Volunteer Animal Ethics Committee Member - Category D - Layperson

Rex Job: 682617

Department / Unit: Office of Research Ethics and Integrity

Classification: Volunteer

Location: Clayton campus

Time Commitment: Up to 12 meetings per year (3-5 hours per meeting) plus additional time pre-reading.

Contact: animal.ethics@monash.edu 

Monash University has a national and international reputation for exciting, ground-breaking research that improves health, solves global challenges and empowers whole communities, and we continually increase our capacity to do outstanding, relevant research and generate new knowledge that positively impacts the world.

Monash University’s research support services in Animal Ethics support research activities in biomedical research, pharmaceutical sciences, and ecology and conservation studies. This currently advertised position will fulfil a role on an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC) that will review research activities that will be instrumental in improving patient treatments and health outcomes through our biomedical research programs, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, metabolic diseases, and reproductive health.

This is a great opportunity to contribute your knowledge and expertise to the world of research at Monash University.

About Monash Animal Ethics Committees (AECs)

Monash University is committed to ensuring the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals for scientific purposes and insists upon the highest standards for animal care and use.

Our Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) assess the scientific, ethical and welfare aspects of research and teaching activities involving animals to ensure the use of animals is justified and has scientific merit and animal welfare is prioritised, in accordance with the Australian Code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (8th edition 2013 (updated 2021) (the Code)).

The AEC is comprised of members across various categories as stipulated in the Code and includes veterinarians (Category A), scientists (Category B), animal welfarists (Category C), and lay members (Category D), with each category of membership bringing valuable perspectives to the review process.

About the Role

Each Monash University AEC member plays an important role in ensuring the ethical, humane and responsible care and use of animals used for research and teaching at Monash University.

Expressions of interest are sought for the following Category, as per the criteria as stipulated in the Code:

• Category D (Layperson): 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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

About You

To be successfully considered for this opportunity, you will:

• Not be employed by or have any affiliation with Monash University
• Have never been involved in the use of animals in scientific or teaching activities in your employment or beyond undergraduate education
• Accept that ethical experiments using animals can be carried out, provided there is no viable alternative
• Demonstrate the ability and enthusiasm to contribute to AEC meetings and related processes, and undertake initial and ongoing training and education
• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Be able to read, interpret and comment on meeting materials, including project applications, using an online system
• Participate in AEC discussions to ensure robust review of projects and related activities, and effective operation of the Committee
• Be able to attend meetings in-person (please note, overseas applicants will not be considered)

Benefits

As a member of a Monash AEC you will receive the following benefits:

• An Honorarium to support costs you incur associated with performing your role and attending meetings
• A working lunch at in-person meetings
• Training support for your role as an AEC member
• The opportunity to understand the cutting-edge science activities being performed at Monash
• Development of knowledge related to the legislative framework governing animal use in research and teaching
• Access to the resources of the Monash University libraries

How to Apply

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please apply via our website and complete the online expression of interest form https://www.monash.edu/research/ethics-and-integrity/animal-ethics

For further information please contact the Monash Animal Ethics Office: animal.ethics@monash.edu