KAHPF Research Sub-committee

Overview

Project requirements

Engagement

The KAHPF Research Sub-committee was established in 2006 to guide research in the region. Projects need to be assessed by this Sub-committee before being reviewed by the Western Australian Aboriginal Health Ethics Committee (WAAHEC).

‘Shared knowledge’ is a strategic priority of the KAHPF which is about ensuring that health research and evaluation initiatives are co-designed in a culturally secure manner and clear outcomes are achieved (refer Strategic Plan).

The primary objective of the Sub-committee is to support high standards of research in the Kimberley by reviewing project applications for cultural security, benefit, and burden.

The Sub-committee has a close relationship with the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Research Alliance (KAHRA), which was established in 2020. The KAHRA Team administers the research review and secretariat function of the Sub-committee in collaboration with relevant KAHPF representatives, and provides advice and recommendations to KAHPF on matters of health research in the region.

The Sub-committee does not have any decision-making powers as an entity which cut across the authority of individual health service governance and management bodies.

The Sub-committee advises WAAHEC about whether proposed research is supported at the regional level. The decision to grant or deny ethics approval rests with WAAHEC.

Projects are required to meet the following conditions:

1. Initial Engagement: Identify and communicate with the relevant organisations and communities using existing contacts or directory. Research engagement request and plain language summary are useful resources. If organisations do not have capacity to be involved in a proposed project, they will say no. If an organisation approached for involvement in research does not respond, this should be taken as declining involvement.

2. Co-design: Organisations and communities have input into project proposals and protocols. Appropriate local and Aboriginal people are included as investigators. Organisations then provide letters of support including agreed knowledge translation plan. Research agreements may be required by the organisation.

3. KAHPF Research Sub-committee application: Submission to KAHPF Research Sub-committee that includes Study protocol, plain language summary, knowledge translation plan, letters of support. 

4. HREC approval: Submission to WAAHEC that includes: The proposal supported by the KAHPF Research Sub-committee, evidence of KAHPF Research-Subcommittee support, and HREC application form and other documents required by WAAHEC. Submission to other HREC as required e.g. WACHS HREC. If there is any doubt about what ethics approval is needed, contact WAAHEC. Also contact WACHS Ethics and Governance for projects within WACHS sites or with WACHS participants.

5. Active project: Complete and submit annual and final WAAHEC reports and provide these to the KAHPF Research Sub-committee. Include details for the Kimberley. At end of project prepare plain language reports and complete activities outlined in knowledge translation plan.

If you are looking to engage with a KAHPF member organisation, please complete the Research Engagement Request (RER) form and send it to the CEO of the relevant service. Please note that beyond sending the RER form, researchers will need to engage in a process of meaningful consultation and co-design with relevant communities and/or organisations.

General steps:

1. Complete RER form and send to CEO of organisation.

2. If the organisation responds and wants to be involved, work with them to further develop the research proposal.

3. Work with the organisation to develop a detailed letter of support.

4. Once all relevant documentation is ready, submit application to KAHPF Research Sub-committee.

Please note that this engagement process alone can take many months.