Animal Use Policy

1. Purpose

This policy provides information on the ethical use and care of animals at the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT).

CIT follow and adhere to the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals (Code), as well as the Animal Welfare Act 1992.

All activities involving the care and use of animals at CIT supports and safeguards animal wellbeing.  Any animal whilst in the care of CIT is handled with fear free/low stress handling techniques and are treated in an ethical, humane, and responsible way. CIT continually review the effectiveness of strategies and monitoring of animals (Code, Clause 3.1.1)

2. Scope

This policy applies to all CIT employees, students, and the public.

3. Principles

3.1 All CIT animal use activity is governed by the CIT Animal Ethics Committee (AEC), whose primary responsibility is to ensure that all activities relating to the care and use of animals is conducted in compliance with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (hereafter referred to as the "Code"). (Code, Clause 2.3.1) and the Animal Welfare Act 1992 The committee considers the estimated value of the knowledge to be gained, and justification for any project using animals is ethical, as well as all animal welfare aspects of all work.

3.2 Teachers, animal carers and students who are involved with the use and care of animals at CIT must comply with the relevant legislation and codes of practice. When planning to use animals for teaching purposes, CIT staff, in consultation with the ethics committee must consider any welfare and ethical issues involved, provide evidence to demonstrate educational merit and always justify when the use of animals is necessary. No procedure will be undertaken without approval from CIT’s AEC. (Code, Clause 2.4.8).

3.3 Licencing

3.3.1 The use of animals for teaching purposes and the operation of the CIT Dog Day Care (CIT DDC) business both require CIT to maintain and hold the following licences and registrations, as mandated by the ACT Government

• Animal Use Research Licence – Animal Welfare Act 1992, Section 3A.2
• Veterinary Premises Registration – Veterinary Practice Act 2018 | Acts, Section 71
• Pet Business Licence – Animal Welfare Act 1992, Section 24F

3.3.2 The CIT Science HoD on behalf of the Director of CIT Health, Community and Science College will be responsible for maintaining all relevant licences. The lapse of any of these licences will result in the immediate suspension of all animal related activities.

3.4 RESPONSIBILTIES

Section 2 - Responsibilities (Code)

3.4.1 CIT Science HoD will ensure that all staff members and CIT Students involved in the care and use of animals understand their responsibilities and the requirements of the aforementioned Code and binding requirements. Both staff and students will demonstrate competence in performance of procedures and will complete relevant and appropriate education and training. (Code, Clause 2.1.8).

3.5 Controls

3.5.1 CIT Science HoD is responsible for all documentation, in consultation with the AEC:

• Unexpected adverse events and emergencies: these are actioned promptly, including those that require welfare interventions such as the emergency treatment or humane killing of any animal. Timeframes for any actions are reported to the AEC. (Code, Clause 2.1.5 v d)
• “Standard Operating Procedures” (SOP’s): relating to the care and use of animals (Code, Clause 2.2.33)
• Applications to commence a project or activity that addresses the governing principles, including reviewal and amendments. (Code, Clause 2.7)
• Reviewal of annual progress. (Code, Clause 2.2.37)
• Monitoring and assessment: to ensure that any harm, including pain and distress, is promptly detected, and managed (Code, Clause 2.1.5 ii)

3.5.2 In addition, CIT follows the guiding principles for the humane use of animals in scientific research known as the 3Rs at all stages of animal care and use: (Code, Clause 1.1 v)

• Replacement: of animals with other methods.
• Reduction: in the number of animals used.
• Refinement: of techniques used to minimise the adverse impact on animals.

3.6 Approval

3.6.1 Prior to the use and care of any animal, personnel must submit a proposal to the CIT AEC and have received formal approval.

3.7 Compliance

Section 5 - Complaints and non-compliance (Code)

3.7.1 Institutions must have procedures for dealing with complaints and non-compliance with the code, complaints related to the AEC process, and irreconcilable differences between the AEC and an investigator.

3.7.2 Complaints

Complaints in the first instance should be made to the Head of Department (HoD) by emailing citscience@cit.edu.au. Complaints may be raised by any person, group, including investigators, animal carers, animal ethics committees (AEC’s) AEC members, students, employees of CIT and members of the public.

3.7.3 Non-Compliance

Non-compliance should be reported using the same procedure as filing a complaint, with the initial step being to send an email to the HoD.

3.8 Conscientious Objection to the Use of Animals (Code, clause 2.1.5 (iv))

• CIT recognises that students may have a conscientious objection to the use of animals in teaching and assessment that conflicts with their ethical, cultural convictions or religious beliefs.
• Teachers will provide detailed information in subject guidelines and include any use of animals and highlight any procedures for all learning activities and assessment.
• Teachers will give students opportunities to discuss any ethical and social issues involved for their classes, as well as any legal responsibilities.
• Students are responsible for making themselves aware of any course/subjects they enrol into and identify any instances before the start of any subject where they may have a conscientious objection. Conscientious objections cannot be raised after an activity has been completed.
• Not all learning activities and assessment can have an alternative learning or assessment arrangement and may be essential to learning outcomes. In these cases, the student will be encouraged to consult with CIT Student Support regarding their career and study choices.
• Students must raise any objections with their teachers at the earliest opportunity and will be required to provide a written statement with supporting documentation. The teacher will review all documentation with CIT's Animal Welfare Officer to determine a course of action.
• CIT will endeavour to provide the student an alternative learning activity/assessment. Alternative arrangements must meet the same subject learning outcomes and not disadvantage any students. If there is not a suitable alternative arrangement available and the student decides to remain enrolled in the subject/course, they will be required to participate in all activities.
• Any conscientious objection must be a genuinely held belief founded on a serious and deeply held moral conviction, whether part of a religious doctrine or creed. Not every objection will constitute sufficient reason and although believed to be genuinely held, may be an opinion or viewpoint.

5. Definitions

All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the CIT Definitions of Terms.

Activity

Any action or group of actions undertaken that involves the care and use of animals, including acquisition, transport, breeding, housing, and husbandry.

Animal

Any live non-human vertebrate (that is, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals encompassing domestic animals and wildlife)

Animal Carer

Any person involved in the care of animals that are used for educational purposes, including during any animal acquisition, transport, housing, and husbandry.

Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)

A committee constituted in accordance with the terms of reference and membership laid down by Code.

Code

Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Application

A request for approval from an animal ethics committee to carry out a project or activity. An application may be for commencement of a project or activity, or an amendment to an approved project or activity

Monitoring

Measures undertaken to assess, or to ensure the assessment of, the wellbeing of animals in accordance with code. Monitoring occurs at different levels (including those of investigators, animal carers and animal ethics committees.)

Unexpected adverse event

An event that may have a negative impact on the wellbeing of animals and was not foreshadowed in the approved project or activity. An unexpected adverse event may result from different causes, including but not limited to:

• death of an animal, or group of animals, that was not expected (e.g., during surgery or anaesthesia, or after a procedure or treatment)
• adverse effects following a procedure or treatment that were not expected
• adverse effects in a larger number of animals than predicted during the planning of the project or activity, based on the number of animals used, not the number approved for the study
• a greater level of pain or distress than was predicted during the planning of the project or activity
• power failures, inclement weather, emergency situations or other factors external to the project or activity that have a negative impact on the welfare of the animals.

6. Policy Contact Officer

Project Officer, CIT Science.

Contact CIT Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.

7. Procedures

This policy is implemented through associated Standard Operating Procedures. This policy is associated with the CIT Animal Complaints Procedure. Authority to make changes to the procedures rests with the policy owner.