Animal and Human Ethics Committees

All research performed on Austin Health campuses involving the use of humans or animals is undertaken with approval from the Austin Health Human Research Ethics or Animal Research Ethics Committees.

Austin Health Animal Ethics Committee

The Austin Health Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is constituted by Austin Health with authority to approve and monitor all animal based research on the Austin Health campuses. It has been established within the guidelines prepared by:

• The National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)
• Australian Research Council (ARC)
• Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee (AVCC)
• Bureau of Animal Welfare, Department of Primary Industries, Victoria

The committee is guided by the Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes, 7th edition 2004. Hard copies are available from the Austin Health Research Ethics Unit or from the NHMRC: nmm@nationalmailing.com.au

Internal links for relevant information and forms:

• Application Form [doc 336kb] (updated February 2008)
• Application Payment Form [doc 36kb]

Please note, the new application form (version February 2008) will be the only form accepted by the AEC as of the June 2008 meeting. Both the old and the new format application forms will be accepted for the April meeting. Please call Eva Booth on 9496 4090 if this will be a problem.

• Minor Amendments [doc 68kb]
• Annual Report Form [doc 92kb]
• Committee Meeting Dates and Application Deadlines 2008 [pdf 52kb]
• 2007 Animal Use Return Instructions [doc 308kb]
• 2007 Animal Use Return Form Part A [xls 276kb]
• Clinical Score Sheets available from the Research Ethics Unit
• Guidelines for completing lay summary [doc 32kb]

For information regarding the joint Murine Health Policy developed for the new Austin Health/St Vincent's Hospital/Royal Melbourne Hospital facilities, follow this link [pdf 136kb].

Standard Operating Procedures

• Standard operating procedures (SOPs) approved by the animal ethics committee are available. Please contact the Research Ethics Unit to obtain the password to access current SOPs.
• A pro-forma for new SOPs is available for download.

Contacts

Research Ethics Unit
Administrative Secretary
Ph: 9496 4090
Email: ethics@austin.org.au

Mailing and delivery address:

Research Ethics Unit
Harold Stokes Building, Rm 8322
Austin Health

Animal Welfare Officer
via Research Ethics Unit

Links to other Animal Ethics sites

These links provide information for animal care and assistance in preparing AEC applications. Please note applications and reports must use the Austin Health forms (listed above) and not the University forms.

• University of Melbourne Animal Ethics
• Victorian Bureau of Animal Welfare
• Monash University Animal Ethics
• ANZCCART

Austin Health Human Ethics Committee

For information and applications to the Human Research Ethics Committee, please follow this link.