Southern Health has two Human Research Ethics Committees (HREC) and a Human Research Ethics Low Risk Review Panel, responsible for reviewing proposals involving Southern Health patients, staff and resources.  In addition, the Southern Health HRECs also offer a HREC Review Only service (upon prior arrangement) for researchers external to Southern Health.  The HRECs and Low Risk Review Panel function in accordance with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

Southern Health is one of seven institutions in Victoria to be accredited under the Streamlined Ethical Review Process (SERP) for the review of clinical trials and one of only five institutions in Victoria to be certified under the NHMRC Harmonisation of Multi-Site Ethical Review (HoMER).