Terms of Reference

• Monitor the acquisition, transport, production, housing, care, use and disposal of animals in schools and colleges.
• Recommend to the Department any measures needed to ensure compliance with the Act and maintenance of the standards of the Code and the Animal Welfare Act (2002).
• Examine and approve, subject to modification, or reject all written proposals relevant to the use of animals for teaching activities. Also to approve only those studies for which animals are essential and which conform to Code and Act, taking into consideration ethical and welfare aspects as well as educational value.
• Formally withdraw approval for any project or authorise the treatment or humane killing of any animal.
• Examine and comment on all institutional plans and policies which may affect animal welfare.*
• Maintain a register of approved projects.
• Reports any breaches of the legislation to the appropriate licence holder for action.
• Develop and disseminate information on animal welfare that ensures all sites listed on each licence are in compliance with legislation and encapsulates the principles of the Code: replacement, reduction and refinement.
• Provide a formal annual report on the use of animals in schools.
• Perform all other duties required by the Code.
• Serve as the Animal Ethics Committee for the Catholic Education Office and the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia, undertaking the same role with respect to these two sectors as it does with the Department.