Care and Use of Animals in ACT Schools Policy

1. What is this policy about?
   1. This Policy establishes the responsibilities and requirements of ACT schools in the care and use of animals for educational purposes.
   2. This Policy sets out the responsibilities of the licence holder or delegate and schools in relation to the care and use of animals in schools.
   3. This Policy must be read in conjunction with the Care and Use of Animals in Schools Procedures (the Procedures).
   4. The ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee (ACT SAEC) enacts some regulatory powers on behalf of the Animal Welfare Authority (AWA) in Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS). The decisions that are made by the Committee are binding and must be followed by all entities. The Policy and Procedures do not apply to service or assistance animals.
2. Policy Statement
   1. This Policy and all supporting documentation are governed by the Animal Welfare Act 1992 which provides the legislative framework to promote and protect the welfare, safety, and health of animals in the ACT. This includes implementation of the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code) and the establishment of the ACT Animal Welfare Authority. The Animal Welfare Authority is responsible for the granting of the licence for the use or breeding of animals for the purpose of research or teaching in the Australian Capital Territory.
   2. The delivery of curriculum that involves the use of animals by students must include explicit content with respect to the specific ethical, social, and scientific issues involved in the care and use of animals in the school for educational purposes.
   3. Schools must apply to the ACT SAEC to care for or use any animals for educational purposes prior to any animals being acquired.
   4. Schools must ensure that appropriate facilities are in place to house animals used for educational purposes in schools, including ensuring that animal enclosures are not directly accessible to the public
   5. School emergency management plans must include contingencies for all animals on site.
   6. The Principal must ensure that a staff member is always available on call, including after standard school hours and on weekends, in the event of an emergency relating to any animals approved for educational purposes.
   7. Under the Domestic Animals Act 2000, domestic animals may not be taken on to school grounds without permission of the Principal.
   8. The Principal must ensure that appropriate risk management planning and necessary risk mitigation strategies are in place prior to animals entering the school site.
   9. The Principal must ensure that the access and use of animals for educational purposes is limited to ACT school staff or any other individuals delegated by the Principal.
   10. The health and safety of staff, students, and the community, is a priority for the care and use of animals for educational purposes in ACT schools. The application process contains rigorous requirements to ensure that schools have sufficient experience with the breeds and species for which they are seeking permission to use. Schools are also required to provide evidence of animal handling protocols and training, if relevant. Applications also require evidence of animal housing as a tool to ensure the protection of the animal, and staff, students, and the community who may interact with the animal/s. The ACT SAEC also conducts regular inspections of animals in schools.
3. Who does this policy apply to?
   1. This Policy applies to all ACT schools and any other institutions that are secondary members of the Education Directorate’s ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee.
   2. This Policy does not apply to external agencies such as after-school care programs. Other agencies including after-school care programs should not have contact with the animals held on site.
4. Context
   1. The purpose of this Policy is to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition 2013, the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and the Animal Welfare Regulation 2001.
   2. The ACT Education Directorate is committed to the intent of the legislation to protect the welfare of animals used in teaching by ensuring their use is justified, humane and considerate of the animal’s needs.
5. Responsibilities
   1. Principal: The Principal is ultimately responsible for the care and use of all animals used in the school for educational purposes under the authority of the licence holder.
   2. Animal Welfare Liaison Officer (AWLO): AWLO’s act as the key point of contact within the school community for any activities related to animals being used in the school for educational purposes.
   3. ACT Education: The Education Directorate determines that the Executive Group Manager, Service Design and Delivery is the licence holder for ACT public schools under the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and is responsible for establishing and maintaining secretariat and chair functions of the ACT SAEC.
   4. The Schools Animal Ethics Committee (ACT SAEC): The ACT SAEC monitors compliance by member licence holders or their delegates with the Act.
      1. The ACT SAEC will assess applications in conjunction with supporting documentation and make recommendations to the licence holder or delegate.
      2. The ACT SAEC, when necessary, will undertake inspections of animal holdings in schools to ensure the welfare standards of every animal are met.
      3. The ACT SAEC may withdraw approval for the use of animals as part of an educational program if the committee detects activities that are non-compliant with the Code.
   5. Policy Owner: The Executive Branch Manager Universal School Support is responsible for this policy.
   6. ACT Public Schools and secondary institutions: must respond promptly, and in compliance with, the recommendations of the ACT SAEC to ensure that all care and use of animals within the school remains in accordance with the Code.
6. Monitoring and Review
   1. The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review. A full review of the policy will be conducted within a five-year period.
   2. A comprehensive external review of the operations of the ACT SAEC is also required every three years.
7. Contact
   1. For support contact the Senior Project Officer (ACT SAEC Secretariat), Universal School Support, Service Design and Delivery on (02) 6205 1982 or ACTSAEC@act.gov.au.
8. Complaints
   1. Any concerns about the application of this policy or the policy itself, should be raised with:
      • the school principal in the first instance;
      • the ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee Secretariat at ACTSAEC@act.gov.au
      • For any complaints regarding the care and use of animals in schools, including animal safety and wellbeing, please refer to ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee Complaints and Review Procedures.
9. References
   1. Definitions
      1. ACT Animal Welfare Authority (located at Transport Canberra and City Services) – The Authority responsible for the licensing of scientific institutions and schools for the use of animals for research and teaching purposes.
      2. Alternatives – Procedures which can completely replace the need to use animals, reduce the number of animals required, or diminish the amount of pain or distress suffered by animals.
      3. Animal – Any live non-human vertebrate, that is fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, and mammal, encompassing domestic animals’ livestock and wildlife. The term includes feral and pest species as well as pets and livestock.
      4. Animal Welfare Liaison Officer (AWLO) – School Principals are responsible for the care and use of animals for educational purposes in the school. The school Principal or a delegated, qualified teacher, may act as an AWLO within the school to monitor the school’s compliance with the requirements of animal research legislation. The duties of the AWLO are described in the Code 4.5 – 4.17.
      5. Schools Animal Ethics Committee (SAEC) – A committee constituted in accordance with the terms of reference and membership contained in the Australian Code of Practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition (2013).
      6. Scientific Purposes – All those activities performed to acquire, develop or demonstrate knowledge or techniques in any scientific discipline, including activities for the purposes of teaching, field trials, environmental studies, research, diagnosis, product testing, and the production of biological products.
      7. Service animal – An animal used as a companion to compensate for a physical impairment in such areas as sight, hearing, or mobility.
   2. Legislation
      • Animal Welfare Act 1992: The Act provides for a system of accreditation, licencing and authorisation for organisations and individuals wishing to use animals for scientific purposes, which includes teaching.
      • Animal Welfare Regulation 2001: Schedule 2 lists the animals that may be used for scientific or teaching purposes in preschools and schools without a licence or authorisation from TCCS. Approval is required from the ACT SAEC.
      • Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition 2013.
      • ACT Disability Discrimination Act 1991:This Act covers the rights of people accompanied by a guide-dog, hearing-dog, or other assistance animal.
      • Domestic Animals Act 2000: This Act provides standards for domestic animals including such information as access to public areas, registration, and regulation of dangerous and attacking dogs.
   3. Implementation Documents
      • The Care and Use of Animals in Schools for Education Purposes Procedure  (635kb)
      • ACT Schools Animal Ethics Committee Complaints Process for Institutions  (288kb)
   4. Related Policies and Information
      • Nil

Care and Use of Animals in Act Schools Policy: 00002 is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at https://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/policies/A-Z.