The care and use of animals in Western Australia (WA) are subject to the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (the Act), which provides for the welfare, safety, and health of animals used for scientific purposes.
An important part of the Act is the requirement of institutions and environmental scientists using animals for scientific purposes to be licensed and to operate according to the Code.
Important notice - WAEC meeting update
The WAEC meeting scheduled for 15 December 2026 has been cancelled.
The final meeting for 2026 will now be held on 24 November 2026.
New project applications, major amendment requests and other documents for review must be submitted by 9 November 2026. Committee meetings will resume in February 2027.
We apologise for any inconvenience.
The WAEC allows institutions and environmental scientists without access to an institutional animal ethics committee to operate in accordance with the conditions of their Scientific Use Licence.
The WAEC determines whether the proposed use of animals is justified according to the principles of the Code.
The WAEC uses the standard operating procedures (SOPs) from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) for fauna survey and monitoring activities to assist scientific establishments and environmental scientists in preparing their applications and to ensure projects follow AEC-endorsed guidelines.
View the SOPs on DBCA's website
The SOPs are also used by the WAEC to efficiently assess proposed projects to ensure that activities involving fauna are undertaken to a consistent standard.
The WAEC is also responsible for monitoring the ongoing scientific use of animals in approved projects.
Environmental scientists in WA who do not have access to an institutional AEC and who are carrying out or intend to carry out scientific studies involving the use of fauna are required to have a Formal Agreement with the WAEC and then apply to DPIRD for a Scientific Use Licence. Projects cannot commence until it has been assessed and approved by the WAEC.
The WAEC was established in February 2022. It includes veterinarians, scientists, animal welfare advocates and members of the community, in line with the Code, to ensure the appropriate and representative assessment of scientific projects involving the use of animals.
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WAEC meeting dates - 2026pdf (202 KB)
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WAEC meeting dates - 2027docx (580 KB)
Forms and documents
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WAEC Applicant guidedocx (853 KB)
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WAEC New project application formdocx (927 KB)
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WAEC Amendment request formdocx (593 KB)
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WAEC Adverse event report formdocx (506 KB)
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WAEC Annual progress reportdocx (517 KB)
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WAEC Project completion report formdocx (514 KB)
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WAEC Personnel competency formdocx (109 KB)
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WAEC Project impact categories - AEC approval requireddocx (37 KB)
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WAEC Project impact categories - no AEC approval requireddocx (34 KB)
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WAEC Preferred euthanasia techniquesdocx (626 KB)
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Scientific use licences for environmental scientists: interim policy & FAQspdf (269 KB)
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Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
Contact us
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Wildlife Animal Ethics Committee