In accordance with the NHMRC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research 2007, the MHREC has established a process for the review of research involving no more than low risk – review by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee.

The Low Risk Research Sub-Committee is an informal “sub-committee” of the MHREC, which meets in the week prior to the monthly meeting of the full MHREC, when required.

The membership of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee is fluid but is required to comprise at least 2 “scientific spokespersons” and 2 “ethics spokespersons” from amongst the membership of the MHREC.  The MHREC Manager also attends these meetings. 

The minutes of the meetings of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee are incorporated into the agenda and then the minutes of the next scheduled meeting of the MHREC and the decisions of the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee must be endorsed and adopted by the MHREC before any correspondence is forwarded to the researchers involved.

The application procedures and submission deadlines for the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee are the same as those for the MHREC.

New projects are “triaged” as being suitable for review by the Low Risk Research Sub-Committee by the MHREC Manager after each monthly new project submission deadline.