Animal research ethics

Federation University's commitment to openness on the use of animals in research and teaching

Federation University Australia’s research aims to transform lives and enhance communities. We are committed to applying our world-class research to real-world challenges and to making a positive impact both regionally and globally. Our research is organised into three broad, cross-disciplinary research priority areas: health and wellbeing; society and the environment; and virtual, digital and computational environments.

In the first two of these priority areas in particular, Federation University researchers conduct world leading conservation research to better understand and protect native wildlife at home and abroad. Internationally, our researchers work on disease surveillance projects in the Antarctic, and investigate animal indicators of climate change further afield. Working with domestic animals in Australia, Federation University research contributes to greater understanding of respiratory disease, and to improved pest management. The next generation of agricultural workers learn best practice in farm management and animal welfare in our high-quality rural sciences TAFE courses.

When using animals in research or teaching, Federation University staff and students comply with the requirements of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. No project proceeds without Animal Ethics Committee approval and demonstrable commitment to the 3Rs:

  • Replacement of animals with other methods;
  • Reduction in the number of animals used; and
  • Refinement of techniques used to minimise the adverse impact on animals.

Federation University is a proud signatory of the ANZCCART Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia. As such, we have made the following four commitments:

  1. We will be open about our involvement in the use of animals in research or teaching.
  2. We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our use of animals in research or teaching.
  3. We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research or teaching involving animals.
  4. We will report annually on our efforts to improve openness in our use of animals in research or teaching.

Links to selected publications and media items, project summaries and research profiles can be found below. These are updated on a regular basis.

To read more about Federation University work with animals and other research, head to the Federation University Australia Newsroom. For any media enquiries, please contact our Media Team.

How to apply for AEC approval

Teaching programs as well as research projects at Federation University Australia and Federation Training involving animals must not commence without prior written approval from the Federation University Animal Ethics Committee.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 requires that institutions conducting research involving animals comply with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 2013 and establish an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) to oversee the conduct of the institution's experimentation activities.

These legislative requirements specify that an AEC must verify that the use of animals for research or teaching is justified and adheres to the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3R's)

Ethics clearance is required if the proposed scientific project involves any:

  • Live non-human vertebrate including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock and wildlife
  • Live prenatal or pre-hatched creatures in the last half of gestation, for example a mammalian or reptilian foetus, pre-hatched avian, mammalian or reptilian young and live marsupial young
  • Cephalopod invertebrates such as octopus, squid, cuttlefish and nautilus
Ethical clearance must be sought and notification of approval received prior to commencing any research project involving animals. Please see the resources below for detailed information.
  • Always download required forms from the Ethics website (refer to below section - Forms/New applications), rather than use a copy previously saved to your computer to ensure you are using the most up to date form.
  • Answer all sections with sufficient information, in lay terms, so the committee are able to make an informed decision regarding your project.
  • Prepare all required supporting documentation.
  • Obtain all required signatures before submitting your application

When your application is complete; has all the required signatures and supporting documents are attached, successful submission of your application requires attention to the following details:

  • Establish the submission date and closing time deadline by reviewing the list of AEC meeting dates and note the due date and time for agenda items.
  • Submit one Electronic copy of the complete and authorised application, with all supporting documents, to research.ethics@federation.edu.au
  • Note: Researchers are to ensure they receive an email from the ethics office acknowledging receipt of their application. They will be provided with a unique identifier code, and advised of the meeting date their application will be assessed.
  • Caution: Responsibility lies with the principal researcher to ensure the application has been received and scheduled for assessment. Contact the Ethics office 24hrs prior to the Agenda items due date if you have not received an email confirming receipt of your application.

Forms

Always download templates from the ethics website. Superseded application and amendment forms will no longer be accepted by any Ethics Committees as they do not conform to current legislative requirements. They will be returned to the Chief Investigator for re-submission.

To apply for approval from the AEC, please download and complete: Application for ethics approval of research involving animals (docx, 301kb)

It is the responsibility of the Chief Investigator to ensure the Ethics Office is contacted immediately regarding any proposed change.

If you need to make any changes to your project after approval, you will first need to submit an Amendment Request. Amendments may include:

  • Request to extend the approval end date. Apply at least one month prior to the anticipated completion date for an extension to ensure ongoing approval is obtained, as retrospective approval will not be granted.
  • Changes to project personnel.
  • Changes to project detail
To submit a request for amendments:
  1. Download and complete the Request for amendments to existing project - including extension and/or change of personnel (docx, 120kb) form
  2. Send the completed Amendment request form along with any and all amended documentation to the Ethics Office at research.ethics@federation.edu.au

Annual and final reports

It is a condition of approval that progress reports are submitted annually. It is the responsibility of researchers to take note of the report dates on the approval notification, and submit as due. Failure to submit reports is a breach of compliance and project approval, which may result in ethics approval lapsing.

Amendment requests will not be considered if annual reporting requirements are not met.

A final report must be submitted within one month of completion of the project. If the project does not proceed or is discontinued, for any reason, please advise the Committee by completing the final report form.

  1. Download and complete the Annual/Final project report (docx,74kb)
  2. Send completed report to research.ethics@federation.edu.au

Incident and adverse events

It is the responsibility of the Chief Investigator to ensure the Ethics Office is contacted immediately regarding any incident, serious or unexpected adverse event. Failure to do so may result in discontinuation of approval and/or disciplinary action.

  1. Download and complete the Incident report form (docx 86kb)
  2. Send the completed report to research.ethics@federation.edu.au

Should your proposed animal ethics project include any GMO product, refer to the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) website for further information.

In Australia, all dealings with live and viable genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including import, are illegal unless authorised under the Gene Technology Act.

Every dealing with a GMO will need to be licensed by the Regulator (Office of Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR)) unless the dealing is an exempt dealing, a notifiable low risk dealings (NLRD) or on the Register of GMOs.

Both IBC and AEC approval will be required prior to commencement of any Animal Ethics project using GMO product.

Policies & Guidelines

Committee - meeting dates and other details

Applications should be submitted to the relevant signatory (below) at least one week prior to the 'Agenda Items due to Ethics Office' date, to allow time for the application to be reviewed to determine it is of merit to be assessed by the AEC; appropriate facilities are available (if applicable); and the project will be supported by the relevant faculty.

  • Centre Director; or
  • Institute Executive Dean; or
  • ADVCR.

Agenda items due, 12pm

Meeting dates

Wednesday 7 February

Wednesday 21 February

Wednesday 3 April

Wednesday 17 April

Wednesday 5 June

Wednesday 19 June

Wednesday 7 August

Wednesday 21 August

Wednesday 2 October

Wednesday 16 October

Wednesday 4 December

Wednesday 18 December

CATEGORY 1

At least four (4) members appointed by Academic Board, in accordance with minimum requirements for AEC membership outlined in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, including:

Category 1
aA person with qualifications in veterinary science, preferably with experience relevant to the activities of the institution, or a person with qualifications and experience to provide comparable expertise
bA person with substantial recent experience in animal experimentation
cA person with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, who is not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution, and who is not involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. The person should where possible be selected on the basis of membership of an animal welfare organisation
dAn independent person who does not currently, and has not previously, conducted experiments using animals, and who is preferably not an employee of the institution

CATEGORY 2

Additional members appointed by Academic Board:

Category 2
aA Chairperson, appointed by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor
(term as determined by the Board):
bObserver - Unable to vote: A member of the University responsible for the care of animals appointed by the Board:

The primary function of the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is to consider the ethical implications of proposed research and teaching projects involving animals, for which staff and students of Federation University Australia and Federation Training are responsible.

The Committee must ensure ethical standards are maintained in research and teaching projects involving animals, in accordance with relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory legislation and the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, in particular:

  • Approve guidelines for the care of animals that are bred, held and used for scientific purposes on behalf of the University;
  • Monitor through the receipt of reports and spot checks, the acquisition, transport, production, housing, care, use and disposal of animals;
  • Recommend to the University any measures needed to ensure that the standards of this Code are maintained;
  • Describe how members are appointed, re-appointed, or retired, according to procedures developed by the University in consultation with the AEC;
  • Require that all members declare any conflict of interest;
  • Deal with situations in which a conflict of interest arises;
  • Examine written proposals relevant to the use of animals for scientific purposes and approve only those projects for which animals are essential and which conform to the requirements of the Code, taking into consideration ethical and welfare aspects as well as scientific or educational value;
  • 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 or educational value;
  • Withdraw approval for any project where concerns arise about the project breaching the Code and its ramifications that come within the authority of the committee;
  • Authorise the emergency treatment or euthanasia of any animal;
  • Examine and comment on all University plans and policies which may affect animal welfare;
  • Maintain a record of proposals and projects; and
  • Comply with the reporting requirements of the University and the Code.

In addition, the Committee must:

  • Ensure that all persons involved in animal care and use are appropriately trained and competent and that they maintain adequate records of animal usage;
  • Promote understanding within the University and the broader community of the ethical issues raised by research, teaching and related academic activities;
  • Report, and provide advice, to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and the Research Committee on ethical matters related to research and teaching involving animals; and
  • Inform and work with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and the Research Committee to ensure the adoption of, and compliance with, appropriate codes of practice for the conduct of research involving animals.

Other than as specified in these Terms of Reference or in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes the Committee may determine its own procedures and establish its own ad hoc committees and working parties as necessary.

Membership

The primary responsibility of members is to ensure that the use of animals for research and teaching is ethically justified, provides for the welfare and incorporates the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement based on collective experience and knowledge, and not to represent any particular interest group.

Chairperson:

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) shall appoint a Chairperson of the Committee who holds a suitably senior position in the University.

Category A-D members:

In accordance with the minimum requirements for membership of an AEC as specified in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8th Edition 2013, the University will appoint at least four members, including:

A)A person with qualifications in veterinary science and with experience relevant to the activities of the institution. Veterinarians who lack this experience must familiarise themselves with the biology and clinical characteristics of the species of animals used;
B)A suitably qualified person with substantial recent experience in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities. This will usually entail possession of a higher degree in research or equivalent experience;
C)A person with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, who is not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution, and who is not involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. Veterinarians with specific animal welfare interest and experience may meet the requirements of this Category. While not representing an animal welfare organisation, the person should, where possible, be selected on the basis of active membership of, and nomination by, such an organisation; and

D)

A person who is both independent of the institution and who has never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities, either in their employment or beyond their under-graduate education. Category D members should be viewed by the wider community as bringing a completely independent view to the AEC, and must not fit the requirements of any other Category.

Observers:

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) may appoint other persons as observers, including a member of the University who has responsibility for care of animals.

Deputy chairperson:

A Deputy Chairperson shall be elected by the Committee from its Category A-D members.

Executive:

An Executive of the Committee shall be appointed by the Committee comprising the Chairperson and one member of each of Categories C and D to make decisions on minor amendments of approved and provisionally projects. These decisions will be ratified at a subsequent Committee meeting. A quorum shall be two members.

Conflict of interest

A member of the Committee who is aware of having a direct or indirect interest, pecuniary or otherwise, in a matter being considered, or about to be considered, at a meeting of the Committee must disclose the nature of the interest at or before, the meeting. This disclosure must be recorded in the minutes of the Committee meeting. The member should not normally be present during any deliberation about the matter, except to give information as requested by the Committee, unless the Committee deems the conflict does not warrant a member’s exclusion, but instead the member is not permitted to debate or vote on any resolution concerning the conflict.

Indemnity

The University shall indemnify and keep indemnified each member of the Committee against all actions, suits, claims and demands whatsoever (whether arising during or after the term of office of that member) in respect of any act or thing done by that member in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise of any power or duty conferred or imposed upon the Committee or upon any member by the Federation University Australia.

Meetings

The Committee shall meet at least twice each year. For the purposes of a meeting a quorum will require the presence of at least one member from each of the four Category A-D members.

Reporting

The minutes of Committee meetings will be tabled for discussion and/or action at the subsequent meeting of Research Committee. The Committee will also report relevant matters via the Chairperson to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).

Membership appointment, re-appointment and renewal

Members are appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) with the approval of the Licensing and Audit, Agriculture and Rural Division Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR), for a four year term with an option for up to two four year extensions. Members are re-appointed on the Chairperson’s recommendation to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). Members may retire from the Committee by notifying the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation). Vacancies will advertised and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) will establish a selection panel to advise on suitable appointments whose names are then submitted to DEDJTR for final approval.

Contact Us

Please visit our Research Services Contact us webpage for further information on how to get in touch.

All correspondence or queries should be directed to the Coordinator Research Ethics, please visit our Research Services Team webpage for contact details.

For academic or discipline specific assistance with animal ethics applications, please contact your Centre Director or equivalent.