Care and Use of Animals in Schools

What Needs to be Approved?

Approval from the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) is required when animals are used to acquire, develop, or demonstrate knowledge and techniques for scientific purposes in teaching.  Either your planned activity is already described in the list of pre-approved activities, or, if not, then you must make an application to VSAEC.

Applications are also required for some standard husbandry procedures and normal farming practices.

See: Care and Use of Animals - Approval and Reporting System (http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/animalcare)

When approval is NOT required

VSAEC approval is not required for formal work experience or agricultural extension work involving routine procedures if all of the following apply: 

  • the animals are on their home property
  • the procedures would occur normally as part of routine management
  • the animals are not subjected to anything additional to what would occur in routine management
  • the teacher is competent to carry out the procedure.

Prohibited activities

The following activities using animals must not be carried out in schools or colleges:

  • surgical, invasive or other harmful procedures other than normal animal husbandry operations
  • induction of any infectious diseases or illness
  • production of nutritional deficiency
  • exposure to stimuli that cause abnormal physiological or behavioural responses
  • administration of toxins, ionising radiation and other bio-hazardous materials
  • breeding of animals solely for dissection

Pre-approved activities

VSAEC has a list of pre-approved activities that have already been considered and accepted by the committee as being ethically sound. Whilst teachers are able to carry out these activities in their classes without further approval, it is important that VSAEC be advised of who will be responsible for the use of animals in schools. VSAEC provides these pre-approved activities on the understanding that two conditions are met. 

Firstly, schools using them must notify VSAEC of the teacher who will be responsible for the welfare of the animals, by completing a Notice of Intent. Submission of this form will generate an approval number. 

Secondly, the pre-approved activities must be followed as detailed and when the activity has concluded, a Completion Advice must be sent to VSAEC. This second step is important to assist in the compilation of annual data required to be provided to the Bureau of Animal Welfare.

See: Care and Use of Animals - Approval and Reporting System (http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/animalcare)

 

Approval-required activities

There may be animal activities which you wish to pursue that are not identified in the pre-approved activities section. If this is the case, you will need to complete an Application for Approval and request VSAEC approval. This may take a number of weeks so you are urged to plan accordingly.

Please note:  you are not permitted to complete any animal activities (pre-approved or not) without VSAEC approval.

See:

If you are not sure as to which form to complete, see: Decision Making Process. 

If further advice is required, please contact the Executive Officer, VSAEC at: animalethics@edumail.vic.gov.au