About the Animal
Welfare Science Centre

Animal Welfare Science Centre printable brochure

The Animal Welfare Science Centre

The Animal Welfare Science Centre is a Centre of the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Department of Primary Industries (Victoria).

The Centre was established to focus and coordinate research and academic resources of the three collaborating organisations, providing the animal industries, animal users, farming communities, Government and the academic and general community with an internationally competitive research, training and teaching resource in animal welfare science.

Operation of the Centre

The Centre is partnered by;

  • The University of Melbourne: Faculty of Land and Food Resources,
  • Monash University: Departments of Psychology and Physiology
  • The Department of Primary Industries: Research, Policy and Extension Divisions.

and is located at four main sites:

Other joint Centre research facilities include:

  • Animal behaviour and welfare research buildings, Werribee
  • Pig Research and Training Centre (PRTC) Werribee
  • Joint facility for Food Animal Research (JFFAR) Werribee
  • Multimedia Laboratory, Monash University
  • Dookie, Glenormiston and Longerenong Colleges, University of Melbourne.

Centre Governance

Board of Management

The Centre Board comprising senior representatives from partner organisations is responsible for strategic planning, establishing policy and monitoring the governance and management of the Centre.

Advisory Committee

The Centre Advisory Committee, comprising of eminent scientists, representatives from partner organisations, funding bodies, industry organisations, farming and animal welfare organisations, provides advice and support to the Centre in research priorities and strategic research planning, promotional activities and management, future opportunities and directions and key collaborations, partnerships and funding.

Organisational Chart

Centre Mission

The Animal Welfare Science Centre will sustain and grow Australia's animal industries through (1) strategic animal welfare research and student training to resolve major animal welfare issues and 2) targeted industry and public education designed to improve animal welfare and productivity and to assure local and international consumers, the public and Governments that the welfare standards for Australian animals are underpinned by sound and well-accepted science.

Centre Outcomes

  1. All animals are managed according to best animal welfare practices through informed, confident and proactive ‘industries’.
  2. The discussion on animal welfare is facilitated in the general community through well-informed and confident stakeholders.
  3. Recognition of high welfare standards in Australia and preferential sourcing by purchasers of Australian products through informed and confident public and markets.

Centre Outputs

  1. Develop scientifically defensible welfare methodology.
  2. Use scientifically defensible methodology to establish, amend or validate industry welfare standards and practices.
  3. Develop and support industry education and training strategies and provide scientific advice to support the modification of codes of practice and the development of quality assurance programs to introduce scientifically defensible welfare standards in the animal industries.
  4. Understand public and consumer attitudes to animal welfare to assist Governments and industry in (1) developing animal welfare policy and (2) assuring local and international consumers, public and other governments of the sound welfare standards for Australian domestic animals.
  5. Ensure tertiary students entering the animal industries are better prepared to provide sound, science-based advice on animal welfare practices to industry, interest groups and the public.
  6. Provide high quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training for the next generation of researchers and teachers in animal welfare science.

Members of the Animal Welfare Science Centre