(This fact sheet should be read in conjunction with Fact Sheet 1: The Animal Research Act 1985 and Factsheet 3: Animal Ethics Committees).

Primary and secondary schools which use animals for teaching must apply to the Director-General of NSW Agriculture every third year for accreditation (Form D).

Government schools, schools within the Catholic Education Commission are covered by a single application which is completed by their respective head offices.

Other independent schools must apply individually or as a group (if they are affiliated).

Animal use in schools must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee (ACEC) (see Fact Sheet 3). Government and Catholic Education Commission and theAssociation of Individual Schools are covered by the 'Schools AEC'. Other schools mayestablish their own AEC or they can apply to the Schools AEC to supervise their animaluse.

Nominations to the Schools AEC must be renewed every three years and can be done on Form D.

The Schools AEC has produced a comprehensive set of guidelines called Animal Welfare Guidelines for Teachers.  It sets out the responsibilities of theschool, the animal welfare liaison officer and teachers. The guidelines list and describeapproved activities. As long as these guidelines are followed, teachers in schools coveredby the Schools AEC may carry out approved activities without applying for specificapproval.

There is currently no annual application fee for schools to become accredited.

Copies of Animal Welfare Guidelines for Teachers are available from the NSW Department of  Education and Training website: www.schools.nsw.edu.au/animalsinschools/resources

How to apply

Obtain and complete Form D and return it to the Animal Welfare Branch.

Your application will be checked by staff of the Animal Welfare Unit. You may be asked for clarification of details.  If you are using the Schools AEC, you should indicate this on the form.

The Animal Research Review Panel will make a recommendation to the Director-General of NSW Agriculture about whether or not your application should be approved and on what conditions.

The Director-General will consider the Panel's recommendations and will decide within 90 days whether to grant approval.

You will be advised in writing of the outcome and will receive a certificate listing conditions and locations, as appropriate.

Your accreditation will remain in force for 12 months initially and then for three years thereafter.

If you are unhappy with a decision, you can lodge an appeal with the Administrative Decisions Tribunal.

All applications will be treated in confidence.