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Using animals for scientific purposes

Topic: Animal ethics

Year Level
  • Early childhood
  • Kindergarten
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  • Year 1
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Content Type
  • Program/Overview
Audience
  • Principal
  • School leader
  • Teacher
Learning Area
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Science
  • VET
Animal Ethics System Guidelines and standard operating procedures

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Licences to use animals for scientific purposes

The Animal Welfare Act 2002 requires that any school using animals for scientific teaching activities in Western Australia must obtain a licence to use animals for scientific purposes from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). This is in addition to the schools animal ethics approval obtained from the Schools Animal Ethics Committee (SAEC).

Department of Education schools (including independent public schools)

The Department of Education obtains a single licence on behalf of all public schools. When a public school uses animals in an activity under the Science learning area they must display the Department's licence in a public area - usually the school's front reception. This should not be confused with the Certificate of Approval that is provided to a teacher when they obtain approval from the Schools Animal Ethics Committee to undertake a teaching activity using animals.

Catholic schools

Catholic Education WA (CEWA) obtains a single licence on behalf of Catholic schools in WA. When a Catholic school uses animals in an activity under the Science curriculum they must display the CEWA licence in a public area - usually the school's front reception. This should not be confused with the Certificate of Approval that is provided to a teacher when they obtain approval from the Schools Animal Ethics Committee to undertake a teaching activity using animals.

Other

Non-government independent schools (not IPS) must obtain their own licence directly from DPIRD. The fee is $100 per calendar year and application forms are available on the DPIRD website. Before a school obtains its licence from DPIRD - before using any animals - they must contact their executive officer to arrange to use the SAEC as their Animal Ethics Committee and obtain approval for specific activities. Schools that are members of the Association of Independent Schools WA (AISWA) should contact the AISWA Executive Officer.

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