Animal Ethics Committee (constitution)

Role

1.(1) The committee is responsible to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) for—

(a) monitoring the acquisition, transport, production, housing, care, use and disposal of animals;

(b) recommending any measures needed to ensure that the standards of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes are maintained;

(c) examining written proposals relevant to the use of animals in scientific and teaching activities and either approve, approving subject to modification or rejecting such proposals provided that the committee approves only those studies for which animals are essential and which conform to the requirements of the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, taking into consideration ethical and welfare aspects as well as scientific and educational value;

(d) examining and commenting on all institutional plans and policies which may affect animal welfare;

(e) ensuring that a register of approved proposals is maintained; and

(f) performing all other duties required by the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

(2) The committee has the power to withdraw approval for any project or authorise the treatment or humane killing of any animal.

Membership

2.(1) The Animal Ethics Committee comprises:

(a) the following members appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation):

(i) three University staff members with substantial recent experience in the use of animals for scientific purposes, selected to provide a range of expertise from across the spectrum of animal experimentation activities;

(ii) an established scholar from the humanities, preferably with a background in ethics;

(iii) a person with qualifications in veterinary science, with experience relevant to the activities of the University, or in special circumstances, a person with qualifications and experience to provide comparable expertise;

(iv) two people with demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals, who are not employed by the University, and who are not involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes;

(v) two independent persons who do not currently and have not previously conducted experiments using animals, and who preferably are not employed by the University;

(b) a member of the University Senate, appointed by the Senate;

(c) a nominee of the Chief Executive Officer of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, preferably with experience in the use of animals for scientific purposes;

(d) up to two additional members co-opted by the foregoing in such a way that the composition of the committee complies with the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.

Period of Office

(2) The term of office of appointed members is normally three years, but members may be reappointed at the end of that period.

(3) Co-opted members may be appointed for up to two years at a time, and may be reappointed at the end of that period.

(4) The Chair is appointed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation).

(5) The Animal Welfare Officer and the Manager of Animal Facilities attend meetings of the committee as observers.