Schools Animal Ethics Committee

SAEC meeting dates

Applications must submitted via the online Animal Ethics System 2 weeks prior to the SAEC meeting date. Applications received after the cut-off date may be deferred to the next meeting. Contact your executive officer as soon as possible if there is difficulty submitting an application prior to the cut-off date.

Terms of Reference

The role of the SAEC is to ensure that the use of animals for scientific purposes is justified, provides for the welfare of those animals and incorporates the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

 The Terms of Reference of the Schools Animal Ethics Committee is to:

• approve guidelines for the care of animals that are bred, held and used for scientific purposes on behalf of the institution
• monitor the acquisition, transportation, production, housing, care, use and fate of animals
• recommend to the institution any measures needed to ensure that the standards of the Code are maintained
• appoint, re-appoint, or retire members according to procedures developed by the institution in consultation with the SAEC
• require that all members declare any conflict of interest
• deal with situations in which a conflict of interest arises
• examine and approve, approve subject to modification, or reject applications for the use of animals for scientific purposes
• approve only those studies for which animals are essential and justified and which conform to the requirements of the Code - this should take into consideration factors including ethics, the impact on the animal or animals and the anticipated scientific educational value
• inform the teacher and principal responsible when non-compliance is detected, either by phone call, email or letter, depending on the severity of the non-compliance - instances of non-compliance will be added to a register that will be monitored for repeat offenders (repeat offenders may receive a short-term ban on activities using animals)
• assist teachers in charge of the non-compliant activity to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities for future activities
• withdraw approval for any project when non-compliance with the Code significantly impacting animal wellbeing is detected
• ensure veterinary details are provided by the school in case the emergency treatment or euthanasia of any animal is required
• examine and comment on all institutional plans and policies that may affect the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes
• maintain a record of applications and projects
• comply with the reporting requirements of the institution and the Code
• perform all other duties required by the Code.

The Terms of Reference should be considered in conjunction with the SAEC operating procedures.