Animal Welfare

with Pauleen Bennett

Next session: 30 April to 27 May 2012
Cost: Members $425.00 | Non members $455.00 (GST incl. if enrolling within Australia)

  • If you have participated in a TimeOnline course or event in the previous 12 months you are eligible for a 10% discount on another TimeOnline course. Please download the information brochure (pdf) and complete a manual enrolment to enrol this way.

Veterinarians are able to provide a significant and unique contribution to community debates about animal welfare. Many feel that they have a moral imperative to do so, but may lack confidence because of a lack of understanding of how the broader field of animal welfare is situated within our specific social context. The concept of animal welfare is indeed complex and multidimensional, encompassing much more than technical assessment of an animal's health. There are many different perspectives concerning what constitutes good and poor welfare for animals. These often reflect social, moral and political forces that influence our attitudes and beliefs, rather than being based on objective knowledge about animals gained via careful scientific studies. For veterinarians to contribute effectively to progress in the field of animal welfare they need to understand the broader cultural issues within which current debates take place. This course addresses this need, providing a broad overview of animal welfare as it is embedded within contemporary social, moral, legal and scientific frameworks.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have a robust understanding of why people hold such diverse and often disparate views about animal welfare. They will feel more confident when discussing animal welfare issues with their clients and the broader community and will be able to justify their own views by referral to established social, moral, legal and scientific principles.

Course content

Modules

  1. Why Animals, Why Here, Why Now
  2. Common Approaches to Judging Right from Wrong
  3. Rules and Regulations
  4. Science and Animal Welfare
  5. Contemporary Roles for Animals

Tutor

Pauleen Bennett

Enrolment, information, enquiries