Routine Care and Management of Animals in Public School Farms Procedures

1. Policy supported

Use of Animals in Public Schools Policy

2. Scope

These procedures apply to principals and school staff in public schools.

3. Procedures

3.1 Routine care and management of animals

School staff must:

• adhere to consistent, high quality practice for the care and management of animals in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2002;
• use a Standard Operating Procedure or Model Code of Practice endorsed by the Agricultural Education directorate for the relevant activity where available; and
• when undertaking activities not considered to be routine management of animals, submit a Form A: Proposal for the use of animals on school farms for non-routine activities and obtain written approval from the Director, Agricultural Education prior to the commencement of the activity.

School staff must not demonstrate to students or allow students to carry out the following activities:

• animal breeding that does not achieve an educational outcome and fails to provide for the lifetime welfare of animals (and their offspring, if relevant);
• induction of an infectious disease or illness;
• production of nutritional deficiency;
• exposure to a condition that would cause an animal to experience pain and/or distress;
• administration of drugs or chemicals unless for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes; or
• administration of toxins, ionising radiation or biohazards.

Surgical or other painful procedures must only be done by qualified personnel or a registered veterinarian.

3.2 Reporting

Principals must:

• submit Form C: Livestock Report to the Director, Agricultural Education on a regular basis including livestock deaths; and
• undertake a physical livestock count annually.

3.3 Unexpected Incident

Principals and school staff must, when an animal experiences an illness or injury, or dies in unusual or unexpected circumstances:

• provide appropriate treatment, in a timely manner; and
• submit Form B: Unexpected Animal Incident Report to the Director, Agricultural Education within 24 hours of the event.

3.4 Record keeping

School staff must maintain records of the use, care and monitoring of animals that are sufficient to enable the Director, Agricultural Education to verify that the wellbeing of animals has been monitored as agreed and allow review and critical investigation of the cause(s) of and responses to unexpected adverse events.

4. Definitions

5. Related documents

6. Contact information

Policy manager:              

Director, Agricultural Education   

Policy contact officer:     

Consultant, Animals in Schools        

T: (08) 9264 5202

E: agriculturaleducation.services@education.wa.edu.au               

7. History of changes

8. Appendices

Appendix A:  Form A: Proposal for the use of animals on school farms for non-routine activities  (DOC file - 73.7kB)