Narrator

In this video, we'll explore the Animal Research Act and its impact on schools. This legislation applies to all educational institutions where animals are used for teaching or research purposes, including public, independent, Catholic, metropolitan, rural, and remote schools.

This means not only schools with farms, but also those with fish in aquariums, support dogs for students and staff, chicken hatching programs, pet guinea pigs or native animals used for educational purposes. All these uses are protected under the Animal Research Act.

So according to the legislation, what exactly is an animal? The act defines animals as vertebrates organisms with a backbone. This excludes species like silkworms, stick insects, or earthworms. Like many pieces of legislation, the Animal Research Act is lengthy and detailed.

The Animals in School's website is an excellent resource designed to help you understand how the act applies to your school and its implications.

The Animal Research Act requires that all activities involving the care and use of animals in schools undergo ethical review, approval, and monitoring by an animal ethics committee.

The School's Animal Care and Ethics Committee, SACEC, serves this purpose for all schools. The committee's membership is carefully prescribed by legislation to ensure a balanced representation of experiences and opinions on animal use. It includes veterinarians, teachers, animal welfare representatives, and independent members.

This diverse expertise enables the SACEC to thoughtfully consider all perspectives regarding the ethical treatment and use of animals in educational settings.

Each year, the SACEC provides every school, with an animal research authority, this authority allows designated staff to use animals for educational purposes while following the guidelines outlined on the Animals in Schools website.

Every school is required to have an animal welfare liaison officer responsible for overseeing animal use and ensuring compliance with regulations. In primary schools, this role must be filled by the principal. In secondary schools, the principal can nominate another staff member to fill this role. The ultimate responsibility for the site, also known as the designated land, is the principal.

The principal must ensure that the appropriate care and resources are provided. For any animals kept by the school.

For more information on what's been covered in this video, please visit the Animals in School's website.

On screen in boxes: Compliance with the Animal Research Act. Complete the Animal Research Authority each year. Visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/animals-in-schools

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Narrator

In this video we'll explore what exactly your authority allows staff to do and when they need to seek extra approval. We'll also briefly review other legislation that schools must follow.

Schools receive an annual Animal Research Authority, allowing staff who sign it to conduct category one to three activities based on the potential for harm or stress and the required skill level.

For category four or five activities, teachers must seek approval from the SACEC. The Animals in School's website provides a complete list of activities by category and the necessary application forms.

Schools are required to maintain detailed records for the care and management of animals. These records must include information on the acquisition and disposal of animals, their identification or procedures and husbandry activities carried out details of chemical usage and any incidents of accidents, illnesses, or injuries, along with the responses and treatments administered.

Records can be stored electronically or as hard copies and must be accessible to all staff responsible for the animals. Though it's important for staff to remember that these records belong to the school, not to them personally.

Now let's briefly review other legislation schools must follow, such as the Biosecurity Act, Biodiversity and Conservation Act, and the Companion Animals Act.

The Biosecurity Act focuses on preventing and minimizing risks from pests, diseases, and weeds. Although the number of animals in schools is typically low, the associated risks can be significant. Schools with farms and livestock must create and implement a biosecurity plan. The Animals in School's website offers templates to assist staff in developing a suitable plan for their school.

The Biosecurity Act requires all properties with livestock to have a property identification code PIC, which is a unique identifier for the land. Livestock includes animals like sheep, cattle, goats, horses, donkeys, pigs, deer, bison, buffalo, alpacas, and groups of poultry, 100 or more or emus. Ostriches, 10 or more.

All sheep, cattle and goats must be tagged with their birth pick. Any movement of these animals between different picks must be recorded in the National Livestock Identification Scheme or NLIS database. Many schools may keep native animals such as bearded dragons, blue tongue lizards, children's pythons, longneck turtles, or green tree frogs under the scientific license held by the school sector in compliance with the Biodiversity and Conservation Act.

For any other native species, schools must seek SACEC approval for an individual scientific license. Regardless of the animal species at your school, staff must clearly define the educational purpose for having the animal. This purpose should be evident in the teaching and learning program or in the documentation for any extracurricular activities.

For more information on what's been covered in this video, please visit the Animals in Schools website.

On screen in boxes shows: All activities involving animals are categorised. Records must be kept. Schools must comply with all relevant legislation.

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Narrator

In this video, we'll briefly explore some of the most common issues and requests for advice when it comes to animals in schools.

Dogs:

The Companion Animals Act states that dogs are prohibited on school grounds unless permission has been granted by the principal. This means that the principal must give approval for the entry of any dog onto the site regardless of if it is a pet, a support dog, or a working dog. Many schools use dogs for emotional support for staff and students.

These are therapy or wellbeing dogs known as school support dogs, and they are not assistance dogs. They are trained to respond to people in their environment under the guidance of their handler.

School support dogs work with multiple individuals and are not formally accredited. The school support dog guidelines outline what schools must do if they choose to use a support dog.

Monitoring:

All animals must be monitored on weekends and holidays. With effective systems and facilities in place, this can be a straightforward check to ensure all animals are mobile and healthy.

However, if animals are nearing birth or if extreme weather conditions arise, increased monitoring is necessary for more details on monitoring expectations, visit the Animals in Schools website.

Incidents:

Unfortunately, serious incidents involving animals do occur. This could involve students or someone from the community and may relate to a school owned animal, an animal owned by a member of the community, or even one from the wild.

Whatever the circumstances, the principal is responsible for managing the situation. More information about how to navigate incidents involving animals can be found in the department's animal welfare policy and on the Animals in Schools website.

Complaints:

Schools may receive complaints about their use and management of animals from community members, staff, or students.

These complaints must be investigated and managed by the animal welfare coordinator who is working with the school. If a complaint is unfounded, the misunderstanding can be resolved.

However, if the complaint is justified, the school will receive support to address it. The animal welfare coordinator supports schools in complying with relevant legislation and oversees the work of the SACEC.

For assistance, you can reach out via the animal welfare inbox.

On screen in boxes shows: Schools must adhere to the School support dog guidelines. Animals must be monitored on weekends and holidays. Serious incidents involving animals must be recorded. Support is provided by the Animal Welfare Coordinator.

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