Governance Structure
Calvary National Strategic Intent
At Calvary we are proud of our heritage, our values are visible in how we act, and we all share a common purpose.
Our mission is not just a statement. It informs every aspect of our organisation and underpins our National Strategic Intent.
View a copy here.
Research Committee Structure
The research and clinical trials portfolio sits under the responsibility of the Director of Medical Services (DMS) who provides Executive sign off for all research at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
Our priority is to implement robust governance systems that ensure accountability and responsibility for hospital-based research, and embed research into all aspects of clinical care; with an expectation that translational research will lead to improved patient care. The governance process for research conducted at Calvary Mater Newcastle is managed by the Calvary Mater Newcastle Research Office and the Translational Research Advisory Committee (TRAC). Our research governance framework enables our institution to be held accountable for the scientific quality, ethical acceptability and safety of research at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
The TRAC provides strategic direction, oversight and governance for the development, management and sustainability of translational research in line with the Calvary Mater Newcastle Translational Research Strategic Plan (2017-2020).
The committee undertakes responsibilities according to the following Guiding Principles:
- National Health and Medical Research Council(NHMRC), National Statement on Ethical Conduct of Human Research
- Australian Code for Responsible Conduct of Research
- Office for Health and Medical Research (OHMR): Research Ethics and Governance
- The Australian Council for Healthcare Standards (ACHS) EQuIP Accreditation criteria
- Catholic Health Australia (CHA), Code of Ethical Standards
The CTC provides advice and recommendations to TRAC regarding clinical trials and governance on issues including but not limited to:
- Assessment of proposed new clinical trials and alignment with Calvary Mater Newcastle priorities
- Monitoring of clinical trial activity in terms of performance and outcomes
- Contribution of policy and framework development in relation to streamlining clinical trials, registries and standard operating procedures
- Provide strategic direction for Calvary Mater Newcastle clinical trials and registries to ensure alignment with relevant NSW Health and National strategic goals or initiatives
- Promote the vision of clinical trials and their importance for healthcare for our stakeholders and consumers to enable fundraising and support mechanisms
The ReDE provides support to encourage participation for new researchers and further develop capacity, performance and quality in research at Calvary Mater Newcastle.
The committee ensures governance arrangements promote accountability and responsibility for research conducted according to ethical principles, scientific, regulatory and professional standards, risk management and the mission and values of Calvary.
The function of the committee in line with the strategic plan relates to:
- Communication
- Events
- Community Engagement
- Professional Development
- Education and Training
- Grants and Funding
The CHA was established as a sub-committee of the TRAC in order to address the requirement for any research undertaken by a Catholic Health provider to be in accordance with the ethical teachings of the Catholic Church.
The committee’s role is to review each Human Ethics Committee approved study to ensure it is in accordance with the Catholic Code of Ethical Standards for Health and Aged Care Services in Australia as part of the Calvary Mater Newcastle Research Governance Authorisation Process.