Protecting the welfare of animals used in research

The primary role of Macquarie University’s Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is to ensure that the use of animals is justified and has scientific merit.

The committee protects the welfare of animals used in research and teaching by incorporating the principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement (also known as ‘the three ‘R’s’):

  • Replacement of animals with other methods
  • Reduction in the number of animals used
  • Refinement of techniques used to reduce the impacts on animals.

Before any research on animals is undertaken, an application must be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the AEC, in line with the NSW Animal Research Act 1985 and the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013).

The AEC must constitute four categories of membership. One third of the committee must comprise Category C and D members.

  • Category A – persons with qualifications and experience in veterinary science.
  • Category B – persons with substantial experience in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities.
  • Category C – persons external to the University with a demonstrable commitment to and experience in furthering the welfare of animals.
  • Category D – persons external to the University who have never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities and who represent the views of the wider community.

Researchers must follow relevant legislation, other ethics guidelines, policies, and procedures established by the institution and the AEC. Download the AEC Terms of Reference.

The Australian Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching in Australia was developed by the Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) and launched in August 2023.

Signatories of the Openness Agreement must demonstrate their commitment to be open about the use of animals in research and teaching, and support well-informed public discussion and awareness of the reasons why animals are used, the benefits derived, the limitations that apply, and the steps taken to minimise harm.

Macquarie University, as a signatory of the Openness Agreement since its launch in 2023, has pledged to fulfill the four Commitments:

  1. We will be open about our involvement in the use of animals.
  2. We will enhance our communications with the media and the public about our use of animals.
  3. We will be proactive in providing opportunities for the public to find out about research or teaching involving the use of animals.
  4. We will report annually on our efforts to improve openness in our use of animals

PREPARE guidelines: (Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals): Recommendations for Excellence. PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies: formulation, dialogue between scientists and the animal facility, and quality control of the various components in the study.

ARRIVE guidelines (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) are a checklist of recommendations for the full and transparent reporting of research involving animals – maximising the quality and reliability of published research, and enabling others to better scrutinise, evaluate and reproduce it.

Click to download the PREPRARE checklist.

Click to download the ARRIVE guidelines.

Macquarie University uses animals in research towards the advancement of science and medicine, in the interest of the health and well-being of humans, animals, conservation and the environment.

Animals are only used in research and teaching where there is no alternative, and only with strong ethical and scientific justification.

Macquarie University ensures that the highest standard of animal welfare is maintained across our respective research facilities.

Animals have an intrinsic value that must be respected and are sentient creatures with the capacity to feel pain. The interests of animals must therefore be taken into consideration.

All researchers working with animals have access to veterinary support to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes 8th edition (2013).

Animal Welfare Training - ANZCCART Competency Assessment Course (ComPass) - replaced RACE training Module 1

ComPass has been developed in conjunction with ANZCCART, is hosted by the University of Adelaide. New staff and students should enrol in ComPass; holders of RACE certificates should enrol in ComPass at the expiry of their five-year certification.

Please note all other in-house RACE Modules will still be available for self-enrol on iLearn.

Education and training

Best practice, the law, and its interpretation change with time. Accordingly, The Code requires that researchers receive training regarding the ethical, social and scientific issues involved in the use of animals for research or teaching and that such training is updated regularly. At Macquarie University, training is provided by ComPass, an online training module published by the Australian & New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART).

Who should complete the Training?

Everyone listed in a Macquarie University Animal Research Authority (ARA) must provide proof of attendance at an approved animal welfare course. From February 2021, new researchers will be asked to complete ComPass training prior to addition to ARAs, replacing the previous program, RACE Module 1. It is currently a requirement that training should be refreshed every five years: established researchers should also complete ComPass as soon as possible and will no longer be able to renew RACE Module 1.

Welcome to ComPass

The free online training course is now available through ComPass on the ANZCCART website. 2024 version is now available.

The ComPass Core/Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and Phase 4 modules have undergone review and modification to add in more New Zealand Aotearoa content, as well as updated welfare content and new links so that the training cycle is kept current for repeat users and for those institutions that require proof of training.

The old modules will no longer be accessible and you will not be able to complete the old modules nor gain a completion certificate. You will now need to re-register using your current email address and start the new modules again to be able to gain your completion certificate.

'Log in to Begin Core Training' is located in the Phase One Module.

Course instructions

  • The course link will take you to a landing page, with a fox on it.
  • Click on Enrol to initiate your registration.  Fill in the registration details
  • An email will immediately be sent to you with access to the course that is hosted by University of Adelaide on its Canvas Catalog learning management system.
  • You will see your name in the top right corner. Click on your name and select Canvas – this will take you to the Canvas Catalog course front page.
  • Open the Course (click on the text below the fox image) in the Canvas system and you will find the list of Core modules.
  • Each module has to be opened and completed before you can progress to the next module and ultimately to the quiz.
  • The modules also contain a case study and practice questions to prepare for the final quiz.
  • At the end of each module, you will need to press exit (Button in the top right corner of the page).
  • Close the window and then click on the next module.
  • Repeat until you finish the 7 content modules and the quiz.
  • After successfully completing the quiz with a pass mark of 80%, you will automatically generate a certificate proving that you have completed the course for your AEC.
  • Completion of the course should take about three-four hours.
  • Once you have completed ComPass Phase 1 and received a certificate of completion. Please forward your certificate to animal.ethics@mq.edu.au for the Animal Ethics Secretariat to keep on file.

If you have technical issues, please email: anzccart@adelaide.edu.au.

Please note: If you completed RACE training, your certificate is valid for five (5) years from date of issue. Should you wish to enrol for all other RACE modules, these are still available as self-enrol modules on iLearn. If you require further information, additional resources or assistance, please contact the Animal Ethics Secretariat or Animal Welfare Officer at animal.ethics@mq.edu.au.

The term 'collaborative' research includes animal research projects that are carried out under informal collaborative arrangements at more than one institution.

Under the Code, Macquarie University's AEC must be informed about collaborative research projects involving Macquarie University researchers even if they are being conducted at other institutions in Australia or overseas (see The Code)

Please note that before any work commences each AEC must approve, or delegate approval of, scientific and teaching activities being conducted by members of its institutions.

If your research is likely to involve collaboration with other institutions, please contact the Animal Ethics Secretariat at animal.ethics@mq.edu.au.

For collaborative work that has already been approved by the AEC of another institution, and involves Macquarie University staff and/or students, the following must be submitted to the Macquarie University AEC (via the Forms for Research Applications (FoRA) System) as notification of collaborative work:

  • A signed copy of the application exactly as it was submitted to the Institutional AEC.
  • Copies of all correspondence between the researcher and the Institutional AEC.
  • Notification of all approved changes to the project (including ARA renewals, amendments, progress reports, changes to personnel etc) from the host AEC.
  • A copy of the letter of final approval and any relevant approval documentation from the Institutional AEC.
  • It is the responsibility of Macquarie University Collaborators to ensure the Macquarie University AEC is kept informed in this way.