Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee

Organisations or individuals wishing to access the services of the WSIAEC must apply to the WSIAEC through the Executive Officer. Access to the WSIAEC will only be granted where:

1. The project activities will occur in the state of Victoria.
2. If an organisation is applying, the organisation employs <10 full time employees involved in animal care.
3. The individual or organisation has not previously been blacklisted.

There are two types of access to the WSIAEC, dependent on the type of animal use proposed – unrestricted access and restricted access.

Restricted access

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 form and service agreement. Send to wsi.aec@deeca.vic.gov.au

If you are unsure if your project requires restricted access, please contact environmental.research@deeca.vic.gov.au

• WSIAEC restricted access application form (WORD - 622.7 KB)
• WSIAEC restricted service agreement template (WORD - 717.7 KB)

Learn more information on exempt types of animal use.

Unrestricted access

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 form and service agreement. Send to wsi.aec@deeca.vic.gov.au

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

• WSIAEC unrestricted access application form (WORD - 627.1 KB)
• WSIAEC unrestricted service agreement template (WORD - 720.2 KB)

If you are granted access, you will receive an access approval letter. You cannot apply for a licence or permit unless you have this letter.

If you have been granted unrestricted access and received an approval letter, you may now apply for a licence.

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

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 letter as an attachment when applying for a licence.

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

If a licence has been granted, applicants may complete a project application form and submit to the WSIAEC Executive Officer.

Applicants may submit multiple project applications once access to WSIAEC has been granted and a licence issued.

Applications received at least three weeks prior to the next WSIAEC meeting will be listed on the agenda for consideration by the WSIAEC.

To ensure the timely processing of project applications it is highly recommended that applicants read the Applicant Guide prior to submission.

• WSIAEC Unrestricted access project application form (WORD - 528.5 KB)
• WSIAEC applicant guide (PDF - 636.6 KB)
• WSIAEC applicant guide (WORD - 1.0 MB)

Please submit your completed application to wsi.aec@agriculture.vic.gov.au

The project application will be considered by a 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 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

Where applicable, prior to applying for a permit from DEECA, applicants must complete a project application form and submit to the WSIAEC Executive Officer. You cannot apply for a permit from DEECA unless you have a project approved by the WSIAEC.

Applicants may submit multiple project applications once access to WSIAEC has been granted.

Applications received at least three weeks prior to the next WSIAEC meeting will be listed on the agenda for consideration by the WSIAEC.

To ensure the timely processing of project applications it is highly recommended that applicants read the Applicant Guide prior to submission.

• WSIAEC Restricted access project application form (WORD - 153.8 KB)
• WSIAEC applicant guide  (PDF - 636.6 KB)
• WSIAEC applicant guide  (WORD - 1.0 MB)

Please submit your completed application to wsi.aec@deeca.vic.gov.au

The project application will be considered by a 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 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

• WSIAEC Amendment form (WORD - 628.7 KB)
• WSIAEC Project reporting form (WORD - 631.3 KB)
• WSIAEC Declaration of applicant  (WORD - 29.7 KB)
• WSIAEC Declaration of co-investigator  (WORD - 29.3 KB)
• WSIAEC Mandatory project reporting form (WORD - 142.3 KB)
• WSIAEC Unexpected adverse event report form (WORD - 139.4 KB)
• WSIAEC Non-compliance report form  (WORD - 132.4 KB)
• WSIAEC Procedures for complaint, non-compliance and unexpected (WORD - 476.1 KB)
• WSIAEC Terms of Reference  (PDF - 279.5 KB)
• WSIAEC Terms of Reference (WORD - 666.8 KB)

An annual fee for access to the WSIAEC may apply depending on the type of access granted.

Individual project applications will be subject to a project application fee for all types of access. For information on fee structure, please see the guide:

• WSIAEC Fees (PDF - 181.0 KB)
• WSIAEC Fees (WORD - 164.1 KB)

Meeting cycle is subject to change, however the usual cycle is:

• papers due first Monday of the month
• meeting held third Friday of the month.

For more information on the WSIAEC contact:

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

Email: wsi.aec@deeca.vic.gov.au

Phone: (03) 8622 7607