All projects using linked data require approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (HRECHuman Research Ethics Committee. The WA Department of Health HREC was formed in 2008 to consider applications for DOHWA health data. See the DOHWA HREC website: http://www.health.wa.gov.au/healthdata/HREC/index.cfm). This is usually the ethics committee of an applicant's institution. In some circumstances applicants must also seek approval from other ethics committees, e.g. Department of Health WA Human Research Ethics Committee (DOHWA HRECDepartment of Health Western Australia Human Research Ethics Committee).
Department of Health WA HREC
The DOHWADepartment of Health Western Australia HREC has responsibility for oversight of the use and disclosure of personal health information held in the Department of Health WA data collections. The DOHWA HREC is constituted in compliance with the 2007 NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research and is registered with the NHMRC.
Linked data may be provided to researchers whose projects have been granted ethics clearance from an institutional ethics committee. Approval will also be required from DOHWA HREC where applicants seek:
- personal identifying information* from Department of Health WA Data Collections and/or the Electoral Roll
- the creation of new linkages (e.g. linking your own data to DOHWA data)
- Mental Health Information System data
- Birth Defects Registry Data
*Personal health information is information or opinions that relate to the health of a person where the identity of a person is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the information. For a more detailed explanation see the Practice Code For the Use of Personal Health Information.
The DOHWA HREC website has details about the DOHWA HREC Application for Ethical Review form and HREC meeting dates. For more information about the DOHWA HREC you can contact:
Executive Officer, DOHWA HREC
HREC@health.wa.gov.au
Phone: +61 8 9222 4278
Western Australian Aboriginal Health Information and Ethics Committee
If data is being requested to perform health-related research involving Indigenous people, ethics approval must also be sought from the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Information and Ethics Committee (WAAHIEC). In particular, projects should be submitted to WAAHIEC if one or more of the following apply:
- Aboriginality is a key determinant
- Data collection is explicitly directed at Indigenous people
- Indigenous people, as a group, will be examined in the results
- The information has an impact on one or more Aboriginal communities
- Aboriginal health funds are a source of funding