Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee

Restricted access is for individuals only undertaking collection, taking, banding and marking of wildlife for research purposes. These applicants are exempt from licensing under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA Act), but must hold a research permit issued by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) in accordance with section 28A of the Wildlife Act 1975.

Complete the restricted access request form and the restricted access service agreement form and send them to wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au:

• WSIAEC restricted access request form [MS Word Document - 607.4 KB]
• WSIAEC restricted access service agreement form [MS Word Document - 717.7 KB]

Learn more information on exempt types of animal use. If you are unsure if your project requires restricted access, please contact environmental.research@deeca.vic.gov.au

Unrestricted access is for applicants whose proposed work includes activities that meet the POCTA Act definition of a scientific procedure and wish to nominate the WSIAEC to perform AEC functions for their licence.

Complete the unrestricted access request form and the unrestricted access service agreement form, and send them to wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au:

• WSIAEC unrestricted access request form [MS Word Document - 610.6 KB]
• WSIAEC unrestricted access service agreement form [MS Word Document - 721.4 KB]

If you are unsure if your project requires unrestricted access, please contact sp.licensing@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Complete the restricted access project application form and send to wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au

• WSIAEC restricted access project application form [MS Word Document - 153.3 KB]
• WSIAEC applicant guide [MS Word Document - 1.0 MB]
• WSIAEC applicant guide [PDF File - 646.4 KB]

Applicants may submit multiple project applications once access to WSIAEC has been granted. To ensure the timely processing of project applications it is highly recommended that applicants read the Applicant Guide prior to submission.

All new project applications will be considered on a committee meeting of the WSIAEC.

Please note, depending on the quality and/or complexity of the project application, it may need to be considered at multiple meetings. The project applicant may be required to provide additional information following a meeting of the WSIAEC. Following the meeting, please allow up to 10 days to be notified of the outcome.

You will be required to pay a new project application fee before project approval is granted. This fee covers the costs associated with the assessment, review, and administrative work undertaken by the committee, regardless of the final approval outcome.

You must not commence obtaining animals or undertaking animal use activities unless formal notification of project approval is received and a permit from DEECA is obtained (when required).

Where required, applicants must submit a permit request to DEECA following the project approval by the WSIAEC. Applicants must include their project approval as an attachment when applying for a permit. Applicants must not commence project work unless a permit has been issued by DEECA.

For assistance, please contact environmental.research@deeca.vic.gov.au

Applicants granted unrestricted access to the WSIAEC must submit a licence request to sp.licensing@agriculture.vic.gov.au. Applicants must include their access approval email or service agreement as an attachment when applying for a licence.

You must not commence obtaining animals or undertaking animal use activities.

For assistance, please contact sp.licensing@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Once a licence has been granted, complete the restricted access project application form and send to wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au:

• WSIAEC unrestricted access project application form [MS Word Document - 529.5 KB]
• WSIAEC applicant guide [MS Word Document - 1.0 MB]
• WSIAEC applicant guide [PDF File - 646.4 KB]

Applicants may submit multiple project applications once access to WSIAEC has been granted and a licence issued. To ensure the timely processing of project applications it is highly recommended that applicants read the Applicant Guide prior to submission.

All new project applications will be considered on a committee meeting of the WSIAEC.

Please note, depending on the quality and/or complexity of the project application, it may need to be considered at multiple meetings. The project applicant may be required to provide additional information following a meeting of the WSIAEC. Following the meeting, please allow up to 10 days to be notified of the outcome.

You will be required to pay a new project application fee before project approval is granted. This fee covers the costs associated with the assessment, review, and administrative work undertaken by the committee, regardless of the final approval outcome.

You must not commence obtaining animals or undertaking animal use activities unless formal notification of project approval is received and a permit from DEECA is obtained.

Where required, applicants must submit a permit request to DEECA following the project approval by the WSIAEC. Applicants must include their project approval as an attachment when applying for a permit. Applicants must not commence project work unless a permit has been issued by DEECA.

For assistance, please contact environmental.research@agriculture.vic.gov.au

All new project applications, either restricted or unrestricted, will be subject to a fee.

For clients with unrestricted access to the WSIAEC an additional annual fee of $110.00 will apply payable at the end of each natural year

Not-for-profit organisations are able to access discounted fees. Please notify the Executive Officer. For more information on fee structure, see the guide:

• WSIAEC fees [MS Word Document - 178.0 KB]
• WSIAEC fees [PDF File - 236.7 KB]

• WSIAEC declaration of principal investigator [MS Word Document - 32.9 KB]
• WSIAEC declaration of co-investigator [MS Word Document - 32.7 KB]
• WSIAEC project reporting form [MS Word Document - 615.6 KB]
• WSIAEC project amendment request form [MS Word Document - 612.0 KB]
• WSIAEC unexpected adverse event report form [MS Word Document - 142.7 KB]
• WSIAEC non-compliance report form [MS Word Document - 131.6 KB]
• WSIAEC procedures for complaint, non-compliance and unexpected [MS Word Document - 476.9 KB]
• WSIAEC terms of reference [MS Word Document - 654.1 KB]
• WSIAEC terms of reference [PDF File - 299.2 KB]
• WSIAEC feedback from committee meeting (template) [MS Word Document - 42.0 KB]

The meeting cycle is subject to change. Contact the Executive Officer if you require an updated calendar.

For more information on the WSIAEC contact:

Agriculture Victoria
Executive Officer
Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee
475 Mickleham Road
Attwood 3049

Email: wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Phone: 03 8622 7607