Animal Ethics

Project Principal Investigators

When submitting a project for ethics or institutional biosafety review, researchers are required to note that the Principal Investigator on the application must be a fixed-term or ongoing La Trobe University employee or have Emeritus status conferred by the Academic Board.

Projects by students and Honorary appointees other than Emeriti must be conducted with their academic supervisor as Principal Investigator on the ethics application.

Academic supervisors must be ongoing or fixed-term university employees. This approach is consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and the La Trobe Honorary Appointments Policy.

New Applications to the La Trobe University AEC

Download and complete the relevant documents:

• AEC Application to Use Animals for Scientific and Breeding Purposes - Updated October 2025
  • NOTE: To ensure you are using the current version of the form, always download directly from this website.
• AEC Approved SOP list (email animalethics@latrobe.edu.au for a copy of approved SOPs or log to LMS to access SOPs directly)
• AEC Standard Operating Procedure Template
• AEC Phenotype Report Template
• Training and assessment plan and competency form (See below for instructions)
• LARTF Monitoring Sheets [Intranet Access Only]
• LARTF Drug Formulary [Intranet Access Only]
• For field work conducted in WA, please complete the DPIRD (WA) Notification Form

Ensure all animal facilities nominated in your application are listed in the La Trobe University SPPL20343 (Scientific Procedures Premises Licence Updated July 2025).

If you are intending to breed specified animals within Victoria for supply for use in scientific procedures, reference the La Trobe University SABL20530 in your application and ensure the animal facility in which you intend to conduct breeding activities is listed on the licence.

If you are conducting fieldwork, reference the La Trobe University SPFL20472 (Scientific Procedures Fieldwork Licence) in your application.

Optional – consider contacting the LARTF Vet lartfvet@latrobe.edu.au and/or an Animal Ethics Advisor animalethics@latrobe.edu.au for support in completing your application.

• Log in to the PRIME Researcher Portal to create a new Animal Ethics Application:
  1. Under Ethics Applications, click “+ New Animal Ethics Application”
  2. Add all the researcher personnel listed in your application
  3. Upload all completed forms and study documentation (as separate documents)
  4. Click on “Submit to Research Office” by the relevant closing date (see below)

Notification of Approval by an External AEC

This process is used when La Trobe University staff and students receive ethics approval from an external Animal Ethics Committee.

With the release of PRIME, all new externally approved applications must be submitted using the following process:

1. Complete the relevant forms:
   • Download the La Trobe University Animal Ethics Committee Notification of External AEC Approval Form.
   • Prepare a copy of the External AEC approval letter, including any conditions.
2. Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to create a new Externally Approved Application:

1. Under Ethics Applications, click “+ New Externally Approved Application”
2. Add all researcher personnel
3. Upload the completed form and approval letter (as separate documents)
4. Click on “Submit to Research Office”

For help with training and feedback, please see below:

1. Training opportunities
   • To schedule a personalised session with an Animal Ethics Advisor for help with your first submission, email animalethics@latrobe.edu.au
   • Complete  EIU_M3 - Introduction to Animal Ethics modules in LMS
   • Register for a mandatory Animal Ethics Induction or Refresher session via TRACR
2. If you would like to book a time to discuss your needs and preferred option/s please contact the Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety Team
   • animalethics@latrobe.edu.au
   • + 61 3 9479 3337

The monthly meeting of the full committee will review the following items:

1. New and Deferred Applications
   • Review of new applications/SOPs/PTRs submitted for approval
   • Review of deferred applications/SOPs/PTRs that require further consideration
2. Modifications to Previously Approved Applications
   • Evaluation of changes to previously approved projects, protocols or phenotype reports
3. Annual and Final Reports
   • Review of progress reports for ongoing projects (annual)
   • Review of final reports upon project completion
4. Unexpected Adverse Event Reports
   • Evaluation of reports detailing unexpected adverse events or outcomes during the course of research

Optional Pre-Review: You can request a pre-review of your draft application by emailing animalethics@latrobe.edu.au. The documents to be reviewed must be submitted via PRIME.

NOTE: All submissions and pre-review requests must be in by midday on the submission deadline.

2026 Meeting Dates

Full Committee Meetings

*Meeting dates may be subject to change without notice

From 1 October 2026, new personnel working with animals at La Trobe University will follow revised training requirements. The changes provide greater flexibility while making the La Trobe animal ethics induction shorter, more focused and interactive.

ANZCCART ComPass Phase 1 – Core Training

All researchers and personnel using animals for research must complete ANZCCART ComPass Phase 1 – Core Mandated Training for AEC Members and Animal Users before attending the La Trobe animal ethics induction.

The online training can be completed at your own pace. Once completed, please send your certificate to animalethics@latrobe.edu.au.

La Trobe Animal Ethics Induction

The induction will be reduced from four hours to approximately two hours and will focus on practical scenarios, discussion, questions and issues relevant to working with animals at La Trobe.

Sessions will be available online and face-to-face. Face-to-face attendance is encouraged but not compulsory.

What this means for researchers

• Complete ComPass Phase 1 before the La Trobe induction.
• Attend the shorter, interactive induction session.
• Existing personnel must continue to complete refresher training every three years.

For questions, contact animalethics@latrobe.edu.au.

To register for a training session

1. Contact animalethics@latrobe.edu.au noting an expression of interest OR
2. If you are a LARTF user and have access to TRACR, enroll yourself in the relevant session.

If you do not have access to TRACR, you can submit a request via PRIME Support.

Upcoming training sessions:

*  Induction training includes information on researcher responsibilities under the Code and how to submit an application via PRIME.

Additional Resources:

The Australian and  New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) provides a free online course that covers the Animal Code and NZ Guide and welfare issues relating to animal use in research and teaching.

The Training and Assessment Form is to be used where a participant in an AEC-approved project requires training in a procedure and that training is not provided by LARTF staff. The form should be completed by the person providing the training.

Download the Training and Assessment Form [DOC 50KB]

The Competency Assessment Form is to be used for attesting to the competence of a person to perform a procedure or procedures listed on a Training and Assessment Plan that forms part of an AEC-approved project. The person providing the competency assessment will normally be the trainer named in the Training and Assessment Plan.

Download the Competency Assessment Form [DOC 49KB]

Where a person has been assessed as competent by another institution to perform a procedure or procedures that will form part of an AEC-approved project at La Trobe University, a Confirmation of Competency Form can be completed and submitted with the application for review by the La Trobe University AEC.

Download the AEC Confirmation of Competency Form [DOC48 KB]

The Statement of Competency to Perform Procedures Involving Animals form is to be completed by persons who have previously been recognised by the La Trobe University AEC as competent to perform procedures on animals. Once competence in those procedures is confirmed by the AEC, the person will be verified as competent in the procedures on the LARTF TRACR.

Download the AEC Statement of Competency Form [DOC49KB]

AEC Approved SOPs and PTRs

• You can access a list of AEC approved SOPs and PTRs from the PRIME Researcher portal.
• If you want to use an existing AEC approved SOP or PTR in your project, list the SOP and/or PTR in your application to use animals for scientific purposes.
• NOTE: The version of the SOP listed in your AEC approved project application form must be the version used for all procedures conducted under that application unless a modification request is submitted for approval of an updated version of the SOP.

New SOP & PTR Submissions

• To create new SOP(s), please use the AEC Standard Operating Procedure Template.
• To create new PTR(s) please use the AEC Phenotype Report Template

1. New SOPs and PTRs must be submitted for review by the AEC as a stand-alone submission in PRIME
2. Check the PRIME Researcher portal to ensure there are no existing SOP/PTRs
3. Log in to the PRIME Researcher Portal to create a new Animal Ethics Application:
   1. Under Ethics Applications, click “+ New Animal Ethics Application”
   2. Enter the SOP Title/Phenotype Name under “Ethics Application Title”
   3. Change the “Record Type” to SOP/Phenotype Report
   4. Upload a completed SOP/Phenotype Report and any supporting documents in the “Documents” tab
   5. Select “Review by Research Office” and “Mark as Current Status” in the progress bar at the top of the screen to submit

Complaints, Grievances and Non-compliances

The Procedure for Handling Complaints, Grievances and Non-Compliance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Procedures, outlines the La Trobe University procedures for the following scenarios:

• Non-compliance;
• Complaints:
  • concerning the care and use of animals in teaching or research;
  • concerning the process for independent external review;
• Grievances concerning AEC processes or decisions including:
  • disagreements between the AEC and investigators;
  • disagreements between AEC members; and
  • disagreements between the AEC and the institution.

• The Code: The 8th edition of the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (2013).
• In Victoria, the use of animals for research and teaching is regulated by Part 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.
• Use of  animals for testing cosmetics: Section 7 of the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes prohibits the use of animals for testing cosmetics. La Trobe University strictly adheres to this ban and does not use animals for testing finished cosmetic products or chemical ingredients, except where the proposed use of animals is justified for purposes beyond cosmetics.
• NHMRC Statement on the forced swim test in rodent models: The LTU AEC has endorsed the NHMRC position and will not approve applications using the forced swim test
• NHMRC Statement on smoke inhalation procedures in rodent models
• Guidelines to promote the wellbeing of animals used for scientific purposes: The assessment and alleviation of pain and distress in research animals: Released by the NHMRC in June 2008 to accompany the Code.
• Animal Welfare Victoria website
• AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia
• Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits
• National Centre for the Replacement Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research
• ANZCCART: The Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching.
• RSPCA: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
• Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association

Modifications to AEC-approved projects can only be granted if the modification is minor and there is no significant change to the direction of the study.

Modifications may include (1) a change in animal numbers, (2) change in procedures / techniques, (3) an addition / removal of investigators, (4) an extension of the study duration or (5) administrative changes. Please refer to Guidance on review and process of modification requests for more information.

How do I submit a modification?

1. Complete AEC Request for Amendment Form
2. Prepare a tracked and clean copy of all updated documents
3. Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to create a new amendment request:
   1. To find your ethics project click on “My Ethics Approvals” tile and select the Ethics Approval Number you wish to modify,
   2. At the top of the ethics record select “Create Modification” from the drop down menu
   3. Upload a completed request for amendment form and a clean and tracked copy of the previously approve application form containing the requested modification in the "Post approval documents" tab. Please also upload other application documents relevant to the modification request.
   4. In the progress bar at the top of the page select "Review by Research Office" and then click "Mark as Current Status" to the right to submit.

**NOTE: If your project has expired you will not be able to upload your progress report in PRIME, please email your completed report form to animalethics@latrobe.edu.au. A Research Ethics and Biosafety Advisor will upload it and will update your milestone on your behalf.**

Principal investigators must submit an annual report by the anniversary date of an AEC project approval and a final report within three (3) months of conclusion of an AEC-approved project.

How do I submit an annual/final report?

1. Download and complete the Annual Report Form or Final Report Form
2. Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to lodge an annual/final report:
   1. To find your ethics project click on “My Ethics Approvals” tile and select the Ethics Approval Number you wish to submit an annual or final report for,
   2. At the top of the ethics record select “Create Annual Report” or “Create Final Report” from the drop down menu
   3. Upload a completed annual/final report in the "Post approval document" tab
   4. In the progress bar select "Review by Research Office" and then click "Mark as Current Status" to the right to submit.

Investigators are required by law to provide prompt notification of any unexpected adverse event to the research projects approving AEC (see Clause 2.4.34 (ii) of the Australian Code).

UAEs must be reported to the AEC within 24hrs of the incident (or as soon as practicable for field work where investigators may not have mobile phone access within 24 hours of the incident) by email to animalethics@latrobe.edu.au.

An Unexpected Adverse Event Report Form should then be submitted promptly via PRIME once all subsequent follow-up actions/investigations have been completed.

NOTE: If your animal is housed in LARTF, notify the LARTF Facility Manager and the relevant area LARTF staff member of the UAE and follow any additional LARTF protocols as directed.

How do I submit a UAE Report on PRIME?

1. Download and complete the Unexpected Adverse Event Report Form
2. Log in to  PRIME Researcher portal to lodge an UAE report:
   1. To find your ethics project click on “My Ethics Approvals” tile and select the Ethics Approval Number you wish to submit an UAE Report
   2. At the top of the ethics record select “Create UAE/Safety Report” from the drop down menu
   3. Upload completed UAE Report and any other relevant documentation in the "Post approval documents" tab
   4. In the progress bar select "Review by Research Office" and then click "Mark as Current Status" to the right to submit.

If animal facility staff, academics, other staff or students have any enquiries or concerns about a non–compliance with the Animal Code or AEC approval, or have concerns about the well-being of animals held at La Trobe for use in breeding, research or teaching, these concerns should be reported to the Senior Manager, Ethics, Integrity and Biosafety who will on-refer it to the appropriate person or committee.

For self-reported non-compliances, the Principal Investigator may use the Unexpected Adverse Event Report Form to make a report via PRIME.

Please contact the Animal Welfare and Biosafety Officer for further advice on reporting a non-compliance.

T: +61 3 9479 3337
E: animalethics@latrobe.edu.au

AEC Approved Guides

• AEC Guide for What Projects Need AEC Approval
• AEC Guide for Wildlife Researchers
• AEC Guide to citizen science
• AEC Guide for Fin Clipping
• Animal Ethics Guide on the 3Rs

External Guidelines

• NHMRC Statement on the forced swim test in rodent models
• NHMRC Statement on smoke inhalation procedures in rodent models