Animal observation and handling

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Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in activities involving observing and handling animals and/or animal remains (e.g. bones, skins) to support curriculum delivery within, and external to, a laboratory or classroom. Such activities include, but not limited to, care of classroom pets, livestock husbandry activities, collecting of frog spawn and observation of animals in their natural surroundings or of exhibited animals.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline, for example, biological activities, agricultural activities (stockyards) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

For curriculum activities involving marine animals (e.g. fishing), consult the marine organism activities guideline.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Risk level

Low risk
Activities at low risk locations (e.g. classroom, behind barriers at zoos) and/or with low risk equipment (e.g. grooming equipment, low hazard consumer chemicals) and/or with animals that pose insignificant risk to most people (e.g. small domesticated animals such as fish in a tank, exhibited animals under supervision).

Medium risk
Activities at medium risk locations (e.g. school oval, chicken coop) and/or with medium risk equipment (e.g. electrical equipment) and/or animals that may cause a minor injury or illness (e.g. larger domesticated animals such as dogs, sheep).

High risk
Activities at high risk locations (e.g. a national park, stockyard) and/or with high risk equipment (e.g. livestock husbandry equipment) and/or animals that may cause a serious injury (e.g. horses, bees, venomous animals).

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline. Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. park ranger, property owners) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety. Obtain approvals and permits as required.

Schools must comply with animal welfare legislation. Consult the department's animals in education webpage. Comply with animals in Queensland state schools procedure when handling live animals.

Include any additional information used to support student safety in the activity (e.g. resources from standard operating procedures from Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee's forms and publications, published activities or online risk assessment tools) on the CARA record.

Schools must manage animals in accordance with the infection control procedure. Utilise the infection control guideline for practical implementation advice.

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Students

Emergency and first-aid

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Participants must adhere to all rules and advice communicated by the facility operator/owner and any safety signage at the facility/location.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise
must not rely on students to recover a person in difficulty at any time
maintain the duty of care associated with any use of an animal. Follow the relevant standard operating procedures from Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee's forms and publications.
must not to handle animals that are not positively identified by a qualified adult supervisor. All animals that cannot be positively identified are to be considered potentially dangerous and are to be managed safely by a qualified adult supervisor. Refer to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation website.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. animal distress).

Unfamiliar activities (e.g. from online sources) must be trialled without students to identify foreseeable hazards and plan safety processes. Do not proceed if risks of the activity outweigh educational outcomes.

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

HLTAID009—provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
HLTAID011—provide first aid
Anaphylaxis accreditation. Refer to the anaphylaxis guidelines for Queensland state schools (DOCX, 3.6MB) for students with known allergies, and if relevant, your school's anaphylaxis risk management plan.

At least 1 adult supervisor is required to be a registered teacher or other adult supervisor working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with competence (knowledge and skills) in handling animals relevant to the level of risk identified.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adults of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability.

Field guides (e.g. Queensland Museum app), charts and/or keys must be consulted to correctly identify species.

All electrical equipment in schools must be managed in accordance with the department's guide to managing electrical equipment in departmental schools and workplaces.

Consult chemicals in curriculum activities for support in assessing the risks of chemicals used with/by students in curriculum activities.

If a CARA record is required in OneSchool, a summary of chemicals, plant, equipment and/or materials used in the activity must be provided by entering directly onto the CARA record in OneSchool or by attaching a summary. Sample templates are provided on chemicals in curriculum activities and plant, equipment and materials in curriculum activities.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. enclosed footwear, safety gloves).

Other personal protective equipment appropriate to the activity may include lab standard eye protection, appropriate face protection (e.g. mask to protect against airborne toxins).

First aid equipment and consumables, as required. All emergency equipment and processes (e.g. eye wash unit) must be functional.

Clean up equipment as necessary (e.g. dustpan, waste bags, spill kit, disinfectants).

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Animal bites/stings Stings, poisoning, infections	Advise students not to handle animals until explicitly instructed by the qualified adult supervisor. Avoid deliberate contact with wild animals. Respond appropriately to approaching wildlife. Treat all wounds and bites immediately for Infection control. If participating outside: adhere to established practices regarding the use of insect repellent, outlined in insect viruses and allergies continually assess threat of wildlife appropriate to the location. Immediately move the participants to a safe location if dangerous or unidentified wildlife are detected or suspected
Biological hazards Fluids (e.g. blood, saliva)	Remain aware of the allergen and disease risks associated with dust, dry matter and airborne organisms, for example, diseases that can pass from animals to humans, such as Q fever. Implement appropriate handling and protective measures relevant to the route of transmission of potential zoonoses as outlined in appendix 1 of animal contact guidelines (PDF, 1.8MB). Establish and follow hygiene guidelines when handling animals, their food and water, and when cleaning out cages and pens. Handle animals as little as possible, using protective equipment (e.g. leather gloves) when appropriate. Ensure all animals are screened thoroughly for parasites (e.g. ticks and fleas) and students are warned of the potential hazards, symptoms and course of remedial action. Ensure animal remains (e.g. skeletons) are free of body tissue prior to handling. Wash hands and other contaminated areas of the body with soap and water before leaving the activity site. Clean tools and equipment following use to reduce the risk of contamination or accidental exposure to biological hazards. Dispose of hazardous biological materials using a double-bagging technique
Environmental conditions Weather, surfaces, surrounds	Constantly monitor and assess the animal for distress, pain or injury resulting from the activity. Assess, and ensure staff and students are aware of, the likely impact of environmental conditions (e.g. noise, adverse weather) on the behaviour of a particular animal. When participating outside: follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing (e.g. long sleeved shirts), sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions ensure drink breaks occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks ensure warm clothing is prepared for cold weather conditions. Monitor participants for cold related illness (e.g. hypothermia). When participating at night: provide appropriate lighting/illumination
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Conduct regular checks of agricultural infrastructure for safety hazards or broken equipment (fences, water troughs, crush, gates, etc.). Check equipment for damage before and during the activity
Chemicals	All chemicals required for the decontamination processes must be arranged in advance and be readily available. Instruct students in the appropriate storage and administration of veterinary medicines and chemical treatments, as relevant
Manual handling	Assess the size and temperament of, and the potential for injury by, the animals being observed and/or handled. Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. Use aids for safe handling, lifting and carrying (e.g. guards, safety steps and mobile trolleys), as appropriate
Wastes	Schools must maintain, store, transport and dispose of waste materials appropriately, for example, use clinical and related waste guideline (PDF, 577KB). Such materials include, but not limited to, animal wastes and used equipment and instruments (e.g. gloves, husbandry disposables). Dispose of waste as soon as possible after the activity
Student considerations	Control measures
Student issues Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group	Record information about any student condition (e.g. physical or medical, such as epilepsy). Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails and hair and clothing (e.g. long hair, loose shirts) do not pose a hazard. Instruct participants in appropriate low-stress handling techniques for the particular animal or species. Assess the capacity of individuals to handle and restrain an animal using low-stress handling techniques. Monitor participants for signs of fear and/or hesitancy. Account for all equipment, chemicals and resources (e.g. matches, sharp tools) after the activity. Implement procedures (e.g. buddy system, roll marking mechanisms) to account for all participants before, during and after the activity

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This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

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