The Alfred Research Alliance (ARA) brings together independent and diverse organisations to create a community of medical research and education.

The research strategy at the Alfred Research Alliance promotes a culture that is committed to responsible and ethical research practices while ensuring high quality and translatable outcomes. All scientific and educational activities involving the use of animals at the ARA are underpinned by ethical values, and principles that protect the wellbeing and quality of life for all animals used. These activities are governed by a strict regulatory framework and ethical review processes.

The Animal Ethics Office at the ARA is responsible for supporting research and teaching activities involving animals and is committed to ensuring the ethical, humane, and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

About the Role

The primary responsibility of an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) is to ensure, on behalf of the institution(s) for which it acts, that all activities relating to the care and use of animals for scientific and teaching purposes are conducted in compliance with the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (the Australian Code).

As such, each AEC member plays a critical role in ensuring the ethical, humane, and responsible care and use of such animals.

Committee membership is managed to ensure that, collectively, the AEC fulfils the membership criteria of the Australian Code and has the necessary expertise to effectively discharge its responsibilities.

The Alfred Research Alliance (ARA) is currently recruiting volunteer AEC members to join our AECs. Expressions of interest are sought for the categories of membership below, as stipulated in the Australian Code:

• Category D (lay person): a person not employed by or otherwise associated with the institution and who has never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities, either in their employment or beyond their undergraduate education. Category D members should be viewed by the wider community as bringing a completely independent view to the AEC, and must not fit the requirements of any other category.

For further information please contact the Animal Ethics Office – animalethics@baker.edu.au