• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Policy
• Katherine Rural Campus (KRC)
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Section 5 - Non-Compliance

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) Charles Darwin University (‘the University’, ‘CDU’) is committed to providing a safe environment for all employees and students. Animals may be required to be on campus for the purposes of research, teaching, education, training, and personal support. Animals on campus must be appropriately cared for, managed and under effective control at all times.

Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This policy is designed to provide a safe, regulated and ethically managed environment for animals on campus when required for research, teaching, education, and training, or when essential on campus as assistance or therapy animals.

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This policy applies to all employees and students using or handling animals on, or otherwise bringing animals to, University campuses.

(4) This policy does not apply to wildlife that enter University property temporarily or permanently. Wildlife will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and as appropriate to the circumstance.

Section 4 - Policy

(5) The presence of animals on campus must be restricted to those required for research, teaching, education, and training, or for genuine use as assistance animals for humans.

(6) Occasional engagement activities may allow domestic or wild animals on campus on occasions such as Open Day. An activity risk assessment must be completed prior to these events.

(7) The conduct of research or teaching involving animals must comply with the requirements of the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th Edition 2013. All animal use must comply with the Animal Protection Act 2018 (or relevant jurisdictional animal welfare legislation). Any person in control of an animal has obligations under the Act.

(8) All research, teaching, education and training involving animals as defined by the Animal Protection Act 2018 or the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th Edition 2013 must be approved by the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).

(9) Animal welfare and ethics at the University is administered by the Animal Welfare Officer and the Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) in accordance with the Animal Protection Act 2018 and Regulations and the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes 8th Edition 2013.

(10) The Assistance Animals Procedure provides a framework for the University to support employees or students who have an assistance animal for support or as part of ongoing treatment or therapy.

(11) Animals on campus must at all times be treated ethically and humanely.

(12) Animals on campus must be managed and under effective control at all times.

(13) Animals on campus must not constitute a nuisance, hazard, or risk, nor cause damage to other campus users and facilities.

(14) Animals on campus used for research, teaching, education and training come under the jurisdiction of the Animal Welfare Officer and the AEC for overall institutional governance as outlined in the Animal Ethics Committee Terms of Reference.

(15) Complaints about the use of animals for scientific purposes are handled in accordance with the Animal Ethics Committee Complaints, Grievances, and Non-compliance Procedures.

Katherine Rural Campus (KRC)

(16) Animals, with the exception of those required for research, teaching, education, and training, or as genuine assistance or therapy animals, are not permitted on campus, with the exception of domestic animals on residential properties on KRC and privately-owned horses on KRC, providing these are the property of the residents and they are managed in accordance with their licence to occupy. The University reserves the right to request animals be removed if they cause a nuisance or are a risk to others.

Roles and Responsibilities

(17) Animals used for research, teaching, education, and training are the responsibility of the relevant Faculty or Institute and of the University as a whole.

(18) Domestic and assistance animals are the responsibility of the individual owner.

(19) The Animal Welfare Officer is responsible for overall institutional governance regarding the care and welfare of animals in the University.

(20) The AEC is responsible for ensuring that the care and use of animals for teaching and research is compliant with legislation.

Section 5 - Non-Compliance

(21) Non-compliance with Governance Documents is considered a breach of the Code of Conduct - Employees or the Code of Conduct - Students, as applicable, and is treated seriously by the University. Reports of concerns about non-compliance will be managed in accordance with the applicable disciplinary procedures outlined in the Charles Darwin University and Union Enterprise Agreement 2022 and the Code of Conduct – Students.

(22) Complaints may be raised in accordance with the Complaints and Grievance Policy and Procedure - Employees and Complaints Policy - Students.

(23) All employees have an individual responsibility to raise any suspicion, allegation or report of fraud or corruption in accordance with the Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Whistleblower Reporting (Improper Conduct) Procedure.