The VU Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) ensures all research projects and educational activities that use animals are conducted ethically. The primary responsibility of each committee member is to protect the welfare and quality of life of animals used in teaching and research.
The AEC meets regularly to review and monitor emerging ethical issues and ensure relevant scholarly and scientific standards are met.
The AEC is guided by its AEC Terms of Reference.
The primary responsibility of Victoria University's Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is to ensure that all care and use of animals is conducted in compliance with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th Edition 2013 (the Code) issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia and state legislation.
The AEC works to ensure that the use of animals is justified, provides for the welfare of those animals and incorporates the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (the 3R's). The AEC advises research and teaching staff and students at the University regarding standards for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. The AEC monitors the welfare of animals. The approved research and teaching activities are reported to both state and federal governments as required.
The University is issued with a Scientific Procedures Premises Licence by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions in Victoria and all work involving animal use at VU must comply with the conditions of this license.
The AEC must review and approve each application to use animals in research and/or teaching at VU, before the work commences.
The membership of the AEC is strictly regulated by the Code. Membership is made up of University staff and voluntary members of the general community. The Animal Facilities Manager is also a member of the Committee (Category E as recommended by the Code). The membership categories are as follows:
Animal Ethics Committee
Email: aeec@vu.edu.au
