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Animal Ethics
Application pack for Animal Ethics Committee
Familiarise yourself with the following guidelines and return the necessary forms to the Ethics Administration Officer, Office of Research & Innovation. Please note applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the next meeting of the AEC and late applications will not be accepted.
Essential reading
- Charles Darwin University AEC meeting dates
- NHMRC Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals
- NT Animal Welfare Act 2007
- Statement of principles guiding the use of animals in teaching and research at Australian universities
- Standard operating procedure: Addressing animal welfare in fauna studies
- Charles Darwin University guidelines for field research on vertebrates
- Contingency planning for injured wildlife
Application forms
- NEW--> Application/renewal application for ethical clearance (Please note that fast-tracking of applications is no longer offered by the AEC*)
- Instructions for completing the Animal Ethics application
- Letter of notification
Other forms
- NEW--> Variation Request Form
- NEW--> Progress Report Form
- NEW--> Final Report Form
- Notification of Unexpected Animal Death or Adverse Event
Time frame for clearance
While the AEC attempts to process applications quickly, it will normally take a minimum of three weeks from the 'applications due' date to be approved and for the project to receive ethics clearance and may take up to two meetings, depending on whether further information or clarification is required by the committee.
It is recommended then, that researchers and research students start the ethics process as soon as possible prior to their expected research commencement date to avoid delays and that they plan the ethics process into their research timelines. Research students may need to start the ethics process very soon after commencing their candidature.
You can increase your chances of gaining approval after just one meeting by having your application checked by your supervisor or a mentor/ colleague with experience in the ethics clearance process.
* Fast-tracking no longer offered - The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have advised the AEC that fast-tracking is not sufficient to approve applications. Applications will now be considered only at the scheduled meetings. The AEC advises researchers to build the ethics approval process into their research timelines by allowing two meetings for the approval of AEC applications. View ethics committee meeting dates.
