• Recognition of the diversity and uniqueness of peoples, as well as of individuals, is essential.

  • The rights of Indigenous peoples to self-determination must be recognised.

  • The rights of Indigenous peoples to their intangible heritage must be recognised.

  • Rights in the traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions of Indigenous peoples must be respected, protected and maintained.

  • Indigenous knowledge, practices and innovations
    must be respected, protected and maintained.

Download pdf

GERAIS pdf(PDF)

REC Charter pdf(PDF)

Guide to a Plain English Research Statement
pdf(PDF)

Guide to the Informed consent form
pdf(PDF)

Ethics Clearance Proposal
pdf(PDF)

Related pages

Ethics Committee

Research Advisory Committee

See also

Janke Report external

NHMRC Statement external

Search Mura

History

At every stage, research with and about Indigenous peoples must be founded on a process of meaningful engagement and reciprocity between the researcher and the Indigenous people. AIATSIS Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (GERAIS) ( 431 kb) were founded in 2000 with the aim of guaranteeing this process and the respect of Indigenous people’s rights.

The guidelines have been revised to reflect developments in critical areas that have emerged since previous editions. These include changes to intellectual property laws, rights in traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, and the establishment of agreements and protocols between Indigenous people and researchers.

The latest edition, published in 2012, embodies the best standards of ethical research and human rights. These guidelines also take into account emerging developments in digitisation, data and information management, and the very significant impacts this has on research and other aspects of Indigenous studies.

AIATSIS recognises that it has responsibility as a leading institution in Australian Indigenous studies to provide and facilitate ethics guidelines as an essential tool to inform all research in this area.

 

Principles

The GERAIS comprise 14 principles grouped under the following six categories:

Rights, respect
& recognition

Negotiation, consultation,
agreement & mutual
understanding

Participation, collaboration
& partnership

Benefits, outcomes
and giving back

Managing research:
use, storage and access

Reporting and compliance