H/2.6 Animals on site
Policy Owner | Director, Campus Services / Director, Equity |
Approval Date | 06/12/2021 |
Approval Authority | Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar |
Date of Next Review | 01/12/2024 |
2.6.1 Purpose
2.6.2 Application
2.6.3 Roles and responsibilities
2.6.4 Assistance animals and trainee assistance animals
2.6.5 Animals in public spaces on campus
2.6.6 Other arrangements
2.6.7 Wildlife on site
2.6.8 Definitions
Related Documents
Modification History
2.6.1 Purpose
This policy details the conditions on which animals are permitted to be on a QUT campus or distributed site.
2.6.2 Application
This policy applies to all QUT campuses and distributed sites.
This policy does not apply to specific licensed animals.
2.6.3 Roles and responsibilities
Position |
Responsibility |
|---|---|
|
Director, Campus Services |
|
|
Director, Equity |
|
2.6.4 Assistance animals and trainee assistance animals
Certified assistance animals and trainee assistance animals are permitted on University campuses and distributed sites, and in University buildings. However, in accordance with relevant legislation, there are restrictions on access to parts of the University, including health service facilities, places where food is ordinarily prepared, and other areas designated by the Director, Campus Services, as a non-public space.
A handler or approved trainer must maintain control of the assistance animal or trainee assistance animal at all times. A handler of an assistance animal or approved trainer of a trainee assistance animal may be requested to show their identity card or provide evidence that the animal has been appropriately trained, and the assistance animal or trainee assistance animal must display its certification badge where certified under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld). QUT encourages a handler or approved trainer coming onto campus regularly to make contact with the Manager, Security and Emergency Management for ease of access.
In accordance with the relevant legislation and QUT’s procedures, the University may exclude an assistance animal or trainee assistance animal from a University site if that animal’s behaviour poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others.
Further information is available in Guidance about Assistance Animals (QUT staff access only).
2.6.5 Animals in public spaces on campus
The University acknowledges that its Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses contain thoroughfares and spaces used by the general public. Animals that are not a certified assistance animal are permitted on University campuses on the following conditions:
- the animal, for example a dog, is wearing an appropriate leash and official identification at all times and the person is physically capable of controlling the animal
- the animal is not engaging in any behaviour which could reasonably harass, cause damage or other injury to another person or animal
- the animal is not creating a noise annoyance
- the person in control of the animal cleans up its faeces.
Non-compliance with any of these conditions will result in the person in control of the animal being requested by security staff to remove it from the campus immediately.
2.6.6 Other arrangements
Animals, other than assistance animals and trainee assistance animals, are only permitted in the non-public spaces of the campus in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the Director, Campus Services and after adequate consideration of any health, safety and operational risks.
2.6.7 Wildlife on site
The University’s sites are home to an assortment of wildlife, native and otherwise. Native wildlife is protected by law, but no wildlife on campus should be unnecessarily disturbed. For health and safety reasons, and for the welfare of the animal, wildlife must not be fed. Any issues with wildlife on campus (QUT staff access only), including the reporting of pests or injured animals, should be referred to the Manager, Facilities Services.2.6.8 Definitions
Assistance animal means:- a guide, hearing or assistance dog, as defined in Schedule 4 of Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld)
- any other certified assistance animal trained to alleviate the effect of the disability on a person with a disability, and to meet the standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place (s9(2), Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)).
Licensed animals means animals currently licensed for research and teaching purposes in accordance with the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
Public space has the meaning given to ‘public place’ in Schedule 4, Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld), namely:
public place means a place, or part of the place -
a. the public is entitled to use, that is open to members of the public or that is used by the public, whether or not on payment of money; or
b. the occupier of which allows, whether or not on payment of money, members of the public to enter.
Related Documents
MOPP A/8.6 Disability
MOPP H/2.3 Catering and events
Guidance about Assistance Animals (QUT staff access only)
Disability Discrimination Act 1992(Cth)
Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld)
Animals Local Law 2017 (Brisbane City Council)
Modification History
| Date | Sections | Source | Details |
| 06.12.21 | All | Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar | Policy revised to include changes resulting from QUT’s Repositioning QUT for a post-COVID world organisational restructure (effective 31.01.21) and Chapter H restructure (previously H/3.10 Animals on site) |
| 26.11.19 | All | Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar | Approval Authority changed as a result of reporting line change - Vice-President (Resources) and Chief Financial Officer to Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar |
| 11.09.19 | H/3.10.6, H/3.10.8 | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Editorial change to clarify definition of public space |
| 09.08.19 | All | Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar (approved as University officer with overall responsibility for the function of facilities management at date of approval) | New policy – replaces section H/3.1.6 Animals on campus |