📝 Event Description
Human participant research sits at the uncomfortable intersection of good intentions, regulation, and paperwork — and it applies to far more projects than most people realise. This session provides a practical, big picture overview of what counts as human participant research, and why interventional research is only a subset of that, why “clinical trial” is not synonymous with “medical experiment,” and how projects move from idea to ethics and governance approval to actual participants. Framed specifically for health library professionals, Sarah will explore where library services can add real value across the research lifecycle, from shaping research questions and evidence bases through to protocols, data management, consent, and publication — and why working closely with local research offices makes all of this easier for everyone involved.
🗣️ Presenter
Sarah Rathjen – Eastern Health Library
In her previous life, Sarah worked in a wide variety of roles in the Health and Medical research field over 15 years, with the majority of her experience in Ethics and Governance (both as a submitter and an approver), before a recent career change to librarianship!
Currently she works as the Clinical Research and Education Librarian at Eastern Health.
She has a passion for both human participant research, for exploring innovative ways to deliver education and training, and for getting the right information to the right people at the right time – which is why she’s presenting here!
She loves dogs 🐶, but does not have one yet, so encourages you to tell her about your pets.
✅ ALIA HLA Competencies
CA1 – The health environment
CA7 – Health research
View HLA Competencies
🧑🏫 HLA Health Professional Development Scheme
This session contributes 1.0 hours towards CPD
View the HLA Health Professional Development Scheme
🕑 When
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
1-2pm (Vic/NSW/TAS/ACT/QLD);
12:30-1:30pm (SA/NT);
11am-12pm (WA);
3-4pm (NZ)
🌏 Where
Online webinar Zoom – a link will be sent the day prior.
This event will be recorded and sent to attendees following the event.
💰 Cost
ALIA Members – Free (one of 14 benefits of membership)
Non-Members – $30