Organisation : Brotherhood of St. Laurence
Location : Melbourne (Fitzroy/Online)
Time required : The Human Research Ethics Committee currently meets bi-monthly or as needed
Duration of project : Ongoing
Skill area : Advocacy, Community Services, Legal, Policy & Research
Sector : Community Support Services, Law, Justice & Human Rights, Research / Medical Research
About the role
Do you work in Law? Are you looking to take your legal expertise to the next level and make a real IMPACT in eradicating poverty in Australia?
At the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), we use an ethics approval process to ensure we produce high-quality research while respecting the rights of our participants. The Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) is made up of a diverse mix of internal and external members who review research applications to ensure they meet required ethical standards. These standards are at the core of BSL’s commitment to research rigour.
We’re looking for practicing lawyers to join our volunteer team and share their expertise and insights on our committee.
What will you do?
HREC members (volunteers) play a crucial role in upholding ethical standards, protecting participants, and facilitating community-beneficial research. Their contributions enhance the quality and integrity of BSL’s research initiatives, ensuring that all human research is conducted responsibly, ethically, and with integrity, protecting the rights and welfare of research participants.
The responsibilities of HREC members are outlined in the Terms of Reference. To read the HREC Terms of Reference, click here.
When will you volunteer?
The Human Research Ethics Committee currently meets bi-monthly or as needed.
Where will you volunteer?
HREC meetings are primarily held online. However, volunteers may sometimes be required to attend BSL premises for certain activities.
About the organisation
At the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL), over 1400 staff and approximately 1,000 volunteers and
students support our vision. Our work is focused in Melbourne and Victoria but branches out through
our partners to every state and territory in Australia.
In Australia, poverty and disadvantage is experienced more in some communities than others. The
focus of our work is increasingly on places as well as groups of people experiencing hardship such
as early school leavers and the unemployed. We create programs which prevent and alleviate
poverty during four key life stages: childhood, adolescence, midlife and retirement.
One of our priorities is to work with state and federal governments and other community
organisations to grow our successful programs. BSL’s approach is informed by the best evidence,
including the work of our own research and policy department.
How to apply
To apply, click here: https://bttr.im/5hvsk
If you have a question our would like help with your application, call our Volunteer Engagement Team on (03) 9483 1390 or email volunteer@bsl.org.au
Please quote in application: Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) Member (Lawyer) via Pro Bono Australia.