SCM-PR-011: Animal Ethics and Welfare in Schools

• Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 Chapters 1 to 8 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/A/AnimalCaPrA01.pdf
• Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2002 Parts 1 to 3 http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/CURRENT/A/AnimalCaPrR02.pdf

• Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/ea16syn.htm

Statement of intent

Animal Ethics and Welfare in Schools assists schools to meet their obligation to comply with the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 ('the Act') and Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2002 which govern the treatment and use of all animals in Queensland. The Act promotes responsible care and use of animals with an educational approach being one of its key features.

A person breaches the duty of care owed to an animal in his or her charge if the person does not take reasonable steps to:

• provide for the animal's needs for the following in a way that is appropriate:
  • food and water
  • accommodation or living conditions
  • to display normal patterns of behaviour
  • the treatment of disease or injury
• ensure any handling of the animal is appropriate having regard to
  • the species, environment and circumstances of the animal; and
  • what steps a reasonable person would take in the circumstance

The Act also requires compliance with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 7th edition, 2004 ('the Code'). The Code requires that animals used for scientific purposes be afforded consideration (additional to duty of care provisions) through the operation of an Animal Ethics Committee with specified composition and powers. The definition in the Act of 'for scientific purposes' is broad and encompasses a number of activities routinely undertaken in schools.

It is an offence to carry out a scientific purpose using animals in schools without seeking prior approval from an Animal Ethics Committee. Any conditions imposed by the Animal Ethics Committee must be complied with and any breaches of the Code must be reported to the Principal and the Chairperson of the Animal Ethics Committee.

The terms of reference of the Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee established it to serve all Queensland schools and removed the need for schools to form their own individual Animal Ethics Committee. Education Queensland is registered with Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries as a scientific user of animals through the payment of a fee on behalf of all state schools. It is a condition of that registration that internal auditors conduct a school animal use monitoring program and that data on the use of animals is collated annually for submission to the Queensland Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries.

Responsibilities

• ensure that staff involved in use of animals are
  • skilled in relevant techniques according to requirements as outlined in Queensland Schools Animal Use Guidelines, Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee approved animal use applications, the Act, the Code, relevant Agricultural Industry Codes and Standard Operating Procedures;
  • familiar with and follow all requirements under the Act, the Code and any relevant Agricultural Industry codes. Particular reference should be made to Sections 1, 3 and 6 of the Code: 'General Principles for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes', Responsibilities of investigators and teachers', and 'The use of animals in teaching'
  • familiar with and follow all requirements as outlined in Queensland Schools Animal Use Guidelines
• ensure that school facilities and procedures enable exercise of adequate duty of care to animals for which staff and other persons are in charge (including arrangements for after-hours care of animals);
• forward any written complaints concerning animal use to Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee with an incident report after consultation with relevant local authorities;
• cooperate fully with any random audits of compliance with this document, the Act, the Scientific Code, and other policies and codes related to animal welfare undertaken from time to time by Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee members, internal Education Queensland auditors or Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries staff;
• ensure that risk management process for any curriculum activity involving animals takes account of impact on the animal in addition to any hazard to students from use of the animal(s); and
• determine whether any activity carried out in the school constitutes "using animals for scientific purposes" within the meaning of the Act.
  

• ensure that approval of Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee has been obtained for all planned animal use activities prior to activities being undertaken in the school;
• establish internal management procedures to ensure staff follow parameters set in all approved animal use activities;
• ensure teachers provide alternatives to animal use when students raise genuine ethical concerns and make a conscientious objection to an animal use activity and that students are not penalised for non-participation in an animal use activity provided that alternative activity is completed to a comparable standard as the animal use activity;
• monitor currency and accuracy of school animal use register; and
• submit annual school animal use survey to central office for Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries by specified due date.

• be familiar with, and follow all, requirements under the Act, the Code, Standard Operating Procedures, and relevant Agricultural Industry Codes;
• consider '3 R's' (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) as set out in the Code prior to any decision to use any animal;
• ensure that animal use is justified;
• provide animal users, including students and visitors with adequate prior instruction in specific activities to enable appropriate care of animals and to minimize risk of undue stress or harm to animals;
• promote and support open discussion with students of animal ethics issues, respecting diversity of opinion; and
• report to the principal
  • any breaches of the Act or the Code;
  • school facilities or procedures which may be improved to ensure a proper duty of care towards animals is maintained; or
  • animal use complaints.
    

• seek and receive approval of Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC) for planned activity prior to activity commencement;
• follow parameters set in approved animal use activity;
• be skilled in relevant techniques or secure services of another person who is; and
• record details of animal use activity in school animal use register.
  

• ensure that schools keep appropriate records of animal use as required by the Act and the Code including records on acquisition, breeding, health, care, housing, use and disposal of animals;
• view and inspect animals, animal housing and laboratory areas of which Education Queensland is in charge, and report any animal welfare concerns to school principal and to Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee; and
• provide an annual summary of schools audited for animal use purposes to Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee.
  

• monitor acquisition, transport, production, housing, care, use and disposal of animals;
• recommend to institutions which it serves (including Education Queensland) any measures needed to ensure that standards of the Code are maintained;
• examine and approve, subject to modification, or reject written proposals relevant to use of animals in scientific and teaching activities. Also to approve only those studies for which animals are essential and which conform to requirements of the Code, taking into consideration ethical and welfare aspects as well as scientific or educational value;
• formally withdraw approval for any project or authorise treatment or humane killing of any animal;
• examine and comment on all institutional plans and policies which may affect animal welfare in Queensland schools and systems which it serves (this may include class research projects or other projects using animals);
• maintain a register of approved projects;
• fulfil all other obligations according to the Act and the Code with particular reference to Section 2.2 of the Code 'Responsibilities and operation of AECs'.
• operate according to its published terms of reference; and
• report annually on its operations to:
  • each institution to which it is responsible (including Education Queensland)
  • Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
    

Forms

• Activity Applications

• Animals in Education
• Standard Operating Procedures (including industry codes)
• Species-Specific Information

Other relevant documents

• Animal Ethics Websitehttp://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/area/science/animal-ethics.html

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

• CS-29: Animal Ethics and Welfare in Schools - Version: Not Applicable