Elements and Performance Criteria
- Manage animals in accordance with relevant codes of practice and legislative and institutional requirements
- The use of animals in the institution's research programs is justified and written approval is sought from the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).
- Principles of the 3Rs (replacement, refinement and reduction) are applied.
- The scope of interests and responsibilities of the institution, the individual working in animal technology and the community are identified.
- Requirements outlined in the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes are applied to daily animal care.
- Reporting requirements to the AEC are clearly defined and followed.
- The care and containment of experimental animals are followed to comply with AEC requirements.
- Manage the euthanasia of research animals
- Reasons for the decision to euthanase an animal are identified to comply with institutional policies and procedures, program approvals or protocols and legislative requirements.
- Licences and permits required to conduct the euthanasia are obtained
- Euthanasia procedures conducted by less experienced staff are monitored and assistance or support is provided where required.
- The institution's standard operating procedures relating to euthanasia are regularly reviewed and suggestions for improvement are discussed with veterinarians and implemented.
- The institution's standard operating procedures relating to euthanasia are communicated to staff, researchers and others.
- Manage the negotiation of approval for non-standard laboratory practices and specific projects
- Manage the operation of and compliance with containment and exclusion procedures
- Monitoring programs for containment and exclusion of organisms are developed and implemented.
- Breaches of containment or exclusion reported by staff or others are acted on in accordance with the monitoring program and the institution's standard operating procedures.
- The institution's standard operating procedures relating to containment and exclusion are regularly reviewed and suggestions for improvement are discussed with veterinarians.
- The institution's standard operating procedures relating to containment and exclusion are communicated to staff, researchers and others.
- Maintain records