Committee

The Role of the Animal Ethics Committee

The primary role of the AEC is to ensure that all animal care and use is conducted in accordance with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for the Scientific Purposes - 7th Edition 2004 and incorporates the 3R principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement.

The AEC oversees and monitors the use of animals in teaching and research. The scope of the AEC includes:

Animal Ethics Committee approval is required before any animal can be obtained for research or teaching.

Who is on it?
There are at least 4 persons on an AEC, in the following categories:

A - Veterinary Surgeon
B - Researcher with experience using animals
C - Animal Welfare Advocate
D - Community Member with no related prior experience

The AEC at Murdoch University has two representatives in each category.

In addition to the above members, the AEC at Murdoch University also includes a Chairperson, who does not represent any particular category, a member who has advanced training in mathematics and statistics, and a researcher with experience utilising techniques where animals are not required.

Counsel is provided by people responsible for the routine care of animals (Animal House Manager and Animal Farm Manager) and the Research Ethics Office (Ethics Advisor and the Manager Research Ethics).

Established mechanisms and procedures of the committee are documented in its Operating Statement including the Terms of Reference.

The AEC has an Executive consisting of representatives from all categories. They are empowered to review responses to conditions, and provide guidance when urgent decisions are required. In exceptional circumstances, they can approve minor modifications to procedures. All decisions by the Executive are reviewed and ratified at the next meeting.

Click here for the AEC Meeting and Submission Deadline dates.

Decisions

Where possible, the AEC reaches decisions through consensus. The decisions are communicated through an emailed assessment letter and are as follows:

Approval:
Outright Approval -  The proposed use of animals is approved and work using animals may commence.
Subject to - The proposed use of animals is approved, and work using animals may commence. However, the committee has placed restrictions, requirements or clarifications on the approval which must be adhered to. You are required to respond in writing that you acknowledge and agree to adhere to the committee's request.

Modification:
Conditional -  The proposed use of animals is not approved and work using animals must not commence. However, the committee views the application favourably and it is probable that it will be approved provided further satisfactory information is provided. Guidance is provided in the assessment letter and the specific questions asked must be answered. The supplementary material will be assessed by a small panel or full committee, and may need to be discussed at the next AEC meeting.

Not Approved:
Not Approved (resubmit) -  The proposed use of animals is not approved. The committee invite you to resubmit an application to a future meeting. Guidance is provided in the assessment letter and it is recommended that attention is paid to the identified areas for improvement. The assessment of the re-submitted application will be by the full committee. Access to animals is denied.
Not Approved (no resubmit)- The proposed use of animals is not approved. Resubmission of the application will not change the outcome. Access to animals is denied.

Time frame

Meetings are held 11 times per year. In most, cases, formal notification of the AEC's decision will be received within 3 - 4 working days of the meeting. Allow 6 - 8 weeks for the approval process for all new applications. Assessment of your response to conditions will usually be provided within 2 - 8 working days of its receipt at the Research Ethics Office.