We have embedded research governance and ethics in our day-to-day business, to align our work with legislation, national research regulations and associated guidance, and the requirements of authorities governing education sites.

Research Governance and Ethics at AERO

AERO’s Research Governance and Ethics team (RG&E) enables this alignment and serves AERO’s routine operations. The team also contributes to national education research governance initiatives. These include:

  • establishing and operating AERO’s independently chaired Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) as part of an enhanced education research governance ecosystem
  • supporting improvements to a national Application for Conducting Research with Education Sites (ACRES) to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of education research governance processes.

AERO Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC)

AERO’s HREC is independently chaired to review, approve and monitor AERO’s research as per national research regulations. It is constituted in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research, 2025 (HREC: EC00485; Organisation: ORG00599) and is education-focused in its remit.  

The AERO HREC and its subcommittees enable important processes that support high standards of ethics, responsibility, quality and integrity in the design, planning, conduct and dissemination of AERO’s research. Further, by working in synergy with the approval processes of education authorities (e.g., synchronous submission of ACRES or local equivalent and Human Research Ethics Applications) the AERO HREC and its subcommittees are a part of an enhanced education research governance ecosystem. 

HREC Terms of Reference (TOR) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

As per the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025):

  • the AERO HREC Terms of Reference (TOR) (PDF, 326KB) describe the broad conditions guiding the establishment and operation of the AERO HREC and its subcommittees
  • the AERO HREC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (PDF, 395KB) describe the processes that enable the day-to-day operation of the AERO HREC and its subcommittees.

Application for Conducting Research with Education Sites (ACRES)

The Application for Conducting Research with Education Sites (ACRES) was originally known as the National Application Form (NAF). A national Working Group has since revised the NAF as tasked by the Research in Education Network (REN) and renamed it ACRES.

The REN is a national forum through which representatives from authorities governing education sites (education authorities) discuss and share insights on education research opportunities, needs, strategies, and approval-related processes.

The ACRES has been made possible through the shared leadership and collaboration of the national Working Group comprised of representatives from:

  • Queensland Department of Education
  • New South Wales Department of Education
  • Western Australia Department of Education
  • Department for Education, Children, and Young People, Tasmania
  • National Catholic Education Commission
  • Northern Territory Department of Education
  • Australian Capital Territory Education Directorate.

AERO has supported the REN Working Group’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of education research governance for the benefit of education-related researchers and education authorities in all Australian States and Territories.

The ACRES is for seeking approval from authorities governing education sites in Australia to conduct research and certain activities other than research, at their respective education sites. This is including but not limited to schools, ECEC services, and the workplaces of education authorities.

At present, the ACRES is only accepted by the NSW Department of Education through their State Education Research and Partnerships (SERAP) process. From early 2026, other education authorities will begin accepting ACRES for proposed research and activities other than research (such as evaluation) as permitted under their policies. This applies whether the work is proposed for education sites:

  1. Within a single state or territory and governed by a single education authority (for example, a single Department of Education or Catholic Diocese); or
  2. Governed by multiple education authorities (for example, two or more Departments of Education in different states/territories or Catholic Dioceses or a combination of Departments of Education, Catholic Dioceses, and Independent Schools).

It is important to confirm the application procedures for each education authority by consulting them and their information directly, before seeking approval.