Public School excursions are undertaken to further students’ learning and social skills development outside their normal school environment. Activities conducted outside the relatively protective environment of the school site involve greater risk. Therefore particular attention must be given to the safety and welfare of all excursion participants.

Animals can enrich students’ learning experiences, however schools must adhere to consistent and high quality practices for the care and use of animals. Staff are to adhere to the processes of the Schools Animal Ethics Committee for the use of animals for any scientific teaching activity and/or adhere to the processes of Agricultural Education for the use of animals on school farms.

The Department of Education (the Department) supports high quality, ethical research where the findings have the potential to inform decision making and contribute to improvements in school education policy, staff competency, operational practices, student and staff wellbeing or student achievement and progress.