Teaching with Animals

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.