State Education Research Approvals Process (SERAP)

The New South Wales Department of Education and Training (DET) compels UWS to endorse the quality of research projects and their compliance with the National Statement of Human Ethics.

In order to have your research project approved by DET you are required to:

1. Obtain an ethics approval from the UWS Human Research Ethics Committee; (refer to the Human Ethics web page).
2. Complete the online DET application form (opens in a new window).
   
3. Provide the Human Ethics Officer with 1 hard copy of the application documents, duly signed (Certification documents and Referee Reports must be originals) and also provide a self addressed envelope to the appropriate DET site i.e. NSW or Regional.
   
4. The Human Ethics Officer will submit the online form and forward an endorsed copy to DEC.
5. DEC will provide successful applicants with an approval letter to conduct research in NSW Government Schools.
   

For SERAP Enquiries visit the DEC website (opens in a new window), email serap@det.nsw.edu.au or phone: (02) 9244 5619 or (02) 9266 8517.

Please note: Paid researchers or research assistants who will be interacting with or observing children as part of the research will be required to provide certified copies of identification - totalling “100 points”.

A list of the points for each form of acceptable identification can be found at the back of the processing guidelines also available from the university processing page and on pages 34-35 of the DEC "Guidelines for Approving Applications from External Agencies to Conduct Research in NSW Government Schools" (opens in a new window).