The Animal Welfare Committee advises us about the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, in particular, for biomedical research.

Terms of reference 

The Animal Welfare Committee will advise the National Health and Medical Research Council Chief Executive Officer, through NHMRC's Research Committee, on:

  1. Issues pertaining to the care and use of animals for scientific purposes, in particular, for health and medical research, and the ethics of such use.
  2. The regular review and, if necessary, revision of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes and on the development and revision of other NHMRC documents related to using animals in health and medical research.

Committee operation

The Animal Welfare Committee is a working committee established under Section 39 of the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992. It is not an animal ethics committee (AEC) and does not perform the functions of an AEC as outlined in the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

Enquiries

For further information about the Animal Welfare Committee, please contact ethics@nhmrc.gov.au

Committee members

Chair,
Professor
Edna
Hardeman

Person with expertise in the use of animals for health and medical research

Declaration

  • Chief Investigator on NHMRC Project Grants
  • Past, current and future application to NHMRC for research and people support
  • Member of NHMRC Assigners Academy and Grant Review Panels
  • Science Assessor for NHMRC Development Grants
  • Employed by an institution that administers NHMRC grant monies, uses animals in research, and contributes to the discussion on the use of animals for biomedical research
  • Involved with the development of guidelines for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Associate Professor
Thomas
Burne

Person with expertise in the use of animals for health and medical research

Declaration

  • Employed by an institution that uses animals in research
  • Member of NHMRC Grant Review Panels
  • NHMRC grant recipient

Dr
Malcolm
France

Person with expertise in veterinary science and the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Declaration

  • Ad hoc consultant, AAALAC International (Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International)
  • Board member, Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART)
  • Submission to NSW upper house inquiry into 'Use of primates and other animals in medical research in New South Wales', March 2022
  • Chair, Animal Ethics Committee, University of Wollongong
  • Australian Science Media Centre, registered specialist
  • Director of Animal Services, University of New South Wales
  • Independent consultant in the care and management of laboratory animals

Dr
Suzanne
Fowler

Person with experience in furthering the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes

Declaration

  • Member of the Australian Veterinary Association since 2022
  • Member of the Animal Welfare Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) since June 2021
  • Chief Science Officer for RSPCA Australia; involved in development of RSPCA policy and position papers and submissions related to the role
  • Employed most recently as Senior Veterinarian for the Australian National University (ANU) including membership of the ANU Animal Ethics Committee as a Category A member (no longer current)
  • Co-author – Superior hemostatic and wound-healing properties of gel and sponge forms of non-oxidized cellulose nanofibers: in vitro and in vivo studies; 1st author Elmira Mohamed
  • Assisted in writing the submission and presenting to the NSW Inquiry into the use of non-human primates and other animals for medical research, in June 2022, in role as Chief Science Officer for RSPCA Australia
  • General Member of the Executive of the Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association (ANZLAA) and convenor of the Veterinary Special Interest Group (VetSIG)
  • Paid member of the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee for the ACT Government (attendance at monthly meetings and to provide input); nominated by the Australian National University

Ms
Anna
Hall

Person with experience in furthering the welfare of animals

Declaration

  • Volunteer and casual paid contractor for the World League for Protection of Animals
  • President, Animal Liberation NSW
  • Volunteer with a number of animal charities
  • Rehabilitate, foster and rehome sick or young animals especially rabbits and cats
  • Previously employed by NSW Ministry of Health as Project Manager; specialised in mental health projects

Ms
Robin
Matthews

Person with an understanding of community attitudes to the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Declaration

Category D member of the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences Animal Ethics Committee, University of Melbourne

Ms
Carlee
Mottley

Person with experience in the routine care of animals used for scientific purposes within an institution

Declaration

  • Animal Welfare and Science Research Scholarship 2019 recipient, funded by Tecniplast Australia
  • Member of the Australian and New Zealand Laboratory Animal Association (ANZLAA), current New South Wales State Representative
  • Permanent full-time employment at the University of Wollongong

Dr
Alexandra
Whittaker

Person with expertise in veterinary science and the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Declaration

  • Teaches on animal welfare, law and ethics, and laboratory animal science to undergraduate students and presents and publishes on these topics
  • Previous NHMRC Fellowship recipient
  • Member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists Chapter (ANZCVS) in laboratory animal medicine and animal welfare. These Chapters comprise a body of veterinarians with special interest in these topic areas based on their experience in the disciplines
  • Received funding from Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART). The funding was to examine public perceptions on animal research in Australia
  • Employed by an academic institution that undertakes research projects on animals; actively involved in using animals in research and teaching as an academic staff member. As part of this role, also a member of the institutional animal ethics committee