles of responsible research conduct with practical examples you can use
• Understand your responsibilities as a researcher under the Code
• The difference between research integrity and research ethics and why both matter
• Supporting Guides for Responsible Research and how to put them to use for:
  • Authorship
  • Collaborative Research
  • Disclosure of interests
  • Management of Research Data
  • Peer Review
  • Publication and Dissemination of Research
  • Supervision
• How to identify potential breaches of the Code
• Where to turn for help

Risk & Mitigation in Human Research Ethics: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers

Facilitators: Mary Duffy (Senior Coordinator, Human Research Ethics)

Date & Time: 30 September, 12:00 noon

Duration: 60 min

Description:

Research involving human participants always involves some level of risk to research participants, to us as researchers and/or to the public. A key element of ethical research practice involves identifying and managing the risks our research may pose to ourselves and others.

Failing to get this right can result in unnecessary inconvenience to participants, reputational damage, litigation or, in some cases, significant injury.

Learning outcomes:

In this seminar, we will explore risk in human research and how we need to respond to it. It will help you:

• Understand how risk is understood within the human research context.
• Understand the relationship between risk and benefit.
• Identify, minimise, and manage risks in your own research.

Adverse Events in Human Research Ethics: An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers

Facilitators: Mary Duffy (Senior Coordinator, Human Research Ethics)

Date & Time: 28 October, 12 noon

Duration: 60 min

Description:
A key element in good research management is understanding how to identify, manage, and report adverse events that were not anticipated during the planning stages of a study, clinical trial, or research project, where unexpected negative outcomes could occur; emphasising proper documentation, communication protocols, and necessary actions to take when such events happen.

Learning outcomes:
In this seminar, we will go over key aspects including:

• Defining ‘unexpected adverse events’
• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
• Ethical considerations:
  • Balancing the need for scientific advancement with participant safety
  • Informed consent and disclosure of potential risks
  • When to stop a study due to unexpected adverse events
• Reporting procedures

The National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research:  An Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety Workshop

Who should attend: Researchers

Facilitators: Ismat Zehra & Portia Dilena (Research Ethics and Biosafety Advisors)

Date & Time: 19 November, 12 noon

Duration: 90 min

Description:

Human research ethics is vital when conducting your research with people. Unethical research may raise risks and even jeopardise the validity of your findings. As we undertake more research using increasingly diverse methods, including advanced technology, AI, and increased collaborations, it is important to get it right the first time.

In this seminar, you will learn the principles of ethical research and how to manage your research ethically and responsibly. You will consider issues like voluntary participation and informed consent, ensuring that personal information is handled safely and confidentially, recruiting vulnerable participants in human research, and considering various elements of the responsible conduct of research.

Learning outcomes:

• Identify and evaluate key principles of ethical research found in the National Statement on Ethical Conduct of Human Research
• Identify potential ethical issues relating to attendees’ own research
• Understand the process for applying for ethical review and maintaining ethical approval at La Trobe University

Additional Resources

SUPPLEMENTARY GUIDANCE AND TEMPLATES

• Authorship Agreement Template {DOC 59KB]
• Research Data Management Plan Template
• Research Data Management Instruction Guide

GRADUATE SCHOOL RESOURCES

• GRO Research Integrity Module
• Research Education and Development Supervisor Development Workshops

EXTERNAL TRAINING RESOURCES

• Using iThenticate
• COPE Website
• ICMJE Recommendations

Who can answer my questions about research integrity?

If you have a question about the conduct of research at La Trobe University, we suggest reaching out to one of our Research Integrity Advisors (RIAs). RIAs are available across all schools at La Trobe University and can provide guidance and support on research conduct. You can contact any RIA, regardless of your school affiliation.

La Trobe RIAs have a strong understanding of responsible research conduct. They can support and advocate for research integrity across the projects and the university.

RIAs can:

• Provide confidential advice.
• Answer questions related to research integrity.
• Direct you to helpful resources.
• Help you make an informed decision if you are thinking about lodging a complaint through the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety Team

Importantly, RIAs do not contact individuals involved in concerns or complaints and will not be involved in assessing or investigating concerns about research conduct.

We encourage you to contact them for an informal discussion if you have queries or concerns about research integrity. You are also welcome to contact the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety team:

Vivienne Moyle, Senior Manager, Ethics, Integrity & Biosafety

P +61 3 9479 1383 | E v.moyle@latrobe.edu.au

~ or ~

Research Integrity

P +61 3 9479 1443 | E: researchintegrity@latrobe.edu.au

Learn about our current Research Integrity Advisors:

La Trobe Business School

Dr Malliga Marimuthu 
03 9479 1933
m.marimuthu@latrobe.edu.au

Dr. Malliga Marimuthu is a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at La Trobe Business School. At La Trobe University she has served as Program Director for Marketing and Third-Party Teaching (TPT) partnership programs. Dr. Marimuthu's academic pursuits centre around understanding consumer behaviour and driving positive changes for individuals, communities, and organisations, specifically in service sectors. Her work is published in esteemed international journals, and she currently serves in the Journal of Service Management's scientific committee through the Editorial Advisory Board. Dr. Marimuthu has supervised numerous PhD, Masters, MBA, and Honours students towards completion, earning respect for her Research Methodology workshops. She is passionate about promoting ethical research practices and, in her former organisation, regularly conducted educational programs to equip the academic community with tools for responsible research. With an extensive publication record, teaching experience at various levels, and a history of successful grants and consultancy projects, Dr. Marimuthu significantly contributes to the academic landscape.

La Trobe Law School

Dr Chris Maylea
03 9479 1284
c.maylea@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Chris Maylea is a social worker, lawyer, and Professor of law at La Trobe University. He has practice experience in mental health services as a social worker and manager, provides advice to government and policy reform bodies. Professor Maylea’s work sits at the intersections of health, welfare and the law, and is underpinned by human rights and social justice. He is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and commissioned reports, and is the author of 'Social work and the Law: a guide for ethical practice'.

He has conducted evaluations of health and advocacy services, empirical research on interdisciplinary practice advance statements, gender-based violence in mental health inpatient units, child protection, elder abuse, and doctrinal and human rights analyses. His work uses codesign approaches, with a focus on promoting the voice of people who use health and welfare services.

Professor Maylea has extensive experience before the Victorian Mental Health Tribunal as a legal representative. He previously managed and evaluated mainstream Aboriginal and child and family community mental health services, rehabilitation units and assertive outreach and support services in regional areas. He has served as Chair and Deputy Chair of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) and as a member of the Victorian Department of Human Services Human Research Ethics Committee.

La Trobe Rural Health School

Dr Kylie McIntyre
03 5448 9144
k.mcintyre@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Kylie McIntyre is a Senior Lecturer in the occupational therapy program at the La Trobe Rural Health School. Kylie’s research interests include psychological/occupational trauma, military and first responder research, and rural health and well-being. She has expertise in trauma informed qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and served on the La Trobe University Human Research Ethics Committee from 2014 – 2019. Kylie is a current member of the Holsworth Research Initiative, Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, Australasian Military Medicine Association, Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, Australasian College of Paramedicine, and Mental Health Practitioners Network. Kylie is an invited reviewer for national and international journals, including Military Psychology; Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health; Australian, British, Scandinavian, and American Occupational Therapy journals; and Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. She is co-chair of the Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Allied Health Special Interest Group and Deputy Chair of the La Trobe University Coursework Committee (sub-committee of the La Trobe University Academic Board). Kylie’s research is regularly featured in mainstream media and her current research explores the health and healthcare needs of Australian veterans, and the influence of physical activity on health and work-related stress in Australian paramedicine students.

School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment

Dr Helena Kim
03 9479 3975
h.kim2@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Helena Kim obtained her PhD in Neuroscience from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health at the University of Melbourne in 2011. After her PhD, she joined the Vascular Biology and Immunopharmacology Group (VBIG) headed by Professors Christopher Sobey and Grant Drummond at the Department of Pharmacology, Monash University. In 2017, she joined Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology at La Trobe University, and now leads the Stroke and Brain Inflammation division within the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research. She has published >40 peer-reviewed papers in internationally recognised journals, including Brain, Behaviour & Immunity, Nature Communications, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Research. Helena has received recognition for her work including an NHMRC Ideas Grant (CIB), CASS Medicine/Science Grant, philanthropic funding (CIB), and industry partnerships. She is currently exploring inflammatory mechanisms that might contribute to brain injury and neurological outcome following ischemic stroke and how these might be targeted with cell-based therapies.

Dr Ryan Phillips
03 9479 6674
r.phillips@latrobe.edu.au

My primary area of research is the mechanisms underpinning specialised ecological interactions, their role in generating species diversity, and their vulnerability to landscape modification. In addition to extensive field ecological studies, to tackle these issues I have drawn upon a diversity of tools including population genetics, phylogenetics and chemical ecology. While my original research focus was on the role of specialised pollination strategies in the evolution and conservation of Australian orchids, I have a broad interest in natural history that has led to projects on wasps, fish, stingless bees, birds, and others. The main projects I am currently involved in are: the evolution of sexual deception in spider orchids; optimising conservation translocations of rare plants through knowledge of pollination biology; the evolution of vertebrate pollination systems in old landscapes; and adaptations to pollination by honey possums in Banksia. I currently lecture in Conservation Biology and Animal-Plant Interactions, with the highlight being a field course at Wilsons Promontory National. In addition, I am the course coordinator of the Bachelor of Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

Prof Chris Sobey 
03 9479 1316
c.sobey@latrobe.edu.au

Professor Sobey is Co-Director of the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research at La Trobe University. He has more than 260 publications, 25,000 citations and an h-index of 81 in the areas of experimental stroke and cardiovascular diseases. His work is currently exploring amnion cells as a novel therapy for stroke and vascular dementia, and he is part of a team that is undertaking clinical trials of cell therapy in acute stroke.

Dr Dugald Reid
0455 781 290
Dugald.reid@latrobe.edu.au

Dugald joined the School of Agriculture Bioscience and Environment's Department of Animal Plant and Soil Sciences as a Lecturer in 2023. His research focuses on how plants perceive the environment and adapt their nutrient acquisition strategies accordingly. He is interested in research integrity particularly as it relates to data storage, analysis, and reusability as well as integrity of scientific publishing.

School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport

Dr Katerina Sarapis 
03 9479 2728
k.sarapis@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Katerina Sarapis is a Nutritionist with a major in Public Health Nutrition, a Lecturer and a Researcher at La Trobe University in the Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. Katerina has many years of teaching experience and has been coordinating and teaching across Nutrition-research subjects online and on campus. Her research interests are exploring the efficacy and mechanisms related to the use of functional foods and novel plant compounds for cardiovascular, and microbiome related outcomes. In addition, her public health skills extend to the design and development of evidence based public health promotion programs and disease prevention strategies that can be applied at multiple levels of influence across the social ecological framework. Katerina has supervised and is supervising graduate research students from diverse areas (Nutrition, Microbio, Anat, Physiology & Pharma).

School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences

Professor Marcel Jackson Sciences
03 9479 1570
m.g.jackson@latrobe.edu.au

Marcel Jackson is the Associate Dean for Research and Industry Engagement in the School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematical Sciences, as well as School Director of Graduate Research.  He joined La Trobe University as a lecturer in pure mathematics in 2000, with his own research sitting within the fields of algebra, logic and their interaction with theoretical computer science.  He has held several grants and fellowships at La Trobe University in these areas, including a Future Fellowship (2013-2016).  He has nearly 20 years of journal editorial experience, and extensive grant assessment experience, including current membership on the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts.

School of Education

Professor Therese Keane 
03 9479 6467
t.keane@latrobe.edu.au

Therese Keane is the Associate Dean of Research and Industry Engagement and Professor of STEM Education in the School of Education at La Trobe University. For over 25 years Therese has been an advocate for empowering girls in STEM and particularly in digital technologies. Her passion and many achievements have been acknowledged by her peers in her receiving numerous international, national and state awards. She has worked in a variety of school settings where she has taught IT and lead in K-12 education as the Director of ICT. She is the current Vice Chair of the Working Group 3.3 (Research into Educational Applications of Information Technologies) for the Technical Committee on Education in the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP)/UNESCO. Therese is Deputy Editor for "Education and Information Technologies" - the official journal of the IFIP Technical Committee on Education covering the complex relationship between information and communication technologies and education.

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr Anthony Collins 
03 9479 3157
a.collins2@latrobe.edu.au

Anthony Collins (they/them) is an interdisciplinary social justice activist and academic. Their primary focus is on social justice, violence prevention, harm reduction, and survivor support, especially from minority and global South perspectives. Their work integrates a range of disciplines including cultural studies, media studies, gender studies, decolonial studies, critical criminology, and critical psychology, with attention to culture and identity. This work examines the ways in which common-sense, popular media, and academic ideas either enable violence and exploitation, or assist in achieving social justice. It includes attention to structural violence, and the global and local systems and inequalities that harm vulnerable people and groups. This work is also directed towards developing conceptual frameworks and pedagogical strategies for critical and transformative teaching that enables social justice.

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Dr Rachel Cardwell
03 9479 3354
r.cardwell@latrobe.edu.au

Rachel is a qualitative researcher, with a research platform centred around clinical and educational leadership, evidence-based practice, and nursing education. In her role, Rachel coordinates and teaches the research thesis pathway for postgraduate Master of Nursing and Master of Midwifery students. Additionally, she serves as the Graduate Research Coordinator for Higher Degree by Research students and holds the position of Research Integrity Officer for the School of Nursing and Midwifery at La Trobe University.

School of Psychology and Public Health

Dr Rebecca Flower
03 5444 7126
r.flower@latrobe.edu.au

Dr Rebecca Flower is a teaching and research Lecturer in the Department of Psychology, Counselling, & Therapy. Bec is the Research Integrity Advisor available to researchers in the School of Psychology and Public Health. Bec has served on the above low risk Human Research Ethics Committee since 2020. She is based at the Bendigo campus.

You can also contact the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety team by sending an e-mail to researchintegrity@latrobe.edu.au.

WHAT IS THE LA TROBE RESEARCH INTEGRITY FRAMEWORK?

La Trobe University's Research Integrity Framework is set out through the  Research Integrity Policy, the Research Governance Policy, and the associated Research Governance Framework.  The La Trobe policies are aligned with the national guideline for research integrity, the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018). The Code outlines the principles of responsible research practice:

• Honesty in the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Rigour in the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Transparency in declaring interests and reporting research methodology, data and findings
• Fairness in the treatment of others
• Respect for research participants, the wider community, animals and the environment
• Recognition of the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be engaged in research that affects or is of particular significance to them
• Accountability for the development, undertaking and reporting of research
• Promotion of responsible research practices

The Australian Code is complemented by supporting topical guides:

• Authorship
• Collaborative Research
• Disclosure of Interests and Management of Conflicts of Interest
• Guide to managing and investigating potential breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018
• Management of Data and Information in Research
• Peer Review
• Publication and Dissemination of Research
• Supervision
• Research Integrity Advisors

Additional La Trobe University policies that may play a role in the responsible conduct of research include:

Complaints about  La Trobe University Research Projects

Complaints about the Ethics Review Process

Complaints about Research Integrity and Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research

Any person who has a concern or complaint about a potential breach of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research that may have occurred or is occurring is encouraged to approach the Senior Manager, Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety or a Research Integrity Advisor for assistance with considering their options.

Outcomes of that discussion may include:

• not proceeding if the complaint is clearly not related to a breach of the Code
• proceeding under other institutional processes
• making a complaint about a potential breach of the Code

If deciding to make a formal complaint, the following should be included in as much detail as possible:

• clearly identify each instance of the alleged breach of the Code, indicating the place or places and date or dates on which the conduct in question occurred;
• state the identity and relationship with La Trobe University of the person engaged in the alleged research integrity breach and the research project or activity and the nature of the alleged breach under the Code;  and
• identify and attach (in as much detail as possible) any supporting evidence

The Complainant may seek advice from a Research Integrity Advisor to construct a complaint that is as complete and as thorough as possible. It is not the sole responsibility of the Complainant to provide all the necessary material to reach a conclusion, nor to identify the parts of the Code or other relevant policy, law, regulation or guideline that may have been breached.

If you wish to lodge a complaint about a potential breach of the Code, please follow the appropriate submission pathway below.

*Please note, if the concern relates to a student who is also a staff member, and the complaint relates to the work they are doing as a staff member, then the matter should be reported in their capacity as a staff member.