Volunteer Animal Ethics Committee Members - Monash University

Job no: 663599

Department/Unit: Office of Research Ethics and Integrity

Classification: Volunteer

Location: Clayton campus

Time Commitment: Up to 10 meetings per year; 3-5 hours per meeting, plus additional time for pre-reading

Monash University’s School of Biological Sciences Animal Ethics Committee is seeking a volunteer wildlife animal welfare representative. The School of Biological Sciences is interested in all forms of life, the interactions between the environment and genetics/genomics, and strategies to improve human and environmental health. The School of Biological Sciences Animal Ethics Committee supports research and teaching activities designed to address key problems in the life sciences by reviewing wildlife and conservation projects that involve animals.

Projects cover a diverse range of species including, but not limited to, small fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and the majority of projects include a field-based component that can span across Australia, offshore non-jurisdiction islands, and various international regions.

This is a great opportunity to contribute your knowledge and expertise to the world of research at Monash University.

About Monash Animal Ethics Committees (AECs)

Monash University is committed to ensuring the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes and insists upon the highest standards for animal care and use.

Our Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) assess the scientific, ethical and welfare aspects of research and teaching activities involving animals to ensure the use of animals is justified and has scientific merit and animal welfare is prioritised, in accordance with the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (8th edition 2013 (updated 2021) (the Code)).

The AEC is comprised of members across various categories as stipulated in the Code and includes veterinarians (Category A), scientists (Category B), animal welfarists (Category C), and lay members (Category D), with each category of membership bringing valuable perspectives to the review process.

About the role

Each Monash University AEC member plays an important role in ensuring the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for research and teaching at Monash University.

Expressions of interest are sought from wildlife/conservation welfare representatives, as per the criteria stipulated in the Code:

• Category C (Animal Welfare): The Category C member must be a person with a demonstrable commitment to, and established experience in, furthering the welfare of animals. You must not be employed by or otherwise associated with Monash University, and must not currently be involved in the care and use of animals for scientific purposes. Membership of, and endorsement by, an animal welfare organisation is highly favourable.

Please note, being an animal lover is insufficient to qualify for this category of membership without also having demonstrated evidence of contributions to animal welfare.

About You

To be successfully considered for this opportunity, you will:

• Have established experience in furthering the welfare of animals, preferably in relation to wildlife and native species, as well as a good knowledge of the general context of animal welfare, and a general understanding of the ways in which society considers it acceptable to treat animals.
• Accept that ethical experiments using animals can be carried out, provided there is no viable alternative
• Demonstrate the ability and enthusiasm to contribute to AEC meetings and related processes, and undertake initial and ongoing training and education
• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, as well as computer skills
• Be able to read, interpret and comment on meeting materials, including project applications, using an online system
• Participate in AEC discussions to ensure robust review of projects and related activities, and effective operation of the Committee
• Be able to attend meetings in-person (please note, overseas applicants will not be considered)

Benefits

As a member of a Monash AEC you will receive the following benefits:

• An Honorarium to support costs you incur associated with performing your role and attending meetings
• A working lunch at in-person meetings
• Training support for your role as an AEC member
• The opportunity to understand the cutting-edge science activities being performed at Monash
• Development of knowledge related to the legislative framework governing animal use in research and teaching
• Access to the resources of the Monash University libraries

How to Apply

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please submit an Expression of Interest form.

For further information please contact the Monash Animal Ethics Office: [email protected]

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