Issues Deliberation Australia/America acknowledges that the protection of human subjects is an absolutely core element of any research involving human participants.  IDA is at the leading edge in ensuring adherence to the ethical conduct of research.  IDA's policy on human research ethics is based on the AVCC/NHMRC Joint Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice issued by the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published in May 1997. IDA’s policies are also consistent with the 2001 report and recommendations of the US National Bioethics Advisory Commission and the guidelines and principles of Australia’s National Statement on Ethics in Research Involving Humans, of which IDA is a member. 

In accordance with these guidelines, IDA research involving human participants is overseen by an independent Ethics Committee to ensure the research is designed and conducted ethically. Current members of IDA's Ethics Committee are: