Animal ethics

It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that all necessary permits and licences are in place prior to commencing any research or teaching activity involving animals. Severe penalties may be imposed if appropriate licences are not obtained.

South Australia

Flinders University is licensed under Section 17 (2) of the Animal Welfare Act 1985 to use animals for teaching, research or experimentation purposes. A condition of licence is that the acquisition and use must first be approved by the AWC.

Work involving animals in the wild also requires a Scientific Permit from the SA Department of Environment and Water (DEW) and/or from Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). Further information on how to obtain a Scientific Permit can be found on the DEW Scientific Research Permits page.

Other Australian states and territories

The requirements for the acquisition and use of animals vary between the Australian states and territories. In some cases, you may need to obtain a licence, in addition to obtaining approval from the AWC.

Where an individual licence is required, the cost is to be covered by the research project. If multiple researchers require licences to work within a single jurisdiction, they will share the cost of a licence for the relevant period. In the first instance, please check requirements for the area/s in which you intend to work and then contact the Animal Ethics Officer to determine whether a licence is already in place.

Overseas countries

It is the responsibility of the researcher to ensure that all necessary permits and licences are in place prior to commencing any research or teaching activity involving animals in an overseas country.

The University’s part-time Animal Welfare Officer (AWO) is based in Research Development and Support and is responsible for providing veterinary care and monitoring animal welfare within the University.

The AWO is responsible for ensuring that the use of animals for research and teaching complies with the highest standards of animal welfare required by the University, and with the Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013 (the Code).

The role of the AWO includes providing advice to researchers on the design of experiments to ensure that these activities reflect humane and ethical treatment of animals.

Any staff, student or member of the public who has concerns about the well-being of animals held at Flinders University for use in research or teaching, or of wildlife involved in field studies conducted under the auspices of Flinders University, should contact the AWO or the Animal Ethics Officer. They will ensure that the concern is reported.

Animal welfare concerns may include perceived:

• Departure from the practice of humane and ethical treatment of animals in animal care facilities, laboratories or fieldwork locations;
• Breaches or non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act 1985, regulations or associated Codes of Practice; or
• Breaches or non-compliance with the Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013 (the Code) or University policies and guidelines relating to research or teaching involving animals

All concerns are treated confidentially and every effort will be made to address matters raised in a timely fashion.

You can download further information about the AWC complaints and enquiries. 

If any staff member, student or visitor wishes to report an issue with any species of wildlife on the University campus, e.g., snakes, birds, koalas etc. please follow the advice on the Security - wildlife on campus.

Flinders University has two primary animal facilities located in the College of Medicine and Public Health and the College of Science and Engineering. The Manager of the appropriate facility should be contacted before you submit an Animal Ethics applications.

The College of Medicine and Public Health Animal Facility (SOMAF) has its own website with various important information for researchers who wish to use the facility.

The State Government of South Australia Animal Welfare Act 1985

The Animal Welfare Act 1985 (the Act) governs the operation of animal ethics committees in South Australia and the use of animals in research and teaching. Appended to the Act, and therefore having the force of law, is the Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013 (the Code).
 

Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013 (the Code)

The Code provides an ethical framework and governing principles to guide the decisions and actions of all those involved in the care and use of animals. It outlines the responsibilities of investigators, animal carers, institutions and animal ethics committees, and establishes clear processes to ensure accountability.

In addition to the Code, the NHMRC website includes a number of other useful references, policies and guidelines relating to animal welfare matters.

Flinders University has established the following policies and guidelines to complement the Animal Welfare Act 1985 and the Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013:

• AWC terms of reference
• General guidelines for Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) practices and decisions are outlined in the AWC Operating Procedures Guide
• Replacement, reduction and refinement (the 3Rs)
• Public statements concerning animal use

The Animal Welfare Committee performs a general inspection of each animal facility annually. A second annual inspection may also be performed to target a specific issue, such as clinical record sheets, adverse events, cleanliness and hygiene, and labelling of animals and cages.

It is a requirement of the University, the South Australian Animal Welfare Act 1985 (Act) and the Australian Code for the Care and use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 8^th edn, 2013 (the Code) that institutions, animal ethics committees, and people involved in any aspect of the care and use of animals for scientific and teaching purposes must be aware of and accept their responsibilities, and act in accordance with the Code.

In order to work with animals at Flinders University, all staff and students (both internal and external) MUST complete Flinders University’s Animal Ethics Online Training (AEOT) (which will take approximately 1 hour) before they can apply for an animal ethics application. In addition, all staff or students who are new to animal research must also attend the next available Animal Ethics Group Workshop. New staff who have significant previous experience may be granted an exemption by the AWC upon application.

This training will provide you with the knowledge and skills to promote the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific and teaching purposes. It consists of short readings, followed by a multiple choice quiz.

Please download the animal ethics online training slides as there are a number of links that you will require throughout your time at Flinders University.

For external personnel - In order to access AEOT, you must have a current FAN. A temporary external FAN can only be requested by someone with a current FAN, meaning that only a current Flinders staff or student member can submit a request. 

For further information, or if you experience any problems, please contact the Animal Ethics Officer, Animal Welfare Committee.

All staff and students (both internal and external) must attend one Animal Ethics Group Workshop (AEGW) in order to work with animals. New staff who have significant previous experience may be granted an exemption by the AWC upon application.

The AEGW is a 2 hour small group workshop that focuses on the ethics application forms, clinical record sheets, animal scoring, the Animal Facilities, and covers some problem solving situations. The workshops will be staggered throughout the year. 

Check for when the next AEGW will be held.

The animal facility manager for each respective facility will conduct an induction program for new animal facility users, and offer training in specific techniques for both new and senior researchers. Researchers will be supervised until considered competent, at which point their names will be entered on a skills register. Researchers should contact the relevant animal facility manager to enquire about this training.

Researchers are responsible for ensuring that all animal procedures and interventions are performed in accordance with their project’s Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) approval and any conditions pertaining to that approval. All procedures and interventions must be performed by a person who has received adequate training and is competent to perform them, or by a person under the direct supervision of someone who is competent to perform the procedure or intervention.

If training is required for particular experimental techniques and procedures, animal handling, feeding, or general care you should contact the relevant animal facility manager.

Animal facility staff are qualified and trained in these areas. They are also aware of all experiments being conducted in their colleges, and can put you in contact with other researchers working in similar fields, if specialist advice is required for a particular experiment. They should therefore be the first point of reference for any queries or problems.

College of Medicine and Public Health Animal Facility (CMPHAF) offered training:

• Handling (For rats, mice, guinea pigs & sheet)
• Injection (For i.p., s.c., i.m., i.v.) (rats, mice, guinea pigs & sheep)
• Sedation (via Isoflurane machine) (For rats, mice, guinea pigs & sheep)
• Euthanasia methods (For rats, mice, guinea pigs & sheep)

College of Science and Engineering Animal Facility (CSEAF) offered training:

• Handling (For reptiles, birds & fish)
• Health monitoring (For reptiles, birds & fish)
• Water quality management (For fish)
• Injection (i.p., s.c. or i.m.) (For reptiles)
• Injection (i.p., s.c. or, i.m.) (For birds)
• Injection (i.v.) (For birds) (The Animal Welfare Officer must be present at this training)
• Injection (For fish)
• Sedation (water bath) (For fish)
• Sedation (injection) (For reptiles & birds) (The Animal Welfare Officer must be present at this training)
• Euthanasia methods (For birds & fish)
• Euthanasia methods (For reptiles) (The Animal Welfare Officer must be present at this training)

The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, and Flinders University have created a range of joint training courses open to all staff and students from any institution. Further information will follow.

Other customised training and assessment activities that you or the AWC require can be organised by contacting the AWO at awo@flinders.edu.au.