ANZCCART Conference 2026 "Culture, Care and Collaboration"

Join us at the ANZCCART Conference for the latest in animal ethics and research advancements! Tena Koutou and Welcome It is my great pleasure to personally welcome you to the 2026 ANZCCART Conference in Sydney. We will gather on Gadigal land for an opportunity to share knowledge, experience and conversation together. More than that, this conference is a chance to connect with colleagues, spark new ideas and support one another. We hope you can join us for what promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking event as we explore the role of animals in research and teaching across Australia and New Zealand. The program includes invited speakers from both interstate and abroad. They will be joined by local speakers with a selection of presentations from submitted abstracts. Pre-conference tours include visits to animal facilities and laboratories. This conference aims to serve as a neutral forum for the exchange of ideas and perspectives, where we can engage in respectful dialogue, fostering a space where diverse views on these complex issues can be expressed and debated. We encourage all participants to engage thoughtfully and contribute to the enriching discussions that will unfold over the course of the event. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our conference sponsors AAALAC International, EthiQualia, Infonetica Ltd, JetPets Animal Transport Ltd, MAWA Trust, Research Code and Tecniplast Australia for their generous support. We look forward to joining you at the conference. Don Mackie Chair, ANZCCART Australia Draft Program Key-note Speaker - Dr Larry Carbone Dr Larry Carbone is a veterinarian with 40 years of experience caring for animals in laboratories. Dr Carbone writes about public policy, ethics, and laboratory animal welfare. His new book, The Hidden Life of Lab Animals, shows how addressing animals’ physical and emotional needs not only enhances their well-being but also leads to more robust scientific research Sessions include • Culture, Care and Collaboration • Responsible Animal Use from Practice to Retirement • Welfare and Ethical Guidelines • Non-Human Primates • High Animal Welfare Impact • Openness • Non-Animal Technologies (NATs) and New Approach Methods (NAMs) • Animal Ethics Committee operations The draft program is available online now. Pre-Conference Tours on Tuesday 20 October 2026 BOOK when registering through Eventbrite Please note: • Tour itineraries and other details are subject to change. • The tours are only available to delegates attending the conference in person. • Due to limited capacity, places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis once bookings open. • Please do not apply for more than one tour – this helps ensure availability for as many delegates as possible. • Costs are for transport only. • Refunds will not be available for bookings cancelled less than 7 days before the tour. • If there are insufficient numbers to fill all sessions, the tours may be combined. Notice will be given of any changes. • More information on all tours is available at ANZCCART. TOUR 1: UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY CHARLES PERKINS CENTRE - BIOLOGICAL SERVICES UNIT The Charles Perkins Centre is a multidisciplinary initiative focused on reducing the burden of chronic disease through collaborative, systems-based research. Within the Centre, Laboratory Animal Services (LAS) supports high-quality animal research for both internal and external partners through a team of technicians, facility officers, and veterinarians. The tour will showcase state-of-the-art rodent and large animal facilities, along with advanced preclinical imaging and hybrid theatre environments. Prerequisites for entry and also a confidentiality agreement are required for this tour. 10.00 - 11.30am 12.30 - 2.00pm Meet the Tour Host in the Rydges Hotel Lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled session. Cost: $30 (includes bus transport) TOUR 2: BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE Australia's first museum, the Australian Museum, has a collection of more than 22 million specimens and objects and is home to the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI). AMRI specialises in taxonomy, genomics, ecology, and conservation projects that seek to better understand and protect Australia's extraordinary biodiversity. Join this rare opportunity to go beyond the public galleries and see the science firsthand in a behind-the-scenes tour of the AMRI facilities and collections and also meet the scientists that work there. 10.00 - 11.15am Meet the Tour Host in the Rydges Hotel Lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Transport: The Museum is a 10-minute walk from the Hotel through Hyde Park. Cost: Free for Conference delegates (registration required). TOUR 3: UNSW RANDWICK ANIMAL SERVICES The University of New South Wales is home to two purpose-adapted animal research facilities at its Randwick campus, supporting world-class biomedical research in surgical orthopaedic science, biomedical engineering and optometry. The facilities provide high-quality housing and care for rabbits and sheep sourced from interstate and rural suppliers, with a dedicated team of Animal Services technicians supporting their welfare throughout surgical procedures and recovery. Join this unique opportunity to tour a sheep and rabbit holding facility at the heart of one of Australia's most prominent universities, and discover the initiatives our team has implemented to optimise animal housing, enrichment and nutrition. 11.00am - 12:00pm 2.00 - 3.00pm Meet the Tour Host in the Rydges Hotel Lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled session. Cost: $30 (includes bus transport) Post-Conference Workshop on Friday 23 October 2026 Post-Approval Monitoring Workshop 3.30 - 4.30pm Convenor: Casey Schauer, Post Approval Monitoring Officer, Monash University Venue: Rydges World Square Hotel, Ballroom 1, Conference area. Cost: Free for Conference delegates (registration required). Due to sufficient interest, the workshop will continue. Please book your place through Eventbrite. Registration Information: In-person Early Bird, Standard (including Student) and Late In-person Registration rates all include tea/coffee breaks and lunch for the duration of the Conference, as well as Welcome drinks and the Conference Dinner. Tours are not included and are to be booked separately through Eventbrite. One day In-Person Registration of any type includes tea breaks and lunch for the day of the Registration only. Welcome drinks and the Conference Dinner are not included, however, tickets can be purchased for these separately through Eventbrite. Online attendance only Early bird, standard and student registration rates are available for the full 3 day Conference for online attendance only. A one-day rate is also available for standard and student registration. A new log-in code will be emailed for each day prior to the Conference. NB: To ensure that ALL delegates are recorded, only one delegate is to be booked per registration. Venue and Accommodation The venue is the Rydges World Square Hotel, Pitt Street, Sydney. T: 02 8268 1888. Accommodation Accommodation at the venue is limited and subject to availability at a special Conference rate of $299 per night, including one full breakfast per room. The rate has been extended for delegates and will apply from Tuesday 20 October with check out on Sunday 25 October 2026. Please use the link below: https://www.rydges.com/private-page/anzccart-accommodation/ Conference venue Plenary presentations, including concurrent sessions, for the Conference will be delivered in Ballroom 1 and 2.