Description

Expression of interest
Animal Ethics Committee membership
The University has two Animal Ethics Committees (AEC) that are responsible for ensuring that all activities relating to the care and use of animals for scientific purposes are conducted in compliance with the Animal Research Act and Regulations (NSW), the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (Animal Code), and any other relevant state/territory legislation, guidelines and University policies and procedures.

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from veterinarians to join the Animal Ethics Committees (AEC) as a Category A (veterinarian) member.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the ethical oversight of animal research and actively engage with our research community. In this voluntary role, you will gain insight into research ethics and collaborate with others who share an interest in research and teaching. At the University of Sydney, our committees review projects across diverse disciplines, including wildlife studies, veterinary science and farm animal research.

What the role involves

• Reviewing proposals online
• Attending a monthly meeting: Thursdays, staring at 12:30pm for approximately 2-4 hours
• Participating in 1-2 animal facility inspections per year

Agendas are provided two weeks prior to meetings to allow sufficient time for reviews. Lunch and refreshments are provided during meetings. AEC members who are external to the university will receive a financial benefit of up to $300 per meeting, to acknowledge their time and contribution to the AEC in this voluntary capacity.

Training
The ethics office provide training to navigate the online system, and what to look for when conducting reviews. We also provide ethics training sessions on specific topics from time to time which you are welcome to attend. Attendance at relevant conferences is also made available to committee members, either in person or online. Reviews are guided by the Australian code for the care and use of animal for scientific purposes and our team are available to assist with state legislative requirement.

Requirements

Category A Veterinarian – membership eligibility
A person with qualifications in veterinary science that are recognised for registration as a veterinary surgeon in Australia, and with experience relevant to the institution’s activities or the ability to acquire relevant knowledge.

Next step

If you think this role would be of interest to you then please contact the Ethics Office to find out more or visit our website.

• Please provide a CV to the animal.ethics@sydney.edu.au that details your qualifications and your experience as a veterinarian.
• The next step involves meeting with the AEC Chair to discuss your expression of interest and attending a meeting as an observer. Observing a meeting is a good way to understand the function of the AEC, the role you would play and to meet other AEC members.