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What is a 'University Veterinarian and Animal Welfare Officer' and what do they do?

The University Veterinarian is part of the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research & Innovation) and is responsible for overseeing the health and welfare of research and teaching animals involved in activities approved by the University’s Animal Ethics Committees across all University campuses.

The University Veterinarian also:

• assists in the refinement of techniques and the development of new research and teaching activities, with freely available consultation on methodology and animal care.
• provides advice to maximise animal welfare, including, where possible, alternate approaches that do not require animal use.
• provides assistance in preparing for and writing an animal ethics application and will review applications to help identify issues with methodology or suggest potential improvements to the application.
• encourages awareness of current guidelines by all researchers (i.e. PREPARE (planning animal research) and ARRIVE  (reporting animal research)), including consideration for implementing the 3R’s (replace, reduce, refine).
• provides freely available assistance with performing research or teaching activities.
• provides training in collaboration with Laboratory Animal Services and support staff for all animal users in animal care, ethics and welfare, teaching and experimental methods.
• provides freely available assistance to problem solve or troubleshoot any animal-based issues that arise during a research or teaching activity, including problems with methodology or unexpected events or outcomes.
• provides assistance with any animal welfare concerns.
• provides veterinary pathology support for all research and teaching animals including post-mortem examinations as necessary.

The University Veterinarian works closely with, but is independent of, Laboratory Animal Services. They provide support and veterinary assistance to all animal users in the University, including wildlife, companion animal, laboratory animal and production animal researchers and educators.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us, we don’t bite, scratch, kick, spit, hiss or screech!