Teaching with Animals

Policy

This policy outlines the requirements relating to the use, care and welfare of live animals used for teaching purposes in schools.

The policy does not include information on student and family dogs on school grounds, as this is at the discretion of the principal. Refer to the School Policy Templates Portal (staff login required) for information and an optional template school policy on Dogs at School.

Summary

• Any teaching activity in a school that uses a live animal to achieve an educational outcome in science requires Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) approval before commencement, unless that activity consists only of an observational study of animals in their normal environment.
• If the teaching activity uses wildlife animals, or the school wishes to keep wildlife animals for any other purpose, the school must also meet Animal Welfare Victoria authorisation and record keeping requirements.
• VSAEC approval is not required for school pets or therapy and wellbeing animals, unless the school also wishes to use them for a teaching activity to achieve an educational outcome in science.
• Non-government schools must meet additional licence and authorisation requirements before teaching with live animals.
• Schools planning to teach with live animals must follow the mandatory guidance on the Guidance tab.

Details

Schools wishing to use live animals as part of a teaching activity must first apply for approval from the VSAEC. Schools can only commence the teaching activity once VSAEC approval is granted.

In addition to VSAEC approval, schools intending to use certain wildlife animals for teaching activities must meet Animal Welfare Victoria authorisation requirements. For more information on approval to use wildlife in schools, refer to: Additional approval requirements for keeping and teaching with wildlife species.

Non-government schools must also apply for a licence to use live animals for teaching activities. Government schools do not need to apply for the licence as they are covered by the Department of Education’s licence. For information on the process of obtaining a licence, refer to: Additional approval requirements for non-government schools teaching with animals.

Schools conducting teaching with animals activities must provide students the ability to conscientiously object to the use of animals for educational outcomes in science. Students must be advised on how to notify the lead teacher of their conscientious objection. For students that conscientiously object, the lead teacher must provide the student with alternative learning materials to achieve the educational outcome.

All schools intending to teach with live animals must follow the mandatory guidance which includes detailed information on applying to the VSAEC, wildlife authorisation, animal welfare and biosecurity requirements, and reporting, inspection and audit processes.

Determining when VSAEC approval is required

VSAEC approval is required when a school intends to use an animal for a teaching activity involving a ‘scientific procedure’. This is any teaching activity or program of connected activities in a school that uses a live animal to achieve an educational outcome in science, unless it is only an observational study of the animal in their normal environment.

For live animal use in teaching to be justified, the proposed use must meet the governing principles of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and the following requirements (known as the 3Rs):

• Replacement: Where possible animals should be replaced by models, digital learning or other suitable methods.
• Reduction: Use no more than the minimum number of animals. However, this should not be at the expense of greater suffering of individual animals.
• Refinement: Activities must minimise handling, discomfort, distress or pain in animals.

To determine whether a planned teaching activity is a ‘scientific procedure’ requiring VSAEC approval, schools can refer to the below categories. If school staff are unsure how to categorise their planned teaching activity or whether it requires approval, they are encouraged to contact the department for support: animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Category 1 – observational studies of animals (VSAEC approval not required)

Observational studies of animals in their normal environment, with no direct contact with the animals or disturbance to the animals’ normal activity do not require VSAEC approval. Examples of category 1 activities include observing the grazing behaviour of livestock in a paddock or visiting a zoo and observing animals in their purpose-built natural habitat enclosures.

Category 1 activities involving wildlife may require authorisation from Animal Welfare Victoria. For more information, refer to: Additional approval requirements for keeping and teaching with wildlife species.

Category 2 – basic handling, feeding and care (VSAEC approval required if for an educational outcome in science)

VSAEC approval is required for basic handling, feeding and care of mature animals, if the activity is occurring to achieve an educational outcome in science. Examples of category 2 activities include learning basic animal husbandry techniques for livestock, fowl, rabbits or reptiles. It may also include weighing and condition scoring livestock.

Schools can conduct basic handling, feeding and care of animals without VSAEC approval, provided these activities are not being undertaken to achieve an educational outcome in science. For example, a school keeping chickens as school pets for wellbeing and engagement purposes can care for the chickens without VSAEC approval.

Category 3 – activities involving disruption to the animal’s normal conditions (VSAEC approval required)

VSAEC approval is required for all animal-related teaching activities that involve a disruption to the animal’s normal conditions or behaviour. Examples of category 3 activities include foot paring, pregnancy testing and drenching livestock.

Category 4 – invasive scientific procedures (prohibited)

Invasive procedures are prohibited in schools. The following activities using live animals must not be carried out in schools:

• surgical, invasive or other harmful procedures other than normal animal husbandry procedures
• induction of any infectious diseases or illness
• production of nutritional deficiency
• exposure to stimuli that cause abnormal physiological or behavioural responses
• administration of toxins, ionising radiation and other bio-hazardous materials
• breeding of animals solely for dissection.

Dead animals and dissections (VSAEC approval not required)

VSAEC approval is not required for activities involving dead animals or dissections. However, when planning the teaching activity schools must consider their justification for using animal material with reference to the guiding principles for the humane use of animals in scientific research, known as the 3Rs. For more information on the 3Rs, refer to: Animal welfare and care requirements for teaching with animals.

Non-teaching use of animals in schools – school pets and therapy and wellbeing animals (VSAEC approval not required)

Schools do not need VSAEC approval for school pets and therapy and wellbeing animals, provided they are not used in teaching activities to achieve an educational outcome in science. If a school plans to use these animals for a Category 2 or 3 teaching activity, they must first apply to the VSAEC for approval.

For all animals kept on school premises, schools must consider the welfare of the animal, including care during weekends and holiday periods and veterinary care when needed. Schools must follow the relevant codes of practice for the welfare of animals when keeping any animal as a school pet or therapy/wellbeing animal.

For more information on caring for school pets, refer to: Classroom pets – Animal Welfare Victoria.

Definitions

Animal
Animals are any live non-human vertebrate (that is, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock, wildlife) and cephalopods (including octopus, cuttlefish and squid). Insects are not included in this definition.

Lead teacher
The lead teacher is the teacher who has overall responsibility for care and use of animals for the VSAEC approved teaching with animals activity. This includes ensuring all teaching with animals activities are conducted in compliance with the Code and maintaining accurate records of animal use, health and welfare.

Science
Science includes medicine, biology, agriculture, veterinary and other animal sciences, field trials, environmental studies, research and diagnosis.

School pet
School pets are any animal on the school premises that are not used in a teaching activity to achieve an educational outcome in science. This includes school chickens that lay eggs for the school kitchen or the pet lizard in the classroom only used for display.

Scientific procedure
A scientific procedure is any teaching activity or program of connected activities in a school that uses an animal to achieve an educational outcome in science.

Teaching activity
Teaching activities are any action or group of actions undertaken with the aim of imparting or demonstrating knowledge or techniques to achieve an educational outcome in science, as specified in the relevant curriculum or competency requirements. A teaching activity could occur in a single lesson, or as a program of connected activities across multiple lessons.

Wildlife
Wildlife includes animals (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) and other living things that live in natural surroundings and have not been domesticated by humans.

Related policy

• Biological Materials Used in Schools

Relevant legislation and codes of practice

• Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013)
• Code of practice for the housing and care of laboratory mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits
• General school authorisation licence to keep wildlife
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (Vic)
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008 (Vic)
• Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare

Guidance on teaching with animals

This guidance contains the following chapters:

• Applying to VSAEC for approval to teach with animals
• Additional approval requirements for non-government schools teaching with animals
• Additional approval requirements for teaching with wildlife species
• Amendments to a VSAEC approved activity
• Animal welfare and care requirements for teaching with animals
• Biosecurity requirements for teaching with animals
• Reporting requirements
• Concluding an approved teaching with animals activity
• Inspections, audits, non-compliance and complaints relating to teaching with animals

Applying to VSAEC for approval to teach with animals

The Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) meets at least 4 times a year (once per term) to assess new applications for use of animals in schools, review current activities and evaluate completion reports. Applications are due to the VSAEC secretariat (animalethics@education.vic.gov.au) at least 2 weeks before each committee meeting. Outcomes are communicated to the applicants within 10 business days of the meeting.

In 2024, VSAEC meetings will be held on the following dates:

• Term 3 – 27 August:
  • applications due 13 August for Term 4, 2024 activities
• Term 4 – 26 November:
  • applications due 12 November for Term 1, 2025 activities.

Late applications will be held over to the next scheduled VSAEC meeting.

Extra-ordinary meetings

To assist schools obtain VSAEC approval for the teaching with animals activities, VSAEC may schedule extra-ordinary meeting throughout the year.

To avoid delays in approval, schools are recommended to:

• plan ahead and seek support from the VSAEC Secretariat early (if required)
• refer to supporting resources to assist in completing the form, including the example completed application and standard operating procedures on animal species, available on the Resources tab
• ensure all questions in the application are completed and responses clear.

A separate application must be completed for each proposed teaching with animals activity.

For assistance completing the application form, contact the VSAEC Secretariat at animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

The application form for VSAEC approval to teach with animals is available on the Resources tab.

What does the VSAEC need to see in an application?

The VSAEC assesses applications and monitors the use of animals in scientific procedures. When the use of animals is not considered justifiable or when it does not conform with the requirements of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, projects can be rejected.

The questions on the VSAEC application form address the following criteria:

• respect for animals and an understanding of their needs
• justification of animals in the classroom and the high educational value of the proposed activity or program
• evidence that real alternatives have been considered and a convincing argument that none of the alternatives (either alone or in combination) are sufficient to achieve the same educational benefit that using animals would achieve
• the educational benefit of the activity or program is large enough to balance or outweigh the predicted or potential impact on the animals
• steps to reduce the number of animals required
• steps to minimise the impact on the animals
• the competence and experience of all animal carers on the activity or program
• details of the housing and transport of the animals
• a detailed description of the use of the animals – for example, what, when, how and why
• the animal source (where did the animals come from)
• an account and justification of what will happen to the animals at the end of the activity or program.

Photos (for example, of animal housing arrangements) can be included to support the application.

Additional approval requirements for non-government schools teaching with animals

In addition to Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee approval, non-government schools must apply for a licence to use animals for teaching activities. The licence is free and must be renewed at a fixed interval. Government schools do not need to apply for a licence because they are covered under the department's licence.

Application forms for Scientific Procedures Premises Licence (Schools) and additional information are available at: Agriculture Victoria Scientific Procedures Premises Licence.

Additional approval requirements for keeping and teaching with wildlife species

Schools can keep and use some wildlife species (specific amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) for non-teaching activities, and Category 1, 2 and 3 non-invasive teaching activities.

To keep wildlife, government and Catholic schools must download, complete and store the pre-approved authorisation permit for their school type. The permit does not need to be lodged or submitted, only stored in case of inspection or audit. The pre-approved authorisation permit is available from: Animal Welfare Victoria - Wildlife in schools.

Independent schools can apply for an authorisation permit by contacting the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action on 136 186 or customer.service@delwp.vic.gov.au

Using the information outlined in the authorisation permit, all schools must:

• determine whether the wildlife species is permitted to be kept
• ensure that they meet their obligations regarding the wildlife species, outlined in the relevant Code of Practice
• download, complete and sign the authorisation permit on a yearly basis, and store it in case of audit or inspection.

The authorisation permit also outlines mandatory requirements for record keeping, cage and enclosure types, and tank or enclosure labelling.

Schools with a permit to keep wildlife (and Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee approval, if required) must not take the animals from the wild, including collecting frog spawn and tadpoles.

Injured or orphaned wildlife must be delivered as quickly as possible to an approved wildlife carer. For assistance, contact Wildlife Victoria on 03 8400 7300.

Amendments to a VSAEC approved activity

Approved teaching with animals activities must be delivered as described in the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) application form.

If a school wishes to deliver their activity differently, they will need approval from VSAEC before implementing this change.

Examples of changes that require VSAEC approval include:

• increasing or decreasing the total number of animals approved for use in the activity
• adding or replacing staff on the activity
• making changes to a procedure or protocol currently approved
• extending the activity’s duration
• any other changes.

The Activity amendment form is reviewed by VSAEC at committee meetings. Requests must be submitted at least 2 weeks before a VSAEC meeting. For information on meeting dates and process, refer to: Applying to VSAEC for approval to teach with animals.

To access a copy of the project amendment form, schools can contact the VSAEC Secretariat via animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Animal welfare and care requirements for teaching with animals

Schools must comply with animal welfare obligations outlined in department policy and guidance, and the Victorian Codes of Practice for all animal use categories. The Wildlife in schools guidance may also apply. Regardless of the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) category, schools must provide for the lifetime welfare of animals and their offspring.

When planning to use animals for any purpose in a school, teachers need to consider the ethical and welfare issues involved. Schools may refer to Victoria’s animal welfare codes of practice for information on the standards for keeping a range of species and animal related activities.

For animal use in teaching to be justified, the proposed use must meet the following requirements (known as the 3Rs):

• Replacement: Where possible animals should be replaced by models, digital learning or other suitable methods.
• Reduction: Use no more than the minimum number of animals. However, this should not be at the expense of greater suffering of individual animals.
• Refinement: Activities must minimise handling, discomfort, distress or pain in animals.

Teachers are strongly encouraged to consider the welfare of all animals (including insects) when using them in teaching activities, even if they do not fall within the scope of animals requiring approval from VSAEC, and to take into account their sentience and ability to experience pain and distress.

Guidance on caring for and handling specific species

All teachers using animals in their teaching are expected to have a thorough knowledge of the husbandry and facilities required for the species in their care.

Victoria has an extensive set of animal welfare codes of practice. These are a good source of information to assist teachers with their VSAEC applications.

The department has developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the most common animals used in teaching with animals activities in Victoria. Please refer to the animal species SOPs under the Resources tab.

For further guidance on the SOPs, or if the animal species intended for use is not listed, email: animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Monitoring and keeping records about animal health and welfare

The health of all animals must be monitored and records retained by the school. This includes:

• monitoring and assessment of animal wellbeing undertaken with sufficient frequency
• observation and monitoring records to allow review and critical investigation of the cause(s) of and responses to unexpected adverse events. This is used as a basis for future prevention strategies.

Schools can use the department’s sample animal monitoring template or may elect to design their own recording templates, which must be submitted for approval with the VSAEC application. For a copy of the sample animal monitoring template, schools can contact animalsethics@education.vic.gov.au

The monitoring and recording of the ongoing health of the animals can be done in other ways, such as maintaining a daily diary, provided that all the information provided on the relevant sample record keeping form is collected and maintained.

All records must be kept at the school for at least 3 years after the completion of the activity or program for potential audits. Records must be made available to RSPCA inspectors, Agriculture Victoria auditors, the VSAEC or officers of the school system or sectors, on request.

Biosecurity requirements for teaching with animals

Biosecurity focuses on minimising the adverse impacts of pests and diseases in the environment, and the community. Effective biosecurity is essential to the ongoing health of Victoria’s agricultural production, economy, and environment.

Schools teaching with animals must ensure good biosecurity practices are implemented. Good biosecurity in schools includes awareness, maintenance of good practices, and reporting of suspected animals and pests. For more information on biosecurity reporting, refer to: Reporting biosecurity risks.

Awareness

Awareness means being vigilant and knowing the signs of plant and animal pests and diseases. To help protect Australia from the spread of plant and animal pests and diseases, a range of education resources for primary and secondary schools can be accessed from the Australian Government’s Biosecurity website.

Maintain good practices

Maintaining good practices helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Effective practices built into everyday actions include good hand hygiene, cleaning tools and equipment with disinfectant, removing seeds and soils from shoes, purchasing goods from reliable sources, labelling and storing chemicals safely, and managing feed, water, and waste.

Reporting requirements

Reporting an unexpected adverse event or the death of an animal

School staff must notify the VSAEC within 10 business days if there are any unexpected adverse events during the conduct of an activity for which the school has received VSAEC approval.

An unexpected adverse event in a teaching activity using animals is anything that happens that meets both of these criteria:

• unexpected: an event not as described in the approved activity application submitted to the VSAEC
• adverse: not in the best interests of the animal.

This includes the unexpected death of an animal.

Following an unexpected adverse event, schools are encouraged to investigate the causes of the event and consider future prevention strategies to improve animal welfare and activity outcomes.

For animals that are exhibiting signs of unknown illness, schools are required to collect samples for diagnostic testing and veterinary treatment.

For animals that are injured (for example, broken limbs, lacerations) the collection of diagnostic samples for testing is not required prior to veterinary treatment.

For animals that are in severe pain or distress, urgent emergency veterinary examination and treatment is required. If the veterinary professional recommends euthanasia, the animal should be humanly euthanised.

For animals that die unexpectedly, schools are required to arrange a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Unexpected death does not include the death of an animal that reaches their natural life expectancy. For example, a sheep is 8 years of age, a rabbit is over 6 years of age and a chicken is over 5 years of age.

For a copy of the unexpected adverse events form, schools can contact animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Annual report

If an approved activity is longer than 12 months, an annual report must be submitted within 30 days of the end of each year since the activity or program began (for example, 31 August 2023, for an activity or program that began on 31 July 2022).

For a copy of the annual report/completion report, schools can contact animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Reporting biosecurity risks

Schools are required to report signs or outbreaks of disease. If staff involved in the teaching activity notice any signs or suspect an outbreak of disease in animals, or birds, notify Agriculture Victoria immediately on the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline 1800 675 888 or seek immediate veterinary assistance.

The hotline will connect the school with local Agriculture Victoria Animal Health and Welfare staff who will provide the school with further instructions.

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's website provides information on animal pests and diseases.

Concluding an approved teaching with animals activity

Completion report

At the conclusion of an activity or program that has been approved by the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC), schools must submit a completion report to the VSAEC within 30 days.

Teachers are required to provide details regarding animal use, any animal welfare issues that may have been encountered and the realised educational benefits for students.

For a copy of the annual report/completion report, schools can contact animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Rehoming requirements for animals used in teaching

Rehome plans must be considered from the start of the planning stage. At the end of their use in teaching, animals must be rehomed with the focus on 'a home for life'.

For further information, please see Animal Welfare Victoria’s rehoming guide (PDF).

Inspections, audits, non-compliance and complaints relating to teaching with animals

VSAEC inspections

The Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) has the authority to visit schools and inspect activity compliance, animal housing facilities, and monitoring and record keeping. This only applies to schools undertaking an activity that has been approved by the VSAEC.

Inspections are scheduled on a case-by-case basis and aim to assist schools to meet their animal welfare requirements. They involve a pre-inspection questionnaire followed by an inspection visit by suitably qualified members of the VSAEC. A report will be prepared and released to the school principal and any staff involved in the activity.

Inspection records include:

• the results of the pre-inspection questionnaire
• the names of those who visited the school
• a record of observations
• a list of any identified problems
• follow-up correspondence with the school and teachers regarding outcomes of the visit.

It is important that schools maintain their record keeping of animals as these documents are requested as part of any inspection. Refer to Monitoring and keeping records about animal health and welfare for more information.

Animal Welfare Victoria audits

Every 3 years Animal Welfare Victoria conducts audits of licences and assesses compliance by all parties involved in the use of animals in schools – the department, VSAEC, government/non-government schools and animal facilities and teachers.

Audits are an educational opportunity for schools, teachers, the VSAEC and auditors. The audit process can be used to evaluate and improve the facilities, procedures, and the delivery of approved projects.

For more information, refer to Animal Welfare Victoria – Audits.

Non-compliance with the Code

The department has procedures for addressing non-compliance with the Code in Victorian schools. The non-compliance events procedure promotes behaviours that create and support compliance and states that behaviours that compromise compliance will not be tolerated. Non-compliance with the Code includes:

• any breaches in the care and use of animals for educational purposes including lead teachers, animal carers, the VSAEC, governance officials, and external parties subject to agreements
• any breaches of relevant state legislation.

The department advises regulatory authorities of any breaches of the Code and maintains records of all reported breaches.

All non-compliance with the code must be lodged with the VSAEC Secretariat at animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Complaints

Complaints by schools about VSAEC decisions

If a school disagrees with a VSAEC decision, they can register a grievance, asking the VSAEC to provide reasons for the decision or review the decision.

A complaint by a school against any decision taken by the VSAEC can be lodged with the VSAEC Secretariat at animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Complaints about animal treatment in a school

Complaints about animal treatment in a school must be raised with the principal of the school in the first instance.

If a suitable solution is not identified, the complainant can then lodge a complaint with the Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee at: animalethics@education.vic.gov.au

Any concerns regarding the care, use or treatment of any animal on school property must be reported in writing.

In some cases it may be appropriate to report to one of the following:

• Agriculture Victoria
• RSPCA
• local government
• Victoria Police.

Refer to Agriculture Victoria – Report animal cruelty for more information.

Resources

Record keeping templates

• VSAEC application form (DOCX)
• VSAEC application form with examples (DOCX)

Local policy template for dogs at school

The School Policy Templates Portal has a school policy template on bringing dogs to school. It is not mandatory for schools to have a policy about dogs on school grounds but some schools may wish to have one to communicate with their community on the rules applicable in their school.

Refer to the School Policy Templates Portal: Dogs at School (staff login required).

Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare (Agriculture Victoria)

Victorian codes of practice set out recommended minimum standards and practices for the keeping of a wide range of species and animal related activities. These are available from the Agriculture Victoria website (Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare).

Wildlife in schools permit (Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action)

General school authorisation permits are available to government and Catholic schools. Independent schools must apply to obtain a free permit. Please refer to Wildlife in schools.

Using fish and aquatic species

• Aquatic Animal Welfare – Overarching Principles, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC)
• Aquarium industries – Fish Care website

Other resources from Animal Welfare Victoria

• About teaching with animals
• Animals in schools
• Animals in the classroom
• Preparing the classroom
• Classroom pets
• What type of pet?
• Teaching using animals