Members of the University Community involved in Research have obligations under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, which include responsibilities to Disclose and manage Conflicts of Interest. As such, University Community Members involved in Research must also refer to the University's Research Code of Conduct Policy and Intellectual Property Policy.
Members of the University Community involved in Research must not allow their Private Interests to interfere or perceive to interfere with Research and Commercialisation activities.
Research Conflicts of Interest can occur when an independent observer may reasonably conclude that a Researcher's other interests may unduly influence the design, conduct, outcome, or reporting of the Research. This includes financial, personal, familial, professional, and organisational interests.
Commercialisation Conflicts of Interest can occur when an independent observer may reasonably conclude that the personal benefits a Researcher makes from Commercialisation activities may unduly influence their University duties and cause them to not act in the best interest of the University.
Researchers have a responsibility to identify and assess Conflicts of Interest in relation to Research and Commercialisation activities.
When determining whether a Conflict of Interest may exist in a Research or Commercialisation activity, Researchers should consider how their Private Interests might impact on their University duties and how those interests might be perceived to independent observers. Factors to consider include (but are not limited to):
- direct payments, such as salary, consultancy payments, speaking fees, panel memberships;
- indirect payments, such as funding of travel, accommodation, professional development, hospitality;
- payments to support Research, such as funding from an industry or interest group;
- company shares or options;
- royalties;
- directorships;
- scholarships;
- operational or infrastructure support;
- whether there is a future expectation of a benefit, for example, proceeds from the sale of IP arising from a project or the promise of shares in a spin-off company;
- board membership (paid or unpaid) or other affiliation with an organisation that could stand to benefit from or be affected by the Research;
- personal or social relationships and current and past professional relationships, where relevant; and
- recent employment with, or role in, organisations with financial links or affiliations with industry groups that could stand to benefit from or be affected by the Research.
The mere existence of a conflict does not imply wrongdoing and in some cases is unavoidable. In some cases it is possible and desirable to remove oneself from the identified conflict. At other times this is not possible and/or not desirable.
Members of the University Community are obligated to identify, Disclose, and manage situations involving Conflicts of Interest in accordance with the Conflict of Interest Procedure or the Council Conflict of Interest Policy and Procedure.
The rigorous and transparent identification and management of conflicts of interest promotes public confidence in the integrity, legitimacy and impartiality of research.
Researchers must also declare relevant conflicts of interest in research outputs, in submissions to research ethics committees and as required by outside organisations, such as in applications for funding or when undertaking peer review.