Why do I need animal ethics approval?
Protecting animals and researchers
The University takes its responsibility to animal welfare seriously, and through its Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) system strives to uphold and further best practice in animal-based science, while reflecting the expectations of the broader community. All proposed animal research is assessed with a particular emphasis on the 3Rs - Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. Our goal is to use animals only in well-designed and argued research and teaching projects.
From a researchers perspective, ethics review provides institutional backing and moral validation for studies, as well as an opportunity to improve the rigour and quality of projects.
Who needs animal ethics approval?
At the University animals are used for various scientific purposes* including laboratory research, teaching, field trials, veterinary diagnosis, agriculture and environmental studies. Researchers or teaching staff using live non-human vertebrates (mammals, fish, birds, reptiles and amphibians), cephalopods such as octopus and squid, or adult decapod crustaceans (crabs, lobster and crayfish only), require approval from an AEC before starting their work.
Although animal ethics applications may include project personnel who are external to the University or are students, the Project Supervisor (i.e. the person who initiated the work or obtained the funding) or the Course Co-ordinator (in the case of teaching applications) MUST be a member of staff at the University. They will be the person who has legal responsibility for the welfare of all the animals being used. Note that our AECs service the following departments and faculties.
What are the professional and legal obligations?
The use of non-human vertebrate animals for research and teaching in Victoria is directed by a variety of federal and state legislation, codes of practice, guidelines and University policy. The key regulatory provisions in Victoria can be found within the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (“the Act”) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008. Under the Act, University departments and faculties which carry out procedures using live animals must have a Scientific Procedures Premises Licence, issued by the Department of Primary Industries. AECs review, approve and monitor the research and teaching projects which emanate from these licensed premises.
The core document directing researchers, teaching staff and AECs in all aspects of scientific animal use is the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (NHMRC). The Code defines how animal work should be overseen and monitored, and identifies general principles governing the ethical and humane use and care of animals within science. AECs, under direction from the Victorian Bureau of Animal Welfare (BAW), apply these principles to animal ethics approval and monitoring within the University.