Department of Education and Training

The Department of Education and Training (DET) acknowledges the importance of research that contributes to the delivery of services which promote continuing improvement in education outcomes and builds the capacity of Territorians through education and training.

What is research?

Research includes any project where individuals or organisations want to:

• access data held by the department
• directly interview, survey or canvass views or information from department employees or students
• identify a sample of young people or staff through the department

Approval

All research in Northern Territory Government (NTG) schools, including projects undertaken by staff with approved study leave, must have prior approval by the department before researchers approach schools. Approval is also required for access to departmental staff data, records and files for research.

Access will not be granted for projects undertaken for commercial or material gain including those involving primarily marketing activities or market research.

Researchers should note that:

• Participation in research is voluntary and the decision to participate is at the discretion of the school principal or unit manager.
• Approval to conduct research is not to be interpreted as official department support or endorsement of any aspect of the project or its outcomes and recommendations.
• All projects need to ensure they meet high ethical standards that protect the privacy of participants. Projects must either have University Ethics Committee approval or be able to assure the department that ethical practices such as the following are in place:
• • Participants and parents must be informed of the full extent of the research and exactly how data is to be managed and used
  • Confidentiality arrangements must be in place and observed
  • Additional permission must be sought from the parties involved if the data are to be used for purposes other than the original stated aims of the research
• Video taping and/or audio taping of participants may only be carried out with their written consent. If participants are under the age of 18, written consent from parents and/or principals is required.

Ethics approval options in the Northern Territory (pdf 15 kb)

Application process

Assessment criteria

Applications are assessed on 6 key criteria:

• Relationship with Northern Territory (see the DET Strategic Plan 2009-2012 - pdf 373 kb) and national policies and agreements
• Department resources required and extent of the impost on schools
• Potential of the project to address department research priorities (pdf 57 kb)
• Feasibility and quality of the project including validity of methodology for the context
• Compliance with the departments legislative responsibilities such as privacy, ethics, duty of care, etc.
• Potential to value add to the department contribution to research and other capacity building priorities.

Categories of research

For the purpose of streamlining the approval process, four categories of research have been identified. All applicants are asked to identify the category of research and describe how the research aligns to the DET Strategic Plan 2009-2012 (pdf 373 kb) and research priorities (pdf 57 kb)

Category A

This category involves research undertaken by national research bodies as part of approved government activities, such as projects:

• approved by Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA), Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) and routine data gathering by the Australian Bureau of Statistics
• approved by the NTG or in collaboration with other departments
• updating data or follow up research of previously approved projects
• Register Category A application (word 93 kb) | Approval process flowchart (pdf 15 kb)

Category B

This category involves research undertaken by universities or research institutes such as projects:

• seeking approval under the NTG partnership agreements with BIITE and Charles Darwin University where approval is included in the negotiation
• where the proponents seek the departments support as part of the Australian Research Council (ARC) funding application or involvement as an industry partner, e.g. ARC Linkage Projects
• instigated by higher education research centres and organisations
• sponsored by non government organisations and philanthropic trusts

Negotiations for DET approval should be made before obtaining external funding. DET approval does not guarantee external funding.

Register Category B application (word 99 kb) | Approval process flowchart (pdf 15 kb)

Category C

This category involves research projects from students undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate coursework and department staff undertaking a research project as approved study leave.

Register Category C application (word 98 kb) | Approval process flowchart (pdf x15 kb)

Category D Other

This category covers the following research:

• Small projects undertaken by students
• Student bodies wanting access to DET data or schools
• Projects seeking to use DET data but with no direct connection with students, teachers or schools.
• Register Category D application (word 97 kb) | Approval process flowchart (pdf 15 kb)

Contacts

For further information about the application process please email researchapps.det@nt.gov.au.