The Ethics in Human Experimentation Committee was established by the Vice-Chancellor in October 1986 to oversee the ethics of experimental research projects involving human species, proposed by members of the University. The initial composition of the Committee included 'a laywoman, a layman, a minister of religion, a lawyer and a medical graduate' (as specified by National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines), as well as a philosopher, a psychologist and a biological anthropologist. Prior to its establishment, the Clinical Research Committee of the John Curtin School of Medical Research had performed the function of an ethics committee.

The Human Research Ethics Committee was established in 1999, following on from the Ethics in Human Experimentation Committee which had been established in 1986. In 1999 the National Health and Medical Research Council, in conjunction with the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, issued a set of national guidelines on ethics in human research. These guidelines, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, were tabled in federal parliament in July 1999 and were intended to cover all disciplines, with the primary purpose of protecting the welfare and rights of participants in research. The Committee's main role is to review proposed research projects involving human subjects that fall within the jurisdiction of the ANU, and to approve research projects that meet the requirements of the National Statement and are ethically acceptable.