Animal Welfare Information Resources & Websites

ANZCCART-Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research & Teaching

The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching Ltd (ANZCCART) was established in 1987 in response to particular concerns in both the wider and scientific communities about the use of animals in research and teaching. It also recognised the need to address, in a balanced and considered way, the distinctive scientific, ethical, and social issues associated with the use of animals for scientific purposes. ANZCCART's objectives are to promote:

• excellence in the care of animals supplied for or used in research and teaching;
• responsible scientific use of animals;
• the 3Rs policy of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement as they apply to the use of animals for scientific purposes;
• informed discussion and debate within the community regarding these matters; and
• strategic partnerships to contribute to the education and training of scientists, students and the broader community.

Please visit the ANZCCART Website for further information and News

Animal Research Review Panel and the Animal Welfare Unit of NSW Agriculture. The Animal Ethics Infolink has excellent information on animal use in New South Wales as well as links to national and international resources.

The Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes and related Animal Ethics Guidelines are available from the NHMRC Website.

CSIRO Publishing website provides free downloadable pdf versions of the Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals. These Model Animal Welfare Codes for livestock species include cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. They have been prepared under the auspices of the Australian Government Primary Industries Ministerial Council, Primary Industries Standing Committee.

The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide, and the Binational OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis (Asia, the Far East and Oceania) includes participation from the following institutions The Animal Welfare Science Centre of the University of Melbourne, the Department of Primary Industries (Victoria) and The Ohio State University (USA). The Centre was established to focus and coordinate research and academic resources of the collaborating organisations, providing the animal industries, animal users, farming communities, Government and the academic and general community with an internationally competitive research, training and teaching resource in animal welfare science.

The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide, and the Binational OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis (Asia, the Far East and Oceania) includes participation from the following institution. The Centre for Animal Welfare & Ethics of the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science. It is presently aiming to increase welfare for animals kept for companionship, and animals used in both intensive and extensive animal industries. The CAWE is also involved in suggesting refinement techniques for handling livestock and are working to increase the welfare of animals housed for conservational purposes and research.

The OIE is the intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide, and the Binational OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Welfare Science and Bioethical Analysis (Asia, the Far East and Oceania) includes participation from the following institution. Animal Welfare Science and Bioethics Centre of Massey University, New Zealand, for practical, science-based and ethical advice, education and solutions to animal welfare problems and for bioethical analysis and education.

Australia's state and territory governments have primary responsibility for animal welfare and laws to prevent cruelty and promote animal welfare. The Australian (Federal) Government is responsible for trade and international agreements relating to animal welfare, and coordinates the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy and National Implementation Plan : 'The strategy is aimed at the entire Australian community and all uses of animals.'

Phase I of the AAWS began in 2005, and has supported initiatives to improve animal welfare, including standards for the land transport of livestock, standards for the handling of non-production animals, and a model for assessing the humaneness of methods for controlling pest animals.  Phase II of the Strategy's National Implemntation Plan will target four key goals: understanding and meeting the welfare needs of animals; providing national systems to deliver consistent animal welfare outcomes; assisting people to make ethical decisions regarding animal welfare; and engaging in international partnerships to improve animal welfare.

Please visit the AAWS News Website and the  DAFF website for further information

In South Australia, the Animal Welfare portfolio is administered by the Minister for Environment and Conservation. Animal welfare crosses all government agencies and covers all animals, whether they are native, feral, owned or wild.

The Department of Environment & Natural Resources (DEWNR) administers the South Australian Animal Welfare Act 1985 (the Act) and provides advice to the state government, non government organisations and the general public on the Act and animal welfare issues in general.  The DEWNR Animal Welfare Unit is the government regulator for matters relating to the use of animals for scientific purposes, research and teaching.  Please visit the DEWNR Animal Welfare Website for further information.

Recognition and Alleviation of Pain in Laboratory Animals (National Research Council USA 2009)

The pre-publication version of this guideline document has been made available for free on-line reading at the National Academies Press website.

Recognition and Alleviation of Distress in Laboratory Animals (National Research Council USA 2008)

This guideline document has been made available for free on-line reading at the National Academies Press website.

UK National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animals in research

UK Assessing the Health and Welfare of Laboratory Animals information and training resource website.