• Section 1 - Purpose
• Section 2 - Policy
• Section 3 - Procedures
• Section 4 - Guidelines
• Section 5 - Definitions

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Procedure applies to anyone who conducts research or research support under the auspices of Macquarie University, as per the Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (Macquarie Research Code).

(2) This Procedure sets out the general process for managing complaints regarding the conduct of research in relation to the principles and responsibilities described in the Macquarie Research Code.

(3) This Procedure has been adapted (and in some parts duplicated) from the Guide to Managing and Investigating Potential Breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) (the Australian Guide), authored by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the Australian Research Council (ARC) and Universities Australia.

(4) This Procedure describes how potential or actual departures from the principles and responsibilities outlined in the Macquarie Research Code (a breach of the Macquarie Research Code, including research misconduct) should be reported, assessed, investigated and managed.

(5) In some cases, the University may deviate from the steps outlined in this Procedure if it decides it is necessary to do so, but the principles of procedural fairness will be applied and the parties involved or affected will be provided adequate details of the process(es) to be followed.

(6) This Procedure will be reviewed as required, for example in response to changes made to the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, 2018, the Australian Guide), or to other related policies.

(7) This version of this Procedure will be applied to all complaints henceforth.

Section 2 - Policy

(8) Refer to the Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

Section 3 - Procedures

(9) The full Procedures are available in the Macquarie University Research Code Complaints, Breaches and Investigation Procedure.

Section 4 - Guidelines

(10) Nil.

Section 5 - Definitions

(11) Commonly defined terms are located in the University Glossary. Definitions specific to this Procedure are contained within the Macquarie University Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.