Animal Welfare and Ethics

In undertaking the use of animals for scientific animals, James Cook University (JCU) abides by the animal research and teaching legislation in each jurisdiction as well as the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Code).

A requirement of the Code is that all activities involving animals for scientific purposes are subject to ethical review and oversight by an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) and carried out according to the Code’s governing principles where ‘respect for animals must underpin all decisions and actions involving care and use of animals for scientific purposes’ and where the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) are applied at all stages.

In order to ensure compliance with the Code, as required by the Code, JCU undertakes an external review of our operations that relate to the care and use of animals. For more information on this independent external review, and a summary of the findings of our latest review can be found on the independent external review page.

JCU also conducts an internal annual review of its operations and compliance with the Code, and reports back to the University based on this review.

If you have any questions about the care and use of animals at JCU, feel free to contact our Ethics Team.

Animal Ethics Committee Chair

Professor Lin Schwarzkopf
College of Science and Engineering
James Cook University
Email: ethics@jcu.edu.au
Phone: (07) 4781 5467

In August 2023, James Cook University became one of 32 Inaugural Signatories of the Australian Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching.

The purpose of this agreement is to assist Australian organisations that conduct, fund or are otherwise associated with the use of animals in research or teaching to promote openness and support well-informed public discussion.

As a signatory of the Agreement JCU makes the four following commitments:

1. We will be open about our involvement in the use of animals in research or teaching.
2. We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our use of animals in research or teaching.
3. We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research or teaching involving animals.
4. We will report annually on our efforts to improve openness in our use of animals in research or teaching.

The Australian Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia is a voluntary pledge that can be signed by organisations wishing to demonstrate their commitment to greater transparency in the use of animals for research or teaching.

The Openness Agreement was launched at the ANZCCART Conference on 10 August 2023 with 32 organisations acknowledged as Inaugural Signatories or Supporters.  An Openness agreement for New Zealand was launched by ANZCCART in 2021.

Concerns, complaints and feedback about the treatment of animals at JCU are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated with action taken if proven.

If you have an enquiry, concern or complaint about any of the following, you may contact the Animal Welfare Officer directly for confidential advice, discuss the concern or lodge a complaint.

• An animal being held on the property of the University or an external property or field work site.
• The activities or behaviour of a researcher, teacher or other staff member.
• The activities of a person or group that may affect or interfere with animal welfare, health or the progress of a research or teaching project.

All concerns and complaints will be followed up promptly and confidentially, although at times, there might be a need to identify the complainant for procedural fairness.

The Animal Welfare Officer and AEC follow the University’s investigation and complaint procedures to ensure all parties are heard and the matter is dealt with effectively. Anonymous complaints will also be investigated, however, the ability to investigate thoroughly may be affected by not being able to clarify certain facts with the original complainant.

If you receive a complaint about your work with animals, please refer it to the Research and Innovation Services Animal Welfare and Ethics team to ensure the complaint is dealt with and to prevent unnecessary escalation.