GUIDELINES FOR THE RESPONSIBLE PRACTICE OF RESEARCH
Statement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research

(a) It is necessary to establish the ground work for a research project such as informing the appropriate organisations as soon as possible, discussing the proposed research program with the relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people and informing them of their rights and their access to the results of the research. Prior to fieldwork the researcher should, where appropriate, obtain from the relevant Aborigines, permission to visit the proposed locality and consent to conduct research. The ensuing arrangements must be fully understood by and be acceptable to those people concerned.

(b) The community has the right to request further information about aspects of ongoing research, and changes in research protocols, procedures or methodologies will require further negotiations with the community and consent for that change.

(c) Researchers should avoid entering with the subjects into private economic arrangements, unauthorised negotiations for cultural visits and exchanges, and relationships of a sexual nature during the period of the research.

(d) Researchers using film, photography, audio and video recording must take special care to obtain the consent of those recorded.

(e) Adequate financial compensation must be paid to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander co-workers, assistants and subjects of the research where time is required to be spent outside normal personal and community activities.

(f) No restricted material collected as the result of research should be distributed or publicly displayed without the people who provided the material clearly understanding and consenting to its use.