Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

better than live export hero banner
Priority issue
On 1 July 2024, the Federal Government…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

take action live sheep export alternate
Media release: Live sheep export unfixable, unnecessary, unacceptable – and now, soon to be unlawful
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Choose Wisely

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

RSPCA Approved Standards

AWS2025 Website Image 2000x2000 v2
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2025
Animal ethics and animal welfare…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
Subscribe now! Keep up to date with the latest animal welfare news
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Media centre
  4. An ethical dilemma: where does animal…

 

What do animals need? What are our responsibilities and our commitments to caring for animals? What are our ethical responsibilities towards different types of animals or animals in different circumstances?

The RSPCA Australia annual Scientific Seminar will tomorrow challenge current thinking and explore the sometimes conflicting and somewhat controversial topic of animal welfare and ethics.

Speakers at the Seminar will explore the ethical perspectives of our use of and behaviour towards animals in a range of topical areas including the human-animal relationship; recreational, conservation and traditional hunting; companion animal breeding; and the concern for animal life, to name a few.

The keynote speaker for this year’s Scientific Seminar is Peter Sandøe, Professor of Bioethics at the University of Copenhagen. His talk – The interaction of ethical questions and farm animal welfare science – explores the distinction between the science-based study of animal welfare and the ethical investigation of what is right and what is wrong in our dealings with animals.

Other presentations will include:

 

  • Setting the scene - Chair, Simon Longstaff, Executive Director, St James Ethics Centre
  • For the love of lab rats: kinship, human-animal relations and good scientific research - Simone Dennis, Lecturer in Anthropology, Australian National University
  • Recreational, conservation and traditional hunting: the ethical dimensions - Dominique Thiriet, Lecturer – Law, James Cook University
  • Teaching animal welfare and ethics: from principles to practice - Teresa Collins, Lecturer in animal welfare and ethics, Murdoch University
  • Animal welfare research: the funding dilemma - Clive Phillips, Professor, School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland
  • Welfare and ethics in companion animal breeding - Richard Malik, Centre for Veterinary Education, University of Sydney, Adjunct Professor, Charles Sturt University
  • Keynote: The interaction of ethical questions and farm animal welfare science - Peter Sandøe, Professor of Bioethics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Pain, death and concern for animal life - John Hadley, Research Lecturer, Department of Religion, Anthropology and Philosophy, University of Western Sydney
While Peter Sandøe is in Australia he will be presenting a series of free public lectures hosted by the RSPCA in collaboration with the University of Queensland, Melbourne University, Animal Welfare Science Centre and Murdoch University at which he will further elaborate on the topic of animal welfare and ethics.
subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.