Categories of Activities
For Animal Use in Queensland Schools
Version 2, November 2012
Introduction
All Queensland schools have obligations under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (‘the Act’) and the
Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 7th edition, 2004 (‘the Code’).
Under the Code, an animal is defined as any live non-human vertebrate, that is, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds
and mammals, encompassing domestic animals, purpose-bred animals, livestock, wildlife, and cephalopods.
Animal use in Queensland schools has valuable applications in the curriculum and provides a rich learning
experience for students. This includes the opportunity to explore social concepts such as ethics and animal
welfare with students and the responsibility to demonstrate appropriate care and respect. First and foremost, all
schools must consider the 3Rs:
•
replacement of animals with other methods (alternatives)
•
reduction in numbers of animals used
•
refinement of techniques used, in order to reduce adverse impacts on animals.
These principles must be applied to all activities and should drive decision making in the classroom and within the
school. As a general principle, animals should not be used unless there are no suitable alternatives for achieving
the educational objectives.
Categories of Animal Use
The Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment, the Queensland Catholic Education
Commission and Independent Schools Queensland have worked together to establish consistent and quality
practices for the use of animals in Queensland schools and set clear boundaries regarding reporting, approval and
compliance.
A category system has been established based on the assessed
•
impact of the activity on the animal;
•
the complexity of the activity; and
•
a risk assessment of the presenting conditions.
This category system provides guidance to schools on the possible impact on the animal of the activity planned,
and the expectations and approval processes required of teachers and principals prior, during and after
undertaking an animal use activity, including the need to apply for ethical approval through the Queensland
Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC).
All schools using animals for educational purposes must be registered with the Department of Agriculture
Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) as a scientific user. Each school or governing body and will be given a registration
number, for example the registration number for Education Queensland is 102. The Act requires schools to keep a
register of all animals used and report this usage on an annual basis. Information on how this is managed in
Queensland schools is available on the Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC) website.
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Categories of Animal Use Activities in Queensland Schools
Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee
The Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC) is an independent animal ethics committee formed to
assist all Queensland schools meet the requirements of the ‘Act’ and the ‘Code’.
The QSAEC meets four times a year to consider applications for animal use in Queensland schools. All teaching
activities involving the use of animals must first be approved by the committee. The committee must be satisfied
that there is no suitable alternative, and that the number of animals involved and the impact on them, is
minimised.
Standard Operating Procedures
To support schools, the QSAEC has a list of pre-approved activities covering Category 2 and Category 3 activities
for specific animal types, detailed in a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). These activities have already been
considered and accepted by the committee as being ethically sound. SOPs are available for:
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Cattle and cattle husbandry
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Egg hatching
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Cane toads
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Horses and ponies
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Poultry
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Rats and mice
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Sheep and goats
Whilst teachers are able to carry out the approved activities outlined in the SOP without further QSAEC approval,
it is important that QSAEC be advised of who will be responsible for the use of animals in schools and how many
animals will be used.
QSAEC provides these pre-approved activities on the understanding that two conditions are met:
1. Schools using them must notify QSAEC of the teacher who will be responsible for the welfare of the animals
and the number of animals used, by completing the Activity Notification form found at the end of the SOP.
The school principal must also sign this form. Submission of this form will generate a QSAEC approval
number that will then be sent to the school and can be recorded on the schools’ animal use register.
2. The pre-approved activities must be followed as detailed and when the activity has concluded, an annual
completion report must be sent to QSAEC.
The SOPs are reviewed by the QSAEC at least every 3 years. All schools will be required to complete a new
Activity Notification form after the QSAEC has completed this review and a new version of the SOP approved for
use by schools.
QSAEC approval is required for all category 4 activities; schools must use the QSAEC General Application form to
seek approval for any category 4 activity prior to commencement.
Members of the QSAEC may visit schools undertaking approved animal use activities to inspect animal housing,
laboratory areas and record keeping.
NOTE: In accordance with the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes,
7th Edition the QSAEC will not approve any activities that involve:
(i)
surgical, invasive and other harmful procedures other than normal animal husbandry operations;
(ii)
induction of any infectious diseases or illness;
(iii)
production of nutritional deficiency giving rise to distress;
(iv)
exposure to stimuli that cause distress; and
(v)
administration of toxins, ionising radiation and other bio-hazardous materials.
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Categories of Animal Use Activities in Queensland Schools
Animal Activity Categories
Category 1: Very low impact
Minimal or no contact with animal(s), minimal or no disturbance to animal or animals that do not fall under the ‘Code’. May be
conducted by all students and teachers with due care for the welfare of the animal.
Activities
Approval and Reporting
No QSAEC approval required
 Observation:
Manage through regular schoolo animal behaviour
based planning processes
o pets under the owner's control
o animals in their natural surroundings or in zoos and other registered wildlife parks
o husbandry activities appropriate to the age, prior experience and maturity of the
students
o performance by outside agencies that have animals as part of their exhibits
 The appropriate care of classroom pets
 Collecting and observing frog spawn and tadpoles
 Activities involving:
o invertebrate animals (excluding cephalopods such as octopus or squid)
o Live prenatal or pre-hatched vertebrates (eg. mammalian or reptilian foetus or prehatched bird in the first half of gestation or development
o Animals or by-products of animals killed for purposes other than scientific or
educational ones (eg. an ox heart sourced from an abattoir)
Category 2: Low impact
Routine husbandry or animal care procedures, no invasive techniques, some disturbance to animals.
Must be conducted in accordance to a QSAEC Standard Operating Procedure. Students receive suitable instruction before
commencing the activity under appropriate supervision. The teacher/demonstrator has skills knowledge and training appropriate
to the activity. Activity is justified by the curriculum and educational outcomes are evident.
Activities
Approval and Reporting
SOP Activity Notification form signed
 Observation of particular animal behaviours, e.g. oestrus, parturition
by activity lead, approved by
 Grooming activities, those that involve general care and maintenance of animal health
Principal and sent to QSAEC.
and wellbeing
 Non-invasive measurement of:
Activity is recorded in school’s
o body weight
animal use register with QSAEC
o body condition by visual assessment or condition scoring
approval number
o growth
o body proportions
QSAEC annual activity completion
o pulse or blood flow
report required
o respiration
DAFF annual Animal Use Report
o skin temperature (non-invasive)
required
o age by dentition
o scrotum and testicles (palpation)
QSAEC adverse event report may be
 Familiarisation activities, including taming and gentling of poultry
required in instance of any adverse
 Collection of wool, milk, faeces or urine samples (non-invasive)
or unexpected events that impact on
 Administering water as a treatment
animal well being
 Loading and unloading
 Administering a topical treatment to the udder
 Coat care and grooming, washing, brushing, nail trimming
 Hand rearing of calves, lambs and kids
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Categories of Animal Use Activities in Queensland Schools
Category 3: Moderate impact
Husbandry or animal care procedures requiring skill, limited invasive techniques, animals may be restrained, techniques may
cause some stress to animals. Must be conducted in accordance to a QSAEC Standard Operating Procedure. Students receive
suitable instruction before commencing the activity under appropriate supervision. The teacher/demonstrator has skills
knowledge and training appropriate to the activity. Activity is justified by the curriculum and educational outcomes are evident.
Activities
Approval and Reporting
SOP Activity Notification form signed
 Mustering, drafting, capture, restraint and handling of non-free-living domesticated
by activity lead, approved by
animals
Principal and sent to QSAEC
 Breeding of mice or other appropriate animal in the classroom
 Rat and toad dissections
Activity is recorded in school’s
 Measurement of mild dietary effects (provided the normal nutritional needs for the life
animal use register with QSAEC
stage of the animals are met):
approval number
o high/normal protein
o high/normal energy
QSAEC annual activity completion
o high/normal fat
report required
o palatability
DAFF annual Animal Use Report
 Training for competition or showing and showing activities
required
 Collection of saliva
 Measurement of body temperature (invasive)
QSAEC adverse event report may be
 Administering topical treatment by backline, spray or dip, pour on treatments, sheep and
required in instance of any adverse
goats, cattle
or unexpected events that impact on
 Dipping and spraying poultry, sheep and goats
animal well being
 Drenching and administration of oral preparations ,horses
 Administering injections and implants
 Administering eye drops, creams and ointments
 Chicken hatching and observation and brooding: includes setting up an operation of
incubation equipment, selection and placement of fertile eggs
 Chicken raising
 Ear marking/tagging/ tattoo application of cattle, sheep and goats
 Handling and taming horses, cattle, sheep and goats
 Transport
 Branding of Cattle
 Nail trimming: Poultry
Category 4: High Impact
Husbandry or animal care procedures requiring skill, some invasive techniques, animals may be restrained, techniques may cause
some stress to animals. Activity is only conducted following QSAEC approval. Must be justified by curriculum or nationally
accredited VET Training Package requirement. Students are given specialised instruction and training leading to competency.
Specialised training or expert competency required by teacher or demonstrator.
Activities
Approval and Reporting
All activities not listed in categories 1-3, or for animal types not covered by an approved
QSAEC General Application Form
SOP. Please note that some animal husbandry activities cannot be taught in Queensland
submitted prior to the activity taking
schools because they constitute an act of veterinary science under the Veterinary Surgeons
place
Act 1963. These include:
Activity is recorded in school’s
 Artificial insemination of horses
animal use register with QSAEC
 Ultrasound pregnancy testing (or invasive examination of reproductive tract) in all species
approval number
 Teaching manual pregnancy testing techniques per rectum in cattle unless the
veterinarian is teaching the owner of the cattle
QSAEC annual activity completion
 Embryo transfer (surgical or where administration of restricted drugs is required as part
report required
of the process
DAFF annual Animal Use report
For animal types for which an SOP does not exist. E.g. Pigs, Alpacas or Aquaculture activities, required
schools can refer to the Species Specific Information on QSAEC website for information to
assist with the QSAEC general application.
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QSAEC adverse event report may be
required in instance of any adverse
or unexpected events that impact on
animal wellbeing
Categories of Animal Use Activities in Queensland Schools