In September 2021, the Board of Senior Secondary Studies approved development of the BSSS Ethical Research Principles and Guidelines. Accordingly, a cross-sectoral working party comprising of expert teachers was established.

The development of the BSSS Ethical Research Principles and Guidelines was informed by the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2018) and the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018).

As the BSSS Ethical Research Principles and Guidelines potentially regulates research related to First Nations Australians, in developing the principles and wording of the guidelines, advice was sought from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education office in the ACT Education Directorate.

To ensure that the advice was appropriate and the supporting documentation legally sound, including the model consent forms, advice was sought from the ACT Government Solicitor. That advice has been integrated into the model consent forms and in making the process and requirements more transparent.

Though encompassing the broader topic of research ethics, the BSSS Ethical Research Principles and Guidelines were developed to support students and teachers who undertake human research. That is, inquiry tasks and self-directed projects which involve other people as the subjects of their research. These principles and guidelines will assist teachers and students to develop ethical questions and methodologies and mitigate risks to the wellbeing and safety of students and participants 

The Policy and Procedures Manual has been amended to fold Ethical Research Practices into the definition of Academic Integrity and the processes related to enforcing academic integrity. 

The Board of Senior Secondary Studies approved the changes in the meeting of 16 March 2023 for implementation in 2024.