Animals in Queensland state schools procedure

Audience

All state schools

Purpose

This procedure outlines legal obligations, responsibilities and processes for the responsible care, use and protection of animals in state schools.

Overview

Principals, staff and any other person in charge of an animal are obligated under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld) (the Act) and the Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2012 (Qld) to promote the responsible care and/or use of animals, and have a duty of care for those animals.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld), all reasonable and practical measures must be taken to prevent or minimise biosecurity risks, including those associated with animals. Schools that own or keep the threshold number of designated animals outlined in Chapter 7 of the Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld) must register as a biosecurity entity with Biosecurity Queensland.

Schools must also uphold the management principles of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) regarding the protection of native wildlife and habitats.

The use of animals for scientific (or educational) purposes is governed by the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, 8th edition 2013 (updated 2021) (the Code). The use must be essential to achieve stated learning outcomes and the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) must be applied at all stages of the animal use and care. The Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC) oversees the use of animals for scientific purposes in all Queensland schools and has established categories of animal use activities that align with the Code. Schools proposing the scientific use of animals under Category 2 or 3 must gain prior approval from QSAEC before conducting these activities and must report on their use.

There are also potential disease hazards and other occupational health and safety issues associated with the presence, care and use of animals. Risk management of animal-use activities ensures the health, safety and wellbeing of students, staff and others involved.

Where there are privately-owned livestock agisted on school property or school livestock agisted on non-school property, agreements must be developed in accordance with the Agistment of livestock procedure.

Responsibilities and processes associated with the presence of assistance and support animals on school grounds are detailed in the Assistance animals and support animals at school procedure.

Responsibilities

Principals

• Ensure appropriate resources (human, facilities, financial, training) are available to meet animal welfare and wellbeing needs.
• Ensure that ethical behaviour and respect for animals and their wellbeing underpins all decisions and actions associated with animal-use activities.
• Ensure there is pedagogical justification for the use of animals.
• Establish school animal-management processes that align with the requirements of this procedure to safeguard and monitor animal welfare and wellbeing of animals on school grounds or animals used by the school on private property.
• Ensure all relevant persons are aware of, and meet, their obligations under legislation (animal care and protection, biosecurity, management of wildlife, native animal permits and licences, use of animals for scientific purposes).
• Ensure staff and volunteers are aware of their obligations under the Student protection procedure and meet the requirements of the Working with children authority procedure. 
• Ensure that staff using animals have relevant knowledge, skills and/or experience and/or are supervised by suitably qualified mentors.
• Manage health, safety and wellbeing (DoE employees only) and curriculum activity risks associated with animal use.
• Ensure that a school-based animal activity register is maintained for audit purposes.
• Ensure the purchase of animals complies with relevant departmental finance and asset management policies and procedures. 
• Ensure staff who may obtain any direct or indirect benefit (financial or otherwise) from the supply, use or disposal of animals adhere to the Conflict of interest policy and procedure and seek prior approval from the Assistant Director-General, Human Resources (ADG HR) regarding any interests or arrangements involving contracting back to the department(DoE employees only).
• Cooperate fully with audits of compliance with this procedure, the Act and the Code which may be undertaken by QSAEC members, the Department of Education (the department), external reviewers contracted by the department, or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

Staff

• Ensure that ethical behaviour and respect for animals and their wellbeing underpin all decisions and actions associated with animal-use activities.
• Comply with relevant legislation, departmental procedures and school processes relating to an animal-use activity, including those for finance and asset management.
• Adhere to the Conflict of interest policy and procedureand seek prior approval from the ADG HR regarding any interests or arrangements involving contracting back to the department(DoE employees only) if they are likely to obtain any direct or indirect benefit (financial or otherwise) from the supply, use or disposal of animals.
• Apply the 3Rs (replacement, reduction and refinement) when proposing the use of animals and animal parts.
• Provide pedagogical justification for the use of animals.
• Ensure that the use of animals (living or dead) and animal parts is open, responsible, respectful and accountable.
• Ensure health, safety and wellbeing (DoE employees only) and curriculum activity risks associated with animal-use activities are identified and appropriate controls implemented.
• Ensure that students and others involved in animal use have relevant knowledge, skills and/or experience and/or are supervised by suitably qualified mentors.
• Ensure that all students can access and fully participate in the animal-use activities alongside their peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs.
• Ensure that practices and procedures involving animals are based on current best practice, and adhere to the relevant Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) if applicable.
• Cooperate fully with audits of compliance with this procedure, the Act and the Code which may be undertaken by a QSAEC member(s), the department, external reviewers contracted by the department, or DAF.

Activity leaders (staff nominated as responsible for QSAEC-approved animal-use activities)

• Follow all responsibilities as listed above for staff and:
  • Lead decision-making processes for QSAEC approval.
  • Ensure all QSAEC reporting and recordkeeping requirements are met.

Queensland Schools Animals Ethics Committee (QSAEC)

• Oversee activities where animals are used for scientific purposes in Queensland schools to assist schools to meet their legal obligations under the Act and the Code.
• Approve guidelines, including Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for the care and scientific use of animals in schools.
• Monitor QSAEC-approved animal-use activities to ensure compliance with QSAEC approval.
• Take appropriate actions regarding unexpected adverse events, complaints and non-compliance.

Process

For all animals

Use the Categories of animal use activities to determine whether approval is required from QSAEC for the proposed animal use. The process for Categories 1, 2 and 3 activities are outlined below and in the flowchart Process for animal-use activities in schools, noting QSAEC will not provide approval for Category 4 activities. 

When QSAEC approval is NOT required (i.e. Category 1 activities)

• Principals ensure appropriate resources (human, facilities, financial, training) are available to meet animal welfare and wellbeing needs.
• Principals ensure all aspects of animal-use activities are justified, ethical and respectful of animals.
• Staff ensure relevant permits and licences are current.
• Staff implement controls to address workplace health and safety (DoE employees only) and curriculum activity risks associated with animal-use activities, taking into account:
  • zoonoses associated with the specific animal species
  • infection controls and animal contact guidelines to reduce risks to human health
  • facility and equipment checks
  • storage of medicines and chemicals
  • supervision and monitoring (both in and out of school hours)
  • emergency planning to address staff/student/animal illness, injury or distress
  • disposal of animal waste
  • disposal of carcasses in accordance with local council regulations.
• Staff allocate appropriate resources to ensure animal welfare needs – appropriate to the species, environment and circumstances – can be met. Refer to Animal information for a range of animal husbandry and care topics.
• Staff ensure animals have:
  • ready access to fresh water and an appropriate diet
  • a suitable environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area, whether outdoors or indoors, and security from predators
  • sufficient space, proper facilities and the company of the animal’s own kind (as appropriate) that support the animal to display normal patterns of behaviour
  • ongoing supervision and monitoring to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury
  • appropriate handling and conditions that minimise harm, including pain and distress (e.g. anxiety, boredom).
• Staff monitor ongoing compliance with relevant departmental policies and procedures, including financial processes, asset management, procurement, revenue, gifts and benefits, donations, advertising, sponsorship and appropriate and ethical use of public resources.
• Staff declare and manage any conflicts of interest in accordance with the Conflict of interest policy and procedure and seek prior approval from the ADG HR regarding any interests or arrangements involving contracting back to the department (DoE employees only), if the staff member is likely to obtain any direct or indirect benefit (financial or otherwise) from the supply, use or disposal of an animal.
• Staff provide students who raise genuine ethical, religious or cultural concerns and objections to an animal-use activity with an alternate activity that is to a comparable standard as the animal-use activity.

When QSAEC approval is required before the activity can occur (i.e. Category 2 and 3 activities)

Application process

• Principals determine who will be the activity leader for a proposed animal-use activity.
• Activity leaders follow steps 1-5 of the Animal ethics approval process to:
  • determine whether the proposed curriculum outcomes can be achieved without animal use
  • minimise the number of animals required to achieve the curriculum outcomes
  • refine techniques in the proposed activity to reduce the impact on animals
  • provide, in curriculum planning, pedagogical justification for the animal use
  • complete a QSAEC application for approval to conduct the activity.
• In consultation with the activity leader, principals approve submission of the QSAEC application provided that:
  • all aspects of the proposed animal-use activity are pedagogically justified, ethical and demonstrate the governing principles of the Code
  • staff have relevant knowledge, skills and/or experience to deliver the activity, meeting duty of care obligations
  • if privately-owned animals are to be used, ensure written consent is obtained from the owner for the use of their privately-owned animals including details and duration of the owner's responsibility
  • ADG HR approval regarding any interests or arrangements involving contracting back to the department (DoE employees only) has been received where staff are likely to obtain any direct or indirect benefit (financial or otherwise) from the supply, use or disposal of animals
  • appropriate resources (human, facilities, financial, training) are available to meet animal welfare and wellbeing needs.
• Activity leaders submit application to QSAEC and file application in the school-based animal activity register.
• Activity leaders file the QSAEC decision, once received, in the school-based animal activity register.

Conducting a QSAEC-approved animal-use activity

• Activity leaders inform relevant staff of the conditions of the approval (e.g. husbandry requirements, activities permitted as per application, reporting requirements), adherence to any relevant SOP if applicable and of staff responsibilities under the Responsibilities of school personnel under the Code.
• Activity leaders ensure staff are suitably qualified and relevant permits and licences are current.
• Activity leaders seek approval from QSAEC for all modifications to the conditions of an approved activity, before implementing those modifications.
• Staff implement controls to address workplace health and safety (DoE employees only) and curriculum activity risks associated with animal-use activities, taking into account:
  • zoonoses associated with the specific animal species
  • infection controls and animal contact guidelines to reduce risks to human health
  • facility and equipment checks
  • storage of medicines and chemicals
  • supervision and monitoring (both in and out of school hours)
  • emergency planning to address staff/student/animal illness, injury or distress
  • disposal of animal waste
  • disposal of carcasses in accordance with local council regulations.
• Staff allocate appropriate resources to ensure animal welfare needs – appropriate to the species, environment and circumstances – can be met. Refer to Animal information for a range of animal husbandry and care topics.
• Staff ensure animals have:
  • ready access to fresh water and an appropriate diet
  • a suitable environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area, whether outdoors or indoors, and security from predators
  • sufficient space, proper facilities and the company of the animal’s own kind (as appropriate) that support the animal to display normal patterns of behaviour
  • ongoing supervision and monitoring to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment of disease or injury
  • appropriate handling and conditions that minimise harm, including pain and distress (e.g. anxiety, boredom).
• Staff ensure that general biosecurity obligations, registrable biosecurity entityand livestock identification requirements are satisfied as relevant.
• Principals ensure that agreements in accordance with the Agistment of livestock procedure are in place, if relevant.
• Staff monitor ongoing compliance with relevant departmental policies and procedures, including financial processes, asset management, procurement, revenue, gifts and benefits, donations, conflict of interest, advertising, sponsorship and appropriate and ethical use of public resources.
• Staff ensure that, at all times during animal-use activities, students are supervised by a person competent in the activity and who takes into account the competencies and responsibilities of each student, ensuring all students can access and fully participate in animal-use activities alongside their peers, supported by reasonable adjustments and teaching strategies tailored to meet their individual needs.
• Should an event occur that has, or has the potential for, a negative impact on animal welfare, activity leaders:
  • take prompt action to alleviate animal pain and distress and to prevent a recurrence of the adverse event
  • submit an Unexpected adverse event report to QSAEC (via the principal) within 7 days of the event.
• Should a complaint relating to an animal-use activity be received, activity leaders:
  • investigate and take prompt corrective action as necessary
  • submit an Animal use complaint report to QSAEC (via the principal) within 7 days of receipt of the complaint.
• Activity leaders submit annual Activity completion reports for all approved activities in Term 4 each year and/or at the termination of an approved application.
• Activity leaders maintain the school-based animal activity register retaining all records for a minimum of 7 years after all related use of animals is complete and as set out in the Information asset and recordkeeping procedure.
• Staff provide students who raise genuine ethical, religious or cultural concerns and objections to an animal-use activity with an alternate activity that is to a comparable standard as the animal-use activity.

Review of QSAEC-approved animal-use activity

• QSAEC member(s), the department, external reviewers contracted by the department, or DAF can conduct audits of compliance with this procedure, the Act and the Code including:
  • site inspections of schools conducting QSAEC-approved animal-use activities to ensure the general welfare of the animal(s) is considered and that the animal-use activities are being conducted in accordance with QSAEC approval
  • independent external review of compliance with the Code as required by DAF for the department's continued registration as a scientific user.
• If non-compliance is identified, QSAEC will recommend remedial action/s to the principal.  

For wildlife

• Staff contact the Infrastructure Advisor in the department’s regional office if advice is required on any wildlife issues affecting school operations.
• Staff develop processes to respond appropriately to any wildlife incident, seeking guidance as deemed necessary from the local council, RSPCA Queensland or the Department of Environment and Science (DES).
• Staff report:
  • wildlife emergencies relating to cassowaries and crocodiles, and incidents where a person has come into contact with bats to DES
  • all other wildlife emergencies (e.g. sick, injured or orphaned animals) to RSPCA Queensland.
• Staff ensure that relevant permits or licences are current before taking, keeping, using or moving wildlife as required by Queensland’s native wildlife licensing system. Note: An Educational Purposes Permit is also required for keeping native wildlife in a classroom for educational purposes.
• If wildlife are being used in the classroom, refer to information under the "For all animals" section to determine if QSAEC approval is required.

Definitions

Legislation

• Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld)
• Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2012 (Qld)
• Biosecurity Act 2014 (Qld) Chapters 2 and 7
• Biosecurity Regulation 2016 (Qld)  
• Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld) Section 89
• Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld)

Delegations/Authorisations

• Nil

Other resources

• Animal contact guidelines – reducing the risk to human health 2014 (Department of Health)
• Activity completion report (QSAEC)
• Animal ethics approval process (QSAEC)
• Animal welfare and ethics (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries)
• Animal use complaint report (QSAEC)
• Animals in education 
• Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching 
• Categories of animal use (QSAEC)
• Contracting back to the department (DoE employees only)
• Health, safety and wellbeing (DoE employees only)
• Modification, SOP variation or amendment form (QSAEC)
• National Livestock Identification System 
• Permits, licences and authorities  
• Preventing zoonoses  
• Registerable Biosecurity Entity 
• Responsibilities of School Personnel under the Code (QSAEC)
• RSPCA Queensland 
• School-based animal activity register (QSAEC)
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) (QSAEC)
• Queensland Schools Animal Ethics Committee (QSAEC)
• Unexpected adverse event report (QSAEC)
• Using animals in science

Related policies

• Assets policy
• Animal welfare codes of practice
• Appropriate and ethical use of public resources policy
• Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, 8th edition 2013 (updated 2021)
• Conflict of interest policy
• Inclusive education policy
• Revenue policy

Related procedures

• Advertising procedure
• Assistance animals and support animals at school procedure 
• Agistment of livestock procedure  
• Conflict of interest procedure
• Donations and bequests procedure
• Gifts and benefits procedure
• Infection control procedure  
• Information asset and recordkeeping procedure
• Managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure
• Purchasing and procurement procedure
• Sponsorship procedure  
• Student protection
• Working with children authority

Superseded versions

Previous seven years shown. Minor version updates not included.

5.0 Animals in Queensland state schools