The Defence People Research Low Risk Ethics Panel (DPR LREP) provides ethical review of lower-risk research, quality assurance and evaluation activities commissioned by or involving Defence people and/or their data.
The Panel supports the review of activities in accordance with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025), the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and Defence research governance and ethics requirements.
Functions
The Panel carries out a range of functions:
- Provides independent, competent and timely review of lower-risk people research, quality assurance and evaluation activity proposals with respect to their ethical acceptability.
- Protects the mental and physical welfare, rights, dignity and safety of research participants by ensuring activities meet the requirements of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2025).
- Promotes awareness and understanding of people research ethics within Defence and the broader community.
- Provides oversight, monitoring and advice on ethical aspects of lower-risk people research and quality assurance and evaluation activities within Defence.
The DPR LREP will consider applications submitted by researchers outside Defence. Where necessary, the Panel may communicate with other Defence ethics review bodies regarding applications submitted by external researchers.
Membership
The Panel Executive comprises a Chair, Deputy Chair and Secretariat.
The Panel consists of volunteer Defence People Research staff from all levels.
The panel review and assess applications and inform Principal Investigators of the outcome of their application and provides feedback where required.
Compliance and governance
The DPR LREP meets monthly, with application cut off 2 weeks before each panel. Review takes approximately 6 weeks. To receive guidance on submitting an ethics application, email the DPR LREP team.
The LREP review and approval process supports compliance with: