Please find below UPDATED forms for 2012 which should be download for use for: 

• Application Form for Categories 4 & 5 Activities or Non Listed Activities; and
• Request for Approval to use Animals for Dissections and/or Specific Experiments in Schools

Also, please download the two PDF files for inclusion in your Standard Operating Procedure Manual.  These documents replace Appendix 3 & 4 in your manual.

The new procedures for keeping animals in schools were launched at our seminar on 18 November 2010 which was attended by approximately 50 schools across the Independent and Catholic sectors.

The new procedures, which are the result of a combined effort between the DECS AEC and the NGS AEC, were well received. These will be a continual work in progress and input from schools is welcomed by our committee. Any feedback or suggestions, changes to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or new SOPs can be tabled for consideration by our committee.

The intent is to keep the SOPs across all three sectors the same. Updates will filter through to schools on a regular basis with updates available on our website as soon as approved.

Schools will receive a package containing either 1, 2 or 3 copies of the new Procedures Manual early in December. The number allocated per school has been based on the year levels at the school and whether an Agricultural Program is taught.

Suggested allocation within the school for manuals is as follows:

• Primary only schools – 1 copy only - suggest that the manual is kept either by the Principal or Animal Ethics Focus person 
• Secondary only schools – 1 copy only - Head of Science (or similar) or Animal Ethics Focus person 
• Combined schools – 2 copies – Head of Primary School or Animal Ethics Focus Person for primary and Head of Science (or similar) or Animal Ethics Focus person for secondary.

Where schools have an Agricultural program an additional copy has been sent for the use of the Head of Agricultural Studies (or similar).

Also included in the package are the Statistical Forms for 2010 and the new application form to keep Category 4 & 5 animals in 2011.

The NGSAEC Procedures Manual for animals kept in schools provides schools with the guidelines to seek approval to keep animals in schools. The new approval process will be as follows:

• Category 1: no approval required.
• Category 2: can be approved by the Principal / Director or delegated Animal Ethics Focus Person or teacher provided that the Standard Operating Procedure for the care of the animal as per the guidelines is followed.
• Category 3: approval is required by the Principal / Director provided that the Standard Operating Procedure for the care of the animal as per the guidelines is followed. 
• Categories 4 -5: requires approval by the Animal Ethics Committee.

The 4 documents relating to the keeping of animals in schools that will be included with the package are: 

1. STATISITCAL RETURN FOR ANIMALS USED FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING PURPOSES DURING 2010
   Statistical returns must be submitted on an annual basis to enable the Committee to meet its reporting obligations.  
   
   Statistical returns must include all animals kept at the school during the period 1 January 2010 to 31 Decebmer 2010 for Category 2, 3, 4 & 5.  
   
   Statistical returns must be submitted to the committee by return mail or facsimile no later than 25 February 2011 to the NGS Animal Ethics Comittee, AISSA 301 Unley Road, MALVERN SA 5061
    
2. APPLICATION FOR CATEGORIES 4 AND 5 ACTIVITIES OR NON LISTED ACTIVITIES 
   The form attached must be completed for applications for animals to kept at schools that fall into Category 4 or 5 or Non Listed Activities for 2011. The form should be returned to the Committee by 25 February 2011 to NGS Animal Ethics Committee, Catholic Education Office, 116 George Street, THEBARTON SA 5031. 
   
   Where Category 2 or 3 activities are performed in conjunction with Category 4 or 5 activities these activities must be included on page 5 of the application. 
   
   Where an activity is NOT LISTED in the procedure manual this application form must be completed and sent to the AEC for approval. 
   
   Animals kept at schools that fall into Category 2 or 3 must be approved, as per the manual, by the Principal or delegated officer. These animals must be cared for as described the SOP contained in the manual. If an animal is not cared for in line with the SOP a full application to the AEC must be made.
3. REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO USE ANIMALS FOR DISSECTIONS AND/OR SPECIFIC EXPERIMENTS IN SCHOOLS
   This form is to be completed where schools are performing dissections and must be submitted to the AEC for approval. These forms should be sent to NGS Animal Ethics Committee, Catholic Education Office, 116 George Street, THEBARTON SA 5031 prior to any dissections taking place.
    
4. ADVERSE EVENTS 
   Where an animal becomes ill, injured, dies or other unexpected incident directly affecting the health and well being of an animal this MUST be reported to the AEC at the schools earliest convenience. These forms should be sent to NGS Animal Ethics Committee, Catholic Education Office, 116 George Street, THEBARTON SA 5031.

Addtional forms and Standard Operating Procedures are available below.

We trust that the new procedures will simplify the approval process for having animals in schools.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact:

• Coleen Roddam, Executive Officer, Non Government Schools Animal Ethics Committee 2011 on 8301 6830.

Applications to keep Animals in Schools for 2011 must be completed and sent to:

Executive Officer,
Non Government Schools Animal Ethics Committee, 
Catholic Education Office
116 George Street
THEBARTON  SA  5031

The application form can be saved to your computer and completed on line and then emailed to the address below if you prefer.

Coleen.Roddam@ceo.adl.catholic.edu.au

These must be received by the 24 February 2012 for consideration by the committee. 

APPLICATIONS FOR CATEGORY 4 AND 5 ANIMALS & NON LISTED ACTIVITIES

Please note that only applications for Category 4 and 5 or Non Listed Activities need to be submitted to the AEC.  If any Category 2 or 3 activities are being performed in conjunction with a Category 4 or 5 activity they must also be reported on page 5 of the application form.  Please refer to the Standard Operating Procedures for more detailed information.  Download the application form below.

APPLICATIONS FOR CATEGORY 2 and 3 ANIMALS

Applications for Category 2 & 3 activities require approval of the School Principal.  These animals still need to be included on the Statistical Return at the end of each year.  Please refer to the Standard Operating Procedures for more detailed information.

DISSECTION OF ANIMALS

All requests for approval to dissect animals must be submitted on the form below prior to the activity being carried out.  To download the Dissection of Animals in Schools manual CLICK HERE.

It is not a guide on how to perform dissections, rather it is a guide for teachers involved in making decisions about dissections of animals in schools.

This document has been used with the permission of DECS.

ADVERSE EVENTS

If an animal/s become ill or dies in unusual and unexpected circumstances or if there is an unexpected incident (e.g. the animal is lost, injured or stolen) the Adverse Events Form (copy below) must be completed and sent to the AEC as notification.